We’ve all been there late at night, the last person off the night bus or the final part of a walk home on a residential street. With hearts beating and our keys between our fingers, often it’s just a prayer that seems to get us home safely at night.
But now there’s a new app on the block that promises to offer real time support with check-ins and phone calls and videocalls to make sure you’re safe, whatever time of night it is.
“We’re here to have a network that really raises the safety sense of our users
Founder Nikita’s initial drive to set up Safe App was due to an event that took place over a decade ago. Safe Up’s marketing manager, Maya Sandak described the night that pushed Nikita to make a change.
Starting of in an all so familiar setting for many women Maya starts the story with Nikita at a house party with her friends. “She was the driver in charge so she didn’t drink any alcohol”, says Maya. “She saw one of her friends disappear, so she called another friend and they went to look for her.” She continues – “they found their friend struggling with two men in one of the bedrooms, but thankfully they ran away when Nikita and her friend disturbed the attack.”
This frightening incident was the moment Nikita realised that this is women’s life experience. Deciding that “as women, we can really help and save each other in those situations,” says Maya.
Launching two years ago, Safe Up now has over 150,000 signed up worldwide, with thousands of women connecting to the app on a weekly basis. Safe Up’s goal, says Maya, is to connect women with women, each member helping the other.
The service is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week
“We’re here to have a network that really raises the safety sense of our users”, she describes when asked of their ultimate goal. “When a user feels unsafe she opens the app and she can connect in one of three ways: chat, phone call or a video call. She is then connected to one of our guardians – the closest person to her location, wherever she is.”
The service is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week and once connected to a guardian, the user can stay on the line for as long as they need, until feeling safe.
Guardians are verified community members who have chosen to take part in specific training, which is easily completed for users who wish to do the same.
The need for apps like Safe Up has never been more obvious. A study conducted in 2021 by End Violence Against Women shows that one in two women felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a quiet street and in a busy public area, while four out of five women felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a park or other open space. Worryingly, two out of three women aged 16 to 34 years have experienced one form of harassment in the previous 12 months, with 44% of women aged 16 to 34 years having experiences catcalls, whistles, unwanted sexual comments or jokes, and 29% having felt like they were being followed.
These statistics do not surprise Maya who recounts the experience of one of the apps members who was being followed:
“She opened the app, a guardian saw her and noticed she was nearby. The guardian opened her building door for her, allowing her to wait there until the man passed her and walked away – this is the benefit of other women being close by.”
“This is what’s amazing about our technology,” she says. “It’s actually connecting women and giving them the support that they need even if it’s just for a short moment. The idea is that you are not a superwoman and lifesaver, you’d give me the immediate support to make me feel safe.”
What to do if you’re feeling unsafe:
- In an emergency, contact the police on 999 (if you can’t speak press 55 on your mobile)
- In a non-emergency contact 101
- If you have a hearing or speech impairment text 18001 101
- Report feeling unsafe with StreetSafe because of environmental factors eg, street lighting and/or behaviours, eg: being followed or verbally abused
Home Safe London is a charity who chip in to cover the costs of Ubers for women in need. Follow them on Instagram here: instagram.com/homesafeldn/
Stay safe at night:
*Good Night Out campaign (goodnightoutcampaign.org)
*Night Safety Charter (https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/arts-and-culture/24-hour-london/womens-night-safety-charter)
- Manchester:https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/100004/the_council_and_democracy/8428/womens_night-time_safety_charter
- New Castle: https://www.safenewcastle.org.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls, https://www.instagram.com/womensstreetwatchncl/?hl=en
- Brighton: https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/studentnewsandevents/2022/10/27/safety-on-the-street-advice-on-staying-safe-whilst-out-at-night/
- Birmingham: https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/campaigns/safer-nights
- Bristol: https://www.bristolnights.co.uk
- Devon & Cornwall: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/support-and-guidance/your-personal-safety/staying-safe-while-out-for-the-night/