Free WalkSafe app launches in Manchester
New app goes live in Manchester on September 4, aimed at helping people make safe journeys across city, at any time of day or night.
A new, free-to-download safety app is being launched in Manchester. The app enables users to pick known safe routes through the city. They can also share their location with family or friends. If a person fails to reach their intended destination, the app automatically sends an alert.
Photo by Dylan4photography
Users can share concerns about the local area, such as poor lighting or large crowds. The app also provides details of venues where staff have been trained in such safety programmes as ‘Ask for Angela’, ‘Best Bar None’ and ‘Active Bystander’.
WalkSafe was founded in 2020. Co-founder Emma Kay is the daughter of a Metropolitan Police officer and says she grew up with strict rules about going out in a bid to keep her safe. Even so, she experienced catcalling, following, groping and flashing.
As an adult, Emma volunteered at a community centre for people in crisis and was especially struck by how many women feared the streets at night. Her career in childcare also highlighted the importance of ensuring young girls and boys are educated on issues including consent, gender bias and the importance of preventative actions. Personal safety affects everyone, she says. She built WalkSafe believing that such technology can genuinely save lives.
The app is already live and much used in cities including Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield. The launch in Manchester is part of wider efforts by the city council and a range of local partners to ensure that the night-time economy is safe for everyone – especially women.
In the last few years, there has been increasing focus on how cities across the country can be made safe for people at night. Sadly, such initiatives are necessary: many recent initiatives have been prompted by the murders in 2021 of Sarah Everard in Kent and Sabina Nessa in south London.
In response to these tragic events, in 2022 Manchester City Council launched its Women’s Night-time Safety Charter, which included free training and guidance offered to venues across the city on how to support and promote safety.
The council now hopes that the launch of WalkSafe in Manchester will empower more people to feel safe – whoever they are and wherever they’re going, day or night. It will also help to promote venues and businesses that prioritise women’s safety.
Cllr Joanna Midgley, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council says: ‘The response that we saw to our Night-time Safety Charter was incredibly gratifying, seeing businesses across the sector rally behind us to make Manchester a safer city. Since its launch we have trained hundreds of staff and provided resources to ensure that venues know how to react and respond when they encounter someone who may be at risk.
‘The arrival of WalkSafe to Manchester is a huge development and one which I believe with strengthen the work we are doing around safety. In an ideal world anyone should be able to go where they want, when they want but until then, it is important we put measures in place to protect and empower our residents.
‘In the coming months we will be working with partners across the city, as well as within our burgeoning nighttime and events sector, and our universities to make sure that anyone has the tools to keep themselves safe.’
Emma Kay, Co-Founder of WalkSafe, adds: ‘Like us, Manchester City Council takes the safety of everyone in the city seriously and to partner with them on such an important initiative is an absolute privilege.
‘WalkSafe is now live in Manchester and is free to download. It has unique features that means everyone can feel and be safer. From tracking your friends’ journeys to seeing the safe spaces on the map, it ensures everyone gets home from a night out. The app is ideal for students, commuters, runners and just about everyone. I always say it’s the app that shouldn’t have to exist but sadly it is an essential ally to let us all enjoy our lives and go where we want, when we want.’
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