%20(1960%20x%20554%20px).png)
Out There, Safer Together
'Shame stopped me reporting spiking incident"
"You just feel so disgusted in yourself"
"It takes quite a while to process"
"Being spiked left me terrified and ashamed"
"Watching out for spiking is just normal"
Did you know that 17.8% of LGBTQ+ adults report ever being spiked, compared to 10.6% of non-LGBTQ+ individuals?
Safer nights out should be for everyone. That’s why we’re launching Out There, Safer Together - a campaign encouraging safer, more inclusive nights out across Exeter. Launching as part of Out There Fringe Fest, the campaign is anchored by SPIKED, a one-woman show, written by Saraya Haddad about when said woman did a play she doesn't remember doing. One minute she was in her campus bar... and the next… blackout.
Need help now? Call 999 in an emergency. In a bar or club, Ask for Angela. In Exeter city centre, call the CCTV Control Room on 01392 665008. More support is further down this page.
Why the Out There, Safer Together Campaign?
-
70% of LGBTQ+ ages 18–24 have been affected by drink spiking, either experiencing or witnessing it. (Stamp Out Spiking)
-
52% of LGBTQ+ people say they do not feel safe travelling at night. (Galop / London TravelWatch)
-
87% of cis LGB+ women and 73% of trans+ people report feeling unsafe at night. (Galop / London TravelWatch)
-
LGB+ people would go to bars and pubs (36%) and nightclubs (30%) more often if they felt safer. (YouGov)
So, what can be done about it?
We’re not starting from scratch. Exeter already has people and organisations working to make nights out safer. Out There, Safer Together is about connecting that work, making it more inclusive, with special consideration to the vulnerabilities of LGBTQ+ individuals in Exeter. Our campaign has three core aims: Connect, Influence, and Inform.
CONNECT
We’re building relationships between festival partners, venues and the organisations already working on night-time safety. By bringing people into the same conversation, we can share what’s already working and identify where experiences and needs, especially those of LGBTQ+ individuals, can be better understood.
1
INFLUENCE
People can experience night-time safety differently, especially those of minority backgrounds, who are vulnerable and LGBTQ+ individuals. We’re creating a resource pack for festival partners and venues to help them think about their responsibilities, their safety messaging and how their existing practices can be more inclusive.
2
INFORM
We’re raise awareness of existing campaigns and good practice, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. We’ll share practical information about spiking, drinking sensibly, getting home safely and looking out for one another. We will start to build a bank of resources on our website, signposting people to trusted information and practical advice before they need it.
3
Who's already keeping Exeter safe at night?
Exeter is a Purple Flag city
Purple Flag is a national award for town and city centres that are safe, well run and lively at night. Exeter city centre won it for the first time in 2026.
How Exeter got it
InExeter, the city centre's Business Improvement District, led the bid. It worked with the University of Exeter, Devon & Cornwall Police, Exeter City Council, Exeter College, transport providers, cultural venues and local businesses. The Association of Town and City Management, which runs Purple Flag, praised Exeter for its varied night-time offer, its strong partnerships and its focus on safety.
What made the difference
-
visible policing
-
more CCTV coverage
-
late-night transport
-
more to do at night than drinking, including theatre, live music, culture, and community and family events
Devon & Cornwall Police say evening anti-social behaviour in Exeter fell by 16% in 2025, compared with 2024. They credit partnership working, drug patrols in nightclubs, spot checks on Ask for Angela, and more non-alcoholic drinks in venues.
Here are some of the people and schemes working to keep Exeter safe at night.
Who | What they do |
|---|---|
Safer Exeter | The city's Community Safety Partnership. It brings together the council, police, university, college, businesses and community groups. |
Community Safety Team | Patrols the city centre and supports vulnerable people. |
City Centre CCTV | Over 300 cameras, watched 24 hours a day. Yellow "Need Help" signs show the Control Room number: 01392 665008. |
Exeter Safe Space | St Stephen's Church, High Street. Free first aid, water, phone charging and a safe place to wait. Open late on selected nights. |
Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) Charter | A voluntary pledge for organisations to make Exeter safer for women at night. It includes anyone who identifies as a woman. |
Best Bar None Exeter | An accreditation scheme for licensed venues, such as pubs, bars and clubs. Venues are assessed on how they're managed, staff training, customer safety and welfare. |
Community Alcohol Partnerships | A national organisation that supports local partnerships to reduce alcohol harm among children and young people. |
Where we come in is we want to help make these campaigns more inclusive. LGBTQ+ people can face different risks, including homophobic and transphobic harassment and higher reported rates of spiking. By raising awareness of these risks and sharing LGBTQ+ experiences, we hope to build on the work already happening in Exeter.
Safer Together: resource packs
There are three resource packs putting our three aims into practice: Connect, Influence and Inform. They bring together what already exists in Exeter, with an LGBTQ+ lens on each one. Making nights out safer for LGBTQ+ people makes nights out safer for everyone.
-
For venues: practical steps to make your space safer and more welcoming for LGBTQ+ customers.
-
For event organisers: what to do before, during and after your event, including how to tell the police and the council, and how to report incidents.
-
If you need support: where to go and who to call on a night out in Exeter, or afterwards. This includes LGBTQ+ specialist support.
Safer Venues and Useful Links
Venues with Best Bar None accreditation have been independently checked on safety, staff training and customer welfare. Look for the Best Bar None logo at the door or behind the bar. Find out more about Best Bar None.
LGBTQ+ Suppor
-
Galop: LGBT+ anti-abuse charity. Helpline 0800 999 5428.
Get help and report
-
Report spiking online (Devon & Cornwall Police)
-
Report anti-social behaviour (Exeter City Council)
Are you LGBTQ+? Help shape safer nights out in Exeter
Your experience matters. We want LGBTQ+ voices to shape how Exeter keeps people safe at night: in venues, at events and on the way home. You could:
-
tell us what makes a night out feel safe, or unsafe, for you
-
help us test and improve these resource packs
-
join conversations with venues and the city's safety partners
Email hello@outthere.org.uk, and we'll be in touch. We'll connect you with the right people and groups.
Please note: this inbox isn't checked all the time. If you need help now, use the contacts in the "Need help now?" and the support section above.