Over 25 festival websites will go down in support campaign against sexual assault.
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) set up the Safer Spaces campaign to help educate festival-goers of the support services available at festivals for victims of sexual assault.
Festivals such as Bestival, Secret Garden Party, and Parklike have already signed up to the initiative which involves turning off their websites for 24 hours from 9:00 am on 8th May.
Campaign manager of AIF, Renae Brown, said, “It’s raising awareness and letting audiences know that if something were to happen, they can report it on site,” she continued “This is something we should be talking about at festivals. We want people to look out for each other.”
Speaking about the campaign, promoter for Bestival, Rob da Bank, said, “Festivals can be crazy spaces and we’re proud that they’re places to let off steam but there are limits and rules as there are in general society.
“We just want everyone to be aware and it’s great that some of the UK’s biggest festivals have signed up to this.
“It’s a positive message and not a scary one. Everyone should be able to go to festivals and enjoy them.”
Over 60 members of the AIF have also signed up to their charter of best practice which is in place to make sure festival staff are trained to help victims of sexual violence.
The campaign has been backed by Rape Crisis England & Wales, Girls Against and Safe Gigs For Women.