GirlsNightIn Manchester: women protest across the UK as needle spiking incidents increase
The key focus is for women's safety to be made more of a priority and for this to be clear to both staff and customers who are visiting any venue in Manchester.
Tonight, large numbers of women across the UK will be staying at home to boycott nightclubs on what is typically the biggest student night out of the week.
Others will come together in protest, with many joining in Manchester’s St Peter’s Square at 7 pm as part of an End Spiking Now demo.
Called for by local groups under the initiative ‘Girls Night In‘, the boycott is a part of wider protests against drink spiking in clubs and bars. It also follows a worrying increase in needle spikings, with a new epidemic seeming to sweep across the UK in recent weeks.
Needle spikings have recently been reported in areas close to Manchester including Liverpool, Nottingham, and Preston, with women injected without their knowledge or consent in what The New York Times termed a “horrifying variation of dropping pills into drinks.”
Whilst violence against women is not a new phenomenon, a number of high-profile violent murders and assaults of women including Sarah Everard, Blessing Olusegun, and Sabina Nessa has put the need for better safeguarding firmly back on the front page this year.
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However, with Prime Minister Johnson already having blocked Home Office plans to make public sexual harassment a crime this month, it’s clear that more pressure still needs to be added in order for those with the power to enact real change.
By way of response to the increase in needle spiking reports, this week – as well as organising the boycott – women have launched a petition calling on the government to make it a legal requirement for nightclubs to thoroughly search guests on entry.
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Protestors in Manchester have also penned an open letter to Andy Burnham and other leaders at Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), setting out demands including that GMCA provides bars and nightclubs with anti-spiking devices, enforce more staff training, and create a toolkit for women detailing measures venues should have in place in order to be licensed.
The group would also like to see designated employees on hand to deal with problems of spiking and harassment, as well as for venues to produce their own clear procedures on how to deal with such incidents.
The key focus is for women’s safety to be made more of a priority and for this to be clear to both staff and customers who are visiting any venue in Manchester.
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There are already some organisations in Manchester doing work in this direction, including Jamina Wittke’s safeguarding group Safety Always For Everyone – set up this year following the tragic murder of Sarah Everard by Met policeman Wayne Couzens.
Working alongside Manchester club night HIT&RUN for its events at Hidden and Mint Lounge, SAFE team members are identifiable by a pink Hi-vis jacket.
If you are feeling vulnerable or unsafe for whatever reason, you can approach them for a chat or ask to be taken to a safe place. SAFE also has posters up at the venues with a mobile you can text if you find yourself in a particularly tricky situation.
Initially set up by Jamina to help safeguard people when leaving the club and make sure that everyone has a safe way to get home, SAFE volunteers do their best to ensure that clubbers aren’t “leaving with people they don’t know, or stumbling off into the darkness alone.”
“I feel that if people know we are around, they may think twice before spiking someone, or preying on somebody who is too intoxicated to make their own choices or give consent,” she tells us.
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“Employing people inside the clubs solely for the purpose of safeguarding would be very effective, this is our goal eventually,” Jamina adds.
Asked what more can be done to increase safety in venues, she said: “I believe scanning IDs is a very effective way to monitor who is coming in and out the club, and if someone is a threat, they can be barred much more effectively.”
She also tells us, “There’s a cool company called nightcapit, which makes scrunchies that also double as a spiking preventative you put over your drinks, this is such a good idea and I do believe is a good investment.
“It’s [just] a shame the responsibility is on women to safeguard themselves rather than those doing the spiking.”
Another female-led initiative that has rallied in the wake of increasing reports of violence against women is Right to Walk MCR, set up by marketeers Emily Sutton and Rebekah Spratt earlier this year.
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The pair, who both work closely with hospitality venues, agree that more needs to be done – adding that both bars and nightclubs need to be working with the GMP to ensure correct and thorough measures are in place.
“Spiking has always been a historical problem and one we are all far too aware of, however, the recent development of spiking with needles is incredibly disturbing and shows that so much more needs to be done to keep people safe on a night out,” said Emily.
“It’s been amazing to see several Manchester venues using their voice to show their outrage […] Overall though we need to see more venues speaking up.”
“Considering Manchester has some big venues such as the WHP, this really should be at the forefront of their minds – what are they going to do to keep people safe? More needs to be said and action needs to be taken.”
“Prevention is key, not looking to stop a problem that is already spiraling out of control. Victims who do come forward have also historically been disbelieved and it’s led to the perpetrator continuing their devious work. This simply MUST stop, all victims should be listened to.”
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On the subject of improving safety, Rebekah also tells us about how she is working with an intelligent app called Help Me Angela, which she describes as “a sort of ‘guardian angel'” that is “connected to its own collection of safety call-centres (much like 999), safety hubs (for example, if you find yourself being stalked or in danger) and other information points.”
“Unlike the ‘Ask For Angela’ poster campaign, HMA as a company will ensure that all venues who work with the app are fully trained. From front of house to doorstaff. ‘Ask For Angela’ fell into shortcomings around this.
Both founders advocate for rapid testing, which has already been adopted by a couple of Manchester bars since the boycott was announced last week
First Street bar Bunny Jacksons (which also has another site on Oldham Street) shared today that they have already ordered their testing kits and are organising extra training for staff and door staff
“You’ll see some posters going up with advice and hopefully reassurance,” the bar’s Facebook post added.
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However, these are just the beginnings of small steps starting to be made in the right direction.
Whichever way you look at it, it’s clear from speaking to numerous women that this disturbing spate of incidents has left many women in the country feeling less safe than ever – and more needs to be done.
Following the horrific murder of marketing executive Everard by Met police officer Wayne Couzens, who today lodged an appeal in court attempting to contest the whole-life sentence he was handed for abusing his position in order to commit the crime, trust in police is also at an all-time low and desperately needs to be repaired.
“There are countless stories of girls who have been spiked – but not believed – which is incredibly dangerous, as it creates missed opportunities into learning how or who is committing the act in the first place. It also means many cases go unreported,” says Rebekah.
“Once the cases are taken more seriously by all, I think we’ll start to see the change so desperately needed.”
Feature image – Impossible
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Tributes pour in for chairman of Manchester City’s ‘Cheadle Blues’ supporters club, Tommy Muir
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring in following the death of Tommy Muir, the long-standing chairman of Manchester City’s ‘Cheadle Blues’ supporters club, at the age of 71.
News of Muir’s death broke on Thursday, 21 November, with countless Man City fans learning of his tragic passing online and proceeding to pay their respects.
The Cheadle Branch boss, lifelong supporter and well-known club figure is said to have died following a period of illness, with a member of the popular Bluemoon Forum claiming he suffered from the progressive disease pulmonary fibrosis for some time.
Numerous messages of sadness, love and support have been shared on social media already.
Sad to hear the news that Tommy Muir has died. A wonderful person who first helped me with my research decades ago. A dedicated MCFC fan. My thoughts are with his family and friends. https://t.co/8rLcL10N2Ipic.twitter.com/dkEmCSU1vl
Just heard a top blue Tommy Muir has passed away. Met Tommy years ago, he helped me out with tickets down the years, we shared a few laughs and pints. He gave me this plaque after he rescued it from Maine Road and is something I'll always treasure. RIP Tommy #trueblue 💙⚽ pic.twitter.com/jfbFLfZCKS
By all accounts, Muir will be remembered as a much-loved leader of City’s Cheadle Branch, as well as a generous character with a great sense of humour.
There are countless messages from people who know him from the local area or through helping sort spare tickets for matchdays and as the familiar face around Maine Road back in the day and on the bus to the Etihad Stadium for many years.
Tommy was also one of the official supporters group members who were treated to a visit by Man City themselves, naming him honorary Life Vice President of the Official Supporters Club and bringing the Treble trophies to his doorstep back in July 2023.
Muir, an ex-Royal Mail worker, also served as the landlord of The Kenilworth pub back in Cheadle, Stockport, where fans would regularly meet pre-match before heading to watch the game.
Local author and historian of Manchester sport, Gary James, wrote on Facebook: “I’ve just seen this news… Sad to hear the news that Tommy Muir has died. A wonderful person who first helped me with my research decades ago. A dedicated MCFC fan. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Speaking to The Manc, General Secretary of City’s Official Supporters Club, Kevin Parker told us: Tommy was a blue through and through and 100% committed to The Supporters Club at Cheadle and its members.
“I have known Tommy for over 30 years and no one deserved the recent success the club has had more than him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and fondly remembered. He will still be watching our wonderful club from the Blue Stands in the Sky telling anyone who disrespects his Club to ‘do one'”
Known to so many throughout the fan base, even supporters who never met him personally have been sharing their condolences on various platforms. Those who knew him well have nothing but heartwarming memories to share.
Fan forums like Bluemoon have been awash with people mourning Muir’s passing. One person told the story of meeting him at the age of 17 and following him when moved to The George and Dragon pub – another popular City haunt before games.
Another wrote: “I got to know Tommy when I joined the Cheadle Supporters branch. Tommy loved being branch secretary. He was absolutely dedicated to his position as branch secretary […] The branch meetings were serious affairs, getting through what had to be discussed, but in between was humour and laughter brought about by Tommy.
“Tommy had a huge sense of humour, and his one-liners were famous amongst the branch members, which would have everyone laughing throughout the meetings. The coach trips to the away games were never dull. They were always full of cheer, drinking, laughter, and City songs.”
“Keep on watching your beloved City from above. Rest in peace, Tommy.”
Losses like this within a fan base are always tough to take. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, the Cheadle Branch and all the Blues whose lives he touched. RIP Tommy Muir.
A look at Embassy Village as construction on Manchester’s homeless housing project begins
Danny Jones
Work has officially begun on Manchester’s long-rumoured Embassy Village, a new living quarters designed specifically to house the local homeless community.
Set to be the largest purpose-built village of its kind in the UK, the hope is to provide short to medium-term housing for up to 40 rough sleepers in the Greater Manchester area.
Planning permission for the £4 million project proposed by the Embassy Charity was handed down back in 2021 and enabling works have been gradually taking place, with the land now fully prepped for construction to begin.
Officially breaking ground on Tuesday, 19 November, developers and regeneration specialists Peel Waters shared the first images from the site as well as concept artwork for what the district will look like once completed.
Construction begins to build the UK’s largest purpose-built village for rough sleepers @EmbassyVillage 🏗️🏡 Over 50 organisations are working together to transform our site below 22 railway arches into high-quality homes for 40 homeless men Full story herehttps://t.co/xoXfURTLGkpic.twitter.com/fn8GixYsxR
The 4.5-acre brownfield site sits beneath 22 railway arches just off the Egerton Street Bridge near Castlefield and the bustling Regent Road which heads towards Salford. Although it was initially said rooms would be made from shipping containers, the units will now be proper purpose-built structures.
Designed to house homeless and vulnerable people living in and around Manchester within individual units, Embassy Village is a joint non-profit venture by both Peel Waters and well-known property company Capital&Centric.
Contractor Vermont Group will be taking on the construction for free, with around 50 organisations offering their services pro bono, including AEW Architects, Planit and Jon Matthews Architects, who helped design the living quarters and wider communal space from the ground up.
Aiming to create a genuinely beneficial community environment, with those staying there able to access green spaces, mini-allotment plots, sports facilities; counselling services, laundry rooms, computer spaces and tonnes more, they’ve come a long way from offering tour bus beds to the homeless.
Residents will also start off on the right path towards getting back on their feet and those staying there will be required to carry out six hours of training per week in things like shopping, cooking, budgeting and other key life skills.
Substance abuse was only mentioned as a contributing cause by 22% of respondents, highlighting the reality that homelessness trauma exacerbates addiction for many. In fact, homelessness is a major contributing factor to substance abuse. pic.twitter.com/DeEB7VhAiC
Speaking on the first day of proper construction, Peel Waters‘ director James Whittaker said: “Today’s launch event is an important milestone, marking years of hard work and collaboration to deliver the UK’s first purpose-built community village…”
He went on to thank all of those who have backed the plans so far, including Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, who has already applauded it as a “fantastic idea.”
With several local organisations either offering their help for free or contribute by donating to the project, the speed at which work can now move is increasing and it is expected that the 24 homes, as well as the central ‘village hall’ space, will be finished within the next 10 months.
The aim is for Embassy Village to be completed in its entirety by the end of 2025 and with more and more businesses being invited to help with the development along the way, the amount of resources and manpower is only looking like it will increase with approximately £1m still needed to fully bring it to life.
Cooperating with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, which specialises in helping the homeless through its ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, Embassy are now working on finding long-term funding for the village’s operational costs once it is up and running.
Another key benefactor is The Moulding Foundation, an organisation dedicated to alleviating social inequalities, who donated £3.5m to support the village’s construction.
Co-founder, Jodie Moulding, told Prolific North: “For most people, access to housing, healthcare, and education is a given – but for others, it is a privilege…
“It has taken an unbelievable amount of time, effort, and energy to get to this point, so finally breaking ground is a huge milestone for everyone involved in bringing Embassy Village to life.”
As for Embassy themselves the charity’s director, Sid Williams, added: “Special thanks go to Matt and Jodie Moulding for their financial backing and the teams at Peel Waters, Capital&Centric, the Mayor’s Charity and Manchester City Council for making this happen.”