A year of progress as Shout-Up! grows in Newcastle
In 2024, Shout-Up! continued its impactful work in Newcastle upon Tyne, ending the year with 63 venues or promoters certified, meaning over 1,400 people working in the city’s night-time economy have received Shout-Up! training.
Originally launched in 2017 as a pioneering Newcastle City Council initiative, Shout-Up! has grown into a vital programme dedicated to tackling sexual harassment in nightlife spaces.
The year saw 13 venues recertifying their commitment to the programme alongside the 50 others certifying in the last two years, bringing the total to 63 certified Shout-Up! venues in the city. Among them, iconic venues like The Cluny and Cumberland Arms, two of the very first to join in 2017, reaffirmed their dedication to fostering safer, harassment-free spaces.
Dawn Bowman, Shout-Up! Lead for Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, highlighted their commitment: “For eight years, The Cluny and Cumberland Arms have been committed to making their spaces sexual harassment-free. Their recertification for an additional two years shows their commitment to creating safe, inclusive environments and is one of the reasons they’re such loved venues in our city.”
Steve Brown, Manager of The Cluny, added: “It’s important for us to be involved in the Shout-Up! programme as it takes measures to ensure the staff and clientele are safeguarded. This means our team knows what to look out for and when to intervene to prevent and eliminate any potential sexual harassment or other incidents.”
Newly certified venues included Bobby’s, Mushroom, and The Beehive, with Bethany, General Manager at Bobby’s, stating: “Being a part of Shout-Up! is vital to us as a business, and a community, as it promotes a safe place for individuals to enjoy themselves without fear of being harassed. Sexual harassment should not be normalised, and we actively aim to play a part in changing the narrative that allows sexual-harassment to be normalised.”
Dawn Bowman emphasised the importance of Shout-Up!’s progress: “We’re proud of the long-term commitment that Newcastle City Council continues to make to keep nights out in Newcastle safer for everyone. Every person working in the night-time economy is key to making sure our city is a safe place to party and have fun. To have the support of 63 organisations is such a significant step forward in making our zero-tolerance approach a reality.”
A poll conducted by Shout-Up! in 2024 revealed the ongoing necessity of the programme, with 71% of respondents reporting that they have experienced sexual harassment on a night out. Additionally, 97% of those asked supported training for nightlife staff, with 91% indicating they would feel safer in venues where staff had undergone Shout-Up! training.
As the programme continues into 2025, Shout-Up! will build on this momentum, aiming to train even more venues and promote a safer nightlife culture across Newcastle and beyond.
Interested venues can learn more about the programme and how to get involved should contact us.