A Sheffield-based anti-harassment charity has claimed that a large percentage of the victims they support were neglected by bouncers and staff in the venues where incidents occurred.
Catcalls of Sheffield (CCOS) are working to ensure that a proper system of accountability is put in place for those who work in bars and clubs across Sheffield.
The organisation have been training prospective volunteers in their effort to promote safety across the city.
They are part of global youth-led organisation ‘Chalk-Back’, that collects anonymous submissions of incidents of harassment across the city and writes them on the ground where they occurred to reclaim the space.
Flo Rushton and Babhravi Krishnan, the Co-Founders of CCOS, said: “One of our key focuses is our aim to promote safety in nightclubs. As university students we’re aware that harassment on nights out is incredibly common and want to tackle the idea that this is inevitable and that nothing can be done.
The Co-Founders shared how they plan to expand their movement: “We are also looking, as a very long term plan, to work with schools to hold open conversations about catcalling and harassment that we hope can really contribute to meaningful community change.
“We are aware that our actions may appear fairly minor, but just the existence of our account has increased a conversation within Sheffield about harassment and we see this as the first step of many.”
While the campaign mainly focuses on incidents of sexual harassment, they have emphasised that their organisation accepts submissions of all kinds of harassment from people of all identities.
CCOS have a GoFundMe which contributes to their community events stating “activism is not cheap!”
For more information or to make a donation follow the link below