Women urged to call this number when walking home alone at night

New research has uncovered that nearly half of British women (47%) have refrained from phoning a friend or helpline while walking home alone at night, even when they felt threatened. The survey participants cited concerns about 'disturbing loved ones', 'causing unnecessary worry' or 'being judged' as reasons for their hesitation for not calling.

Women and LGBTQIA+ individuals expressed the most concern about getting home after attending a live event alone. Yet, one in five have held back from reaching out to their loved ones for a chat while commuting home. Of this group, a third are Gen Zers, aged between 18-24.

The study was carried out by global ticket marketplace , which is teaming up with Uber and Strut Safe to ensure gig-goers get home safely and combat the stigma associated with seeking help.

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A third of Brits (31%) plan to attend live events this year, but the journey home afterwards poses a significant hurdle for music fans with 27% of women stating they would attend more gigs alone if they felt safer travelling at night.

Top worries among all respondents include using public transport alone at night (28%), waiting alone at transport stops (27%) and having no phone signal (22%).

The research is part of a new campaign, #SAVETHENUMBER, which encourages people to utilise the support line provided by Strut Safe. If you're leaving a festival, live music gig or any late-night event and don't feel like calling a friend, you can chat with one of the volunteers who will stay on the line until you're safely home.

Strut Safe, a non-profit volunteer-run support line, reports a 28% increase in calls over the past year. The majority come in after 11pm on weekends, a crucial travel time for gig-goers.

Grace, a 26 year old who has been a volunteer for the non-profit organisation for the past two years, understands the importance of having someone to rely on when travelling late at night. She stated: "Too often, people dismiss their desire for a little support as an 'overreaction'. Sadly, it's a mindset we've been conditioned to accept."

Sharing her own experience of using the support line, she said, "it made me feel so much better knowing that there was a voice on the end of the phone and talking about random things was comforting." There are no specific topics; callers can discuss anything they feel comfortable with.

Matt Drew, business development lead at viagogo, commented: "At viagogo, our mission is to help more fans access live events. That's why we're going beyond the event itself partnering with leading support line Strut Safe and Uber to help address some of the barriers fans experience so they can enjoy a great night out from start to finish."

More people are turning to support lines for a sense of security on nights out, with 47% of survey respondents indicating they would consider using Strut Safe's helpline in the future. The service operates from 7pm to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 7pm to 1am on Sundays.

Strut Safe's director of strategy, Michelle Kelly, commented: "The increase in calls to Strut Safe reflects ongoing safety concerns around travelling alone at night, especially among people of marginalised genders. Raising awareness of the resources available is crucial to help all people feel empowered to participate fully in public life.

"We welcome the news of more people embracing solo travel and independent experiences while recognising the complex ways in which experiences of marginalisation can pose barriers to these activities."

In an effort to promote safer travel, viagogo and Uber have teamed up for the #SAVETHENUMBER campaign, offering a £10 discount code ('ruGtzslERHA') for UK rides related to gig travel. This special promotion kicks off at 8pm on Friday 4 April and is valid from 8pm to 6am, providing a one-time use per customer.

Uber's co-chair of women, Mollie Moric, also stated: "Safety is built into every step of the journey with Uber because everyone deserves to feel safe and supported when travelling. We're proud to partner with Strut Safe and viagogo to help music fans get home safely and with peace of mind."