Ask for Angela launches official pledge at Wembley Stadium

The official pledge of the nationally recognised safety scheme, Ask for Angela, launched at the Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Friday.

Hosted in the Wembley Suite and supported by Brent Council, the event brought together leaders from hospitality, local government and sport to celebrate the next chapter of Ask for Angela. Attendees included Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Mili Patel; Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, Cllr Ishma Moeen and MP Dawn Butler, alongside representatives from local venues and national partners.

Ask for Angela is a discreet safety initiative in UK bars, pubs and public venues that allows someone to signal they feel unsafe or threatened by asking staff for “Angela”, enabling them to access help without alerting others.

Friday’s event unveiled the scheme’s new official pledge, which commits participating venues to providing trained staff, a safe space, and discreet assistance to anyone who feels unsafe, including support to leave safely or access further help when required.

Wembley Stadium formally signed the pledge and committed to training more than 2,500 members of staff. Businesses and partners signing the pledge will be added to a national database that will be available on the Ask for Angela website, demonstrating their commitment and helping to build a trusted network of safer spaces across the UK.

Cllr Ishma Moeen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, said:
“Ensuring the safety of everyone in Brent is a top priority. The Ask for Angela pledge equips venues with the tools to support anyone who feels unsafe, and we’re proud to lead the way in creating safer public spaces. Alongside this, the launch of our VAWG strategy demonstrates our ongoing commitment to protecting women and girls from violence.”

Wembley Stadium Director, Mark Lynch, said: “Wembley Stadium takes the safety of all our visitors extremely seriously, particularly women and girls who make up a large part of our audiences.

“With major concerts taking place this summer, it is vital that everyone feels confident, supported and safe while enjoying live music. Initiatives like Ask for Angela are a key part of creating that environment, and we’re proud to support its continued development.”

Speaking at the launch, Sylvia Oates, CEO of Ask for Angela, said:
“Today marks an important step forward for Ask for Angela. The Official Pledge gives businesses a clear, practical way to show their commitment to safety, while our refreshed brand and new assets make the scheme more accessible and effective than ever before. Our goal has always been simple: to create safer spaces for everyone, and today shows how far collaboration and shared responsibility can take us.”

Dawn Butler MP, Member of Parliament for Brent East, delivered the keynote address, saying: “Ask for Angela has become a vital tool in keeping people safe in public spaces. The launch of this Official Pledge strengthens accountability and empowers venues to play an active role in protecting their communities. It’s encouraging to see safety initiatives like this continuing to grow, adapt and lead.”

In addition to the pledge ceremony and brand reveal, Ask for Angela outlined its future plans, including expanding its national reach, strengthening partnerships and supporting more venues across the UK in the months ahead.