imabi’s Partnership with Ask For Angela
A night out should feel enjoyable, relaxed and safe.
The reality is that sometimes, people find themselves in situations that feel uncomfortable, vulnerable or unsafe.
It might be a date that no longer feels right….It might be someone becoming too persistent…. It might be feeling separated from friends, unsure how to leave, or needing help without wanting to draw attention.
In those moments, having a simple, discreet way to ask for support can make all the difference.
That is why imabi is proud to collaborate with Ask for Angela, a nationally recognised safeguarding initiative that helps people access discreet support when they feel vulnerable or unsafe in public spaces.
As part of this collaboration, Ask for Angela venues that have signed the Official Pledge have now been added to imabi’s Safe Spaces map layer, helping users find participating locations more easily through the imabi’s Travel Guardian app and wider imabi platform.
What is Ask for Angela?
Ask for Angela is a powerful safeguarding scheme.
In participating venues, asking for “Angela” acts as a shorthand phrase to ask for help without having to explain the situation out loud. Trained staff recognise this as a request for assistance and respond appropriately.
That support might include helping someone contact a friend, arranging safe transport, speaking to security, creating space away from the situation, or contacting emergency services if needed.
The strength of Ask for Angela is its simplicity.
It gives someone a phrase they can use when they may feel anxious, embarrassed, unsafe or unsure how to ask for help directly.
More Than a Hospitality Scheme
Ask for Angela originally began as a hospitality-based initiative, supporting people in pubs, bars, clubs and night-time venues, but it has grown into a widely recognised safeguarding scheme operating across a range of settings, including:
taxis
shopping centres
leisure centres
schools
fire stations
student accommodation
public-facing venues and organisations
The scheme has also expanded internationally, with successful implementation in countries including Australia, Cyprus and the Netherlands.
This growth reflects something important: vulnerability can happen in many different environments, and support needs to be visible wherever people are.
Ask for Angela Venues Added to imabi’s Safe Spaces Map Layer
People may know Ask for Angela exists, but they may not know which nearby venues are participating. That gap matters most when someone is already uncomfortable, vulnerable or trying to make a quick decision.
Through this collaboration, Ask for Angela venues have been added to imabi’s Safe Spaces map layer, making it easier for the imabi platform users to identify participating locations as part of their safety planning.
This means people can use the imabi platform and Travel Guardian app to:
find nearby Ask for Angela venues
identify safer socialising spaces before or during a night out
feel more confident when meeting someone new
access mapped safety support alongside other trusted resources
make more informed decisions when plans change
This is not about replacing venue staff, frontline support or emergency service…it is rather about helping people find trusted support more easily.
Why This Partnership Matters
imabi’s mission is to help people stay safe, connected and informed.
Ask for Angela supports that mission in a very practical way. It creates a clear route to help when someone feels unsafe, while imabi helps make participating locations more visible and accessible through the app and the wider platform.
Together, this strengthens the connection between:
trained venues
local safety initiatives
people who may need support
councils, BIDs and community safety partners
digital tools that help people plan and respond
This partnership represents how technology can support real-world safeguarding, not by replacing people, but by helping people find the support that already exists around them.
