Hi, I'm Layla Barrett, your Wellbeing, Sport & Physical Activity Officer. My HSU priority this year is Night-Time Safety.

Recently, we've seen an increase in reports of drink spiking during nights out. Student nights should be safe environments where students can relax and have fun without fear of harm.

It's important to report any spiking incidents, whether they've affected you directly or someone you know. The more information we have, the better we can support students and strengthen preventative measures. You can report incidents to the police (call 999 in an emergency) and through Hallam's Report + Support system.

Reporting through Report + Support can even be done anonymously, which helps us understand the scale of the issue and take meaningful action.

I know this is an important issue, so I'm taking action to help Hallam students feel safer at night.

• I recently chaired the Night-Time Safety section at the Sheffield Students' Assembly, and led a roundtable discussion with students who shared their concerns with myself and Matthew Clay, Director of Policing and Reform at SYMCA. Participating in these conversations and listening closely to the issues raised by students was incredibly valuable.
• We provide free anti- drink spiking packs including cup covers and bottle spikeys:
  • Ask at the Students' Union helpdesk. All you need is your student number.
  • Ask at Hallamnation.
• We're working with CNTRL to offer a free taxi home for anyone that needs it. Just speak to the staff at Hallamnation if you think you or a friend needs this service.
• Last year, we launched a petition calling for stronger action on venue licensing following increased concerns about safety in public spaces. It received over 600 signatures. The Council are reviewing their policy and we're working with them to ensure interventions like staff training and clearer reporting policies are part of the review.
• I'm currently consulting on Sheffield's Women's and Girls' Night-Time Safety Charter with Sheffield City Council. We'll be holding outreach activities on 2 December at Owen's Level 5 entrance and on 3 December at Sports Park to get feedback on the new charter. We recommend viewing the charter from 2022 first to understand what it covers.
• I'm also working on increasing awareness and funding for initiatives such as Sheffield Safe Square.

Whilst this work is ongoing, here are my tips to stay safe on a night out:

• Don't leave drinks unattended.
• Use cup covers where available.
• Use safety apps such as Strut Safe and Walk Safe.
• Share your location with friends.
• Read our new webpage on night-time safety.

It's important that we advocate for one another and raise awareness amongst students about this ongoing issue, so I encourage you to do the same.

If you're passionate about student safety and want to get involved in future anti-spiking initiatives and campaign work, email us at campaigns@shu.ac.uk.

Thanks,

Layla Barrett
Wellbeing, Sport & Physical Activity Officer 2025/26