We’ve all been there. The nightis coming to an end, and you and your friends are all heading in separate directions. Your taxi isn’t arriving for another ten minutes, and suddenly you feel a little uneasy.
Turns out this problem is very common, with 77% of people feeling unsafe walking home alone at night. That’s why legendary chicken shop Morley’s is opening its doors at their Stockwell and Dalston Junction locations to welcome those who need a safe place to wait for a lift, taxi, or to meet someone without any pressure to buy something.
An initiative by Strut Safe
The idea is spearheaded by Strut Safe, an organiation who run a support line, where callers can speak to someone while they are travelling alone. Volunteers run the support line and callers can speak about whatever they like until they arrive safely at their destination.
Research by Strut Safe found that 94% of people changed or cancelled plans due to safety concerns, and the same number of people said they would feel more comfortable waiting inside a food outlet than standing on the street.
Laur Convey at Strut Safe says, “The Strut Stop offers a simple, well-lit space in familiar late-night venues, where anyone can pause to wait for a taxi or just take a minute before heading home without any expectation to buy anything. Knowing there are spaces like this nearby can make all the difference, and we hope other venues follow suit.”
How does it work?
The initiative has already launched as a trial in partnership with Morley’s. These locations were specifically picked because of their extended late-night opening hours (11am – 4am Wednesday to Sunday). I mean, we can all relate to being in a chicken shop at 1am, so it’s the ideal location to pilot the scheme.
Shan Selvendran, Co-owner of Morley’s Fried Chicken says, “Morley’s has always been about more than the best fried chicken in London. From the after-school rush to the late-night crowd, our shops are places people know, trust and love, making them the very fabric of the city we’re in. Partnering with Strut Safe to give people a safe place to wait for a taxi or a friend, feels like an extension of the services we hope we already bring and continues our commitment to looking after the communities we serve.”
As well as the Strut Stop openings, you can still utilise the free Strut Safe phone line on 0333 335 0026. The lines are open from Thursdays between 19:00-01.00, Fridays and Saturdays, 19:00 – 03:00, and Sundays, 19:00 – 01:00.