Houldsworth hub becomes first leisure centre to launch ‘Ask for Angela’

The Houldsworth Village hub in Reddish, Stockport, operated by Life Leisure, has become the first leisure centre in the UK to launch ‘Ask for Angela’ – a safety initiative allowing people to discreetly request help from staff if they feel unsafe, threatened, or vulnerable.

The move is the first of a planned roll-out of Ask for Angela across Life Leisure’s sites and is part of the operator’s strategy to make its environments even safer and more inclusive. While Ask for Angela is often associated with bars and clubs – and is sometimes misunderstood as an initiative only supporting women – the scheme is designed for everyone. It’s now widely used across a range of settings, including hotels, chemists and taxi services.

By simply asking a member of staff for “Angela,” people can communicate that they need help without having to explain their situation in detail.

“The scheme will enable our trained team to respond quickly, calmly and without judgment to provide appropriate support,” Life Leisure said in a statement. “The initiative also reinforces a clear message that harassment and unwanted behaviour will not be tolerated in Life Leisure hubs. It demonstrates that staff are trained and prepared to respond effectively when someone may be in need of help or reassurance.”

Research highlights the importance of such measures, with a recent YouGov survey showing that 49% of people would be more likely to visit a venue that has visible safety measures in place. Initiatives like Ask for Angela help strengthen public confidence and improve perceptions of safety across community spaces.

Eve Fox, Inclusion Officer at Life Leisure, added: “We want everyone who walks through our doors to feel safe. Ask for Angela gives people a discreet way to ask for help and reinforces our commitment to creating spaces everyone can enjoy without concern.”