Derbion is the East Midlands’ premier retail and leisure destination, offering a full family-day out experience within a contemporary, safe and secure environment.
In addition to major international and national brands including FLANNELS, Tommy Hilfiger, Mango, BOSS, Hobbs, Next, Zara and Lush, Derbion also offers convenience with leading retailers such as Sainsbury’s and M&S Food Hall, plus Boots and Superdrug.
Home to Showcase Cinema de Lux, Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Hollywood Bowl and the Derby Theatre, Derbion has an extensive leisure offer for visitors to enjoy. The venue’s Food Court offers nine eateries for visitors to choose from, with a further eight standalone restaurants and plus many more cafes and eateries throughout the centre.
The scheme is supported by an integrated, secure car park facility, offering 3,500 spaces in the heart of Derby city centre.
Why have you supported Safe and Sound as an anniversary sponsor?
“With Derbion sitting in the heart of the city, were are proud to have Safe and Sound as one of our charities of the year. Focusing on tackling some of the key issues facing our community”
Are you planning any special fundraising or awareness-raising events as part of your sponsorship?
Supporting the outreach, engagement, and youth activities in our Derbion Community Hub during the school holidays.
Have you appointed a Safe and Sound Champion within you’re your company:
Gary Summerfield – Security Manager – “I want to help to reduce antisocial behaviour in the city centre and help signpost vulnerable people to correct agency. Working with Safe and Sound will help me to achieve these goals”
What would your message be to the young people and families that Safe and Sound supports?
Derbion is a safe environment for young people and families to visit. We are supporting the ‘Safe Place’ initiative for women, children and young people.
A hard-hitting film highlighting the importance of stepping in and challenging harassment and violence against women has been released as part of a city-wide awareness campaign.
The ‘Safe Derby’ campaign, backed by Home Office funding, was launched recently to rally communities across the city to tackle, challenge and prevent violence against women and girls in public places.
As well as a series of workshops, training, initiatives and a capital programme to upgrade CCTV and lighting, a film has been produced highlighting the reality of harassment and violence facing many women who simply want to enjoy an evening out and how timely intervention can help prevent gender-based crime.
The film has been produced by the key partners involved in Safe Derby – Derby City Council, specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound and Derby Community Action – working with Derby agency, Future Proof Films, Nadia Jane Performing Arts in Green Lane and Sporting Communities.
It shows a young woman heading out to meet a friend one evening. At first, she becomes nervous when she thinks she is being followed and is relieved when he realises how uncomfortable she is and crosses the road.
The two friends are then harassed firstly by a man in town whose friend challenges his behaviour and pulls him away and then by another man in a bar but, again, the bartender steps in.
There are then two scenarios: the first is when the woman is separated from her friend and heads home alone. She is followed and assaulted but is reluctant to contact the police.
The second scenario is that a bystander outside the bar suspects the attacker’s motives for following the woman and calls her back – checking she is alright and offering to call her a taxi.
Derby City Council Young Person’s Engagement Officer Stevie Wild, who co-produced the film, explained: “Everyone has the right to enjoy a sociable evening out with friends without fear of harassment, inappropriate behaviour and assault.
“The overriding message in this film is that we can all play an important role as an active bystander – recognising that something is not right, stepping in to help and challenging aggressive behaviour whether from a friend or a stranger.
“We also wanted to highlight the importance of reporting such crimes to the police which we know many women and girls are reluctant to do – perhaps thinking that they will not be believed or will, in some way, be judged.”
Councillor Matthew Eyre, Cabinet Member for Place and Community Development, added: “The release of the film is a powerful culmination of the Safe Derby campaign which has included many different elements to raise awareness of this important issue.
“The overarching objective of the campaign has been to signal Derby’s zero tolerance towards, and promotion of a city free from, gender-based violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation.
“Our goal has been to make Safe Derby an important starting point to raising wider awareness of the issue and to empower everyone in our local communities to play their part in tackling gender-based violence.”
A schools workshop programme highlighting the impact of peer on peer abuse and empowering young people to speak out if they seeing something wrong is underway as part of the city’s Safe Derby campaign.
The ‘I Can I Will’ workshop has been developed by specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound who are a key partner in the Safe Derby campaign alongside Derby City Council, and Derby Community Action.
Year six pupils at a number of primary and junior schools in the city have so far taken part in the workshops including Gayton Junior School in Littleover and Firs Primary School in the city.
Safe and Sound chief executive Tracy Harrison explained: “The Safe Derby campaign has incorporated many different elements ranging from self defence classes and setting up a network of Safe Places in the city centre to promoting for importance of men being allies of women and improving CCTV and lighting in public places.
“All the partners equally recognised the importance of including a strong education element in the campaign and the ‘I Can I Will’ workshops have been welcomed by a number of schools in the city.
“It is important for children and young people to be aware from an early age that emotional bullying can be just as damaging as physical harm and the need to challenge inappropriate behaviours.
“Peer-on-peer or child on child abuse can be motivated by perceived differences including on the grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other differences.
“It can result in significant, long lasting and traumatic isolation, intimidation or violence for the victim as well as the perpetrator who themselves can be facing violence and disruption in their lives.
“These issues obviously need to be discussed in a way that is appropriate for children aged ten and 11 so the workshops very much focus on the positive elements of looking after each other, speaking up when you see something wrong and reporting incidents or concerns.”
Firs Primary School’s headteacher Mrs Paula Martin explained: “We were keen to welcome Safe and Sound back into school to deliver this workshop as part of our work to help year six pupils transition onto senior school and into their lives as young adults.
“The workshop covers important topics such as what is peer on peer abuse both in person and online and the devastating impact that this can have on children and young people.
“The work around being an active bystander – speaking up and safely intervening in a situation which you know is wrong – is particularly empowering to show children that they do have a voice.
“Talking about these important issues in the safe and familiar primary school setting is vital before the children move onto their senior school when everything can seem much more overwhelming and I hope that they remember these important messages as they continue their learning journeys.”
Gayton Junior School learning mentor Mrs Vicki Clarke continued: “The ‘I Can I Will’ workshops were very engaging and the Safe and Sound team guided the children through discussions that included how each of us have a responsibility to help create safe communities regardless of age, gender race or religion.
“We pride ourselves on being an inclusive school, teaching our children about respect and modelling the care we give without prejudice so to witness our children show those qualities in the workshops made us incredibly proud.”
Ten-year-old Charlie, a pupil at Gayton Junior School, said: “I think the workshop really helps to make you a better person. You are showing that you care and won’t just stand around and let something bad happen.”
Fellow pupil Ciara (11) said: “The workshop made me think about me being more comfortable helping people young than I am and that this is OK. I know that I should do something if I see something that is wrong.”
A group of Muslim women are amongst the first to receive formal training that aims to empower them to make a stand against violence and inappropriate behaviour towards women and girls.
Fifteen women are taking part in the Active Bystander training run by Central Education and Training in Charnwood Street as part of the city-wide campaign Safe Derby.
Active Bystanders are empowered to speak up, safely intervene or seek help in situations that they witness such as bullying, sexual harassment or hate crime.
The training is part of the Safe Derby campaign which is backed by the Home Office’s Safer Streets initiative and led by Derby City Council alongside voluntary and community sector partners including local specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound, Derby County Community Trust and Derby Community Action.
Some of the women are already trained community champions who, under the United Sisters group, support other women in their local communities – signposting them to organisations who can help with issues they are facing and flagging up issues of concern.
Tazim Fayaz is manager at Central Education and Training in Charnwood Street which supports women back into education and work. She also runs the United Sisters group to empower women to have a voice about their own experiences and concerns and to be positive members of their community.
She explained: “Violence and intimidation towards women and girls is something that comes up in conversation here a great deal.
“Women of all cultural backgrounds in Derby tell us that they are worried about the safety of themselves and their families – particularly in the evenings.
“A lot of women from South Asian communities in particular are care workers and the fear of being out in the evening – even travelling by car – means that many are reluctant to work after teatime which is affecting their ability to earn money to support their families.
“Others have told us that they have often been the target of offensive language and even intimidation for the way they are dressed.
“Active Bystander training is an excellent way to build women’s awareness of how situations can escalate and give them the confidence to either safely intervene; who to ask for help and how to report an incident or situation effectively.
“I hope it will make us all more confident to challenge inappropriate behaviour, offer support to people who are vulnerable to abuse and spread the word that violence in all forms, particularly against women and girls, must not be tolerated.”
Among the women taking part in the training is a 44-year-old mother of three who said: “When I first moved to Derby 18 years ago I felt that it was a safe place to live. Now I feel much more concerned – largely because of people and particularly men hanging around in the streets who are obviously using drugs.
“I often feel intimidated walking alone in the street – even in broad daylight – because of how they look at you or things that they say.
“It is also very uncomfortable to see it happening to someone else. Although it is easier to turn a blind eye and ignore a situation, the only way we are going to change this is for women to look out for other women.
“It’s important that we challenge intimidating or threatening behaviour and also report incidents or concerns.
“Active Bystander training is important to know how to do this in a safe way and, through United Sisters, we are also able to report things in a safe space.”
Another woman on the training programme is a 42-year-old mother-of-two. She said: “I have been very wary about going on my own since a guy on a motorbike was really intimidating and was making comments about how I was dressed. I got into my car, locked the doors and rang the police but it left me very shaken.
“I always carefully plan a route if I need to go out after dark and would definitely not go into the park or down a quiet street.
“We all want to have safe and independent lives so this training is important for us to look out for each other and report when things happen.”
Derby City Council Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Officer Lindsey Maidstone said: “Research shows that bystander intervention can be an effective way of stopping inappropriate behaviour and even sexual assault before it happens.
“Individuals with problematic behaviour are more likely to think their behaviour is normal or acceptable if no one confronts it, and this can often be reinforced by cultural messages. By reinforcing messages about unacceptable behaviour, we put pressure on people to re-think their behaviour and you can do this by being an active bystander.
“The Active Bystander training is, therefore, an important element of the Safe Derby campaign which has an objective to signal Derby’s zero tolerance towards, and promotion of a city free from, gender-based violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation.”
A network of shops, bars, offices and public buildings in the city centre which are designated as ‘Safe Places’ for women and girls to seek help and support if they are concerned about their safety has been announced.
The initiative is part of the Safe Derby awareness campaign which aims to rally communities across the city to tackle, challenge and prevent violence against women and girls in public places.
It follows an original pilot scheme launched last year which highlighted neighbourhood libraries and other public buildings as Safe Places for young people and vulnerable adults to seek help and support.
Derby-based specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound, in partnership with Derby City Council, has organised the network of venues which will display a sticker highlighting that they are a safe place for women and girls to ask or help if they feel unsafe.
Staff within the venues will ensure the individual can contact someone if they wish to get home safely or just give them time to collect their thoughts. If the matter is more serious or a crime has been committed, they will be encouraged to contact the police.
Venues so far confirmed include Derbion and Derby Theatre, QUAD in the Market Place; Derby Museums; HUUB, Full Street; BEAR and Think3 in Iron Gate; McDonalds and HSBC bank in St Peter’s Street Staywell Café in St Mary’s Gate; Nadia Jane Performing Arts School, Green Lane; Palace bar on Green Lane; Sacred Bean Café, The Morledge; Community Action Derby, Shot Tower; Padley charity shops in East Street and Sadler Gate.
Safe and Sound CEO Tracy Harrison said: “Our aim through the network is for women and girls, or indeed anyone who feels vulnerable, to know that there are safe places for them to go day and night to if they feel worried, harassed or threatened.
“The businesses and venues so far confirmed have all embraced this initiative and we are providing safeguarding training for staff if they feel they need it.
“Otherwise, it is a very simple ‘community neighbour’ concept of ensuring that someone is OK and making sure they are able to get where they need to be safely.”
“It is particularly appropriate that we are launching Safe Places on March 18 which is also National Child Exploitation Awareness Day.
“The key message behind the day is that safeguarding is everyone’s business and encourages everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children or children exploiting and abusing their peers.”
Councillor Matthew Eyre, Cabinet Member for Place and Community Development said: “We are aiming to have at least one designated Safe Place on every street in the city centre with a focus on both the daytime and evening economies.
“This is a great step towards creating a safer city for everyone but particularly women and girls who are at greater risk of harassment and violence.
“I would encourage other venues and businesses to follow suit and contact us or Safe and Sound for advice and support to join the network.”
The initiative was welcomed by 16-year-old Amelia Roe who has been raising awareness of violence against women and girls with a series of workshops and self-defence sessions at her school in Derby.
She said: “In the workshops, we have all talked about how unsafe we feel walking home at night and many have said that they have felt intimidated and harassed by boys or even older men.
“There is an unspoken rule for us all that we can’t go out on our own or even at all after dark and that is not right.
“It can be scary walking through town to get a bus home – especially in the early evening – so knowing that there are places that you can go to ask for help or just to take a breather and get away from a situation is a great idea.”
Wes Brien, store manager of McDonalds in St Peter’s Street, said: “As a well known name on the high street and being open until 11pm, it makes sense for us to be involved.
“We do sometimes have young people coming in and asking for help if they feel threatened or unsafe so it is great to have this formalised through the Safe Places initiative.”
Nadia Jane Asamoah who owns Nadia Jane Performing Arts and the Palace bar in Green Lane added: “I would say that most women have felt unsafe or threatened at some point in their lives and it is a scary thing. It is important that we all stick together and I am particularly passionate that women should support women.
“I want people to know that they can come into us if they don’t feel safe and that they will get a warm welcome and whatever support they need. I think this is a brilliant project and I hope more venues in the city centre will sign up.”
David Tomlinson, director of HSBC in East Street continued: “HSBC are launching a similar scheme on a national basis called Safe Spaces so it is great that we are able to be part of a Derby-specific project which ties in well with our overall aim.
“We will be training staff on recognising signs and how to support people, including women and girls, who need help and support. We will also have a designated safe space in the branch where people can go for privacy and support.”
Safe Places has also been backed by the Board chairs of Derby’s Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) whose Rangers have also been briefed to signpost women and girls to venues if they require support.
Martin Langsdale ,Chair of Cathedral Quarter, said: “With our teams of BID Rangers throughout the city, we are only too aware of the importance of providing vigilance and safe havens in respect of this issue, and are pleased to be able to contribute to raising awareness and offering support.”
Helen Wathall, Chair of St Peters Quarter added: “We are delighted to be involved and encourage all our businesses to engage fully with this inspiring new commitment to making our city centre the safe place it should be.”
Adam Tamsett, general manager at Derbion, commented: “We’re committed to make our city centre the safe place that it should be, so are delighted to be involved in this incentive. The campaign will make an important difference and help create a safer city for vulnerable people within our community.”
The ‘Safe Derby’ Campaign is backed by the Home Office’s Safer Streets funding stream – secured by the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
It is jointly led by Derby City Council and other voluntary and community sector partners including local specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound, Derby County Community Trust and Derby Community Action.
The overarching objective of the campaign is to signal Derby’s zero tolerance towards, and promotion of a city free from, gender-based violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation.
A series of workshops, training, events and new initiatives have been organised as well as an extensive capital programme by Derby City Council to upgrade CCTV and lighting in hotspot areas.
Organisers and some of the venues who have signed up as Safe Places with the stickers that they will display
Prominent men across Derby’s sport, charity and cultural sectors have joined together to speak out about violence against women and girls.
‘Allies of Women’ is led by Derby County Community Trust (DCCT) who are a key partner in the Safe Derby campaign alongside Derby City Council, specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound and Derby Community Action.
The overarching objective of the Safe Derby campaign, supported by Home Office funding, is to prevent, tackle and challenge violence against women and girls in public places and signal Derby’s zero tolerance towards, and promotion of a city free from, gender-based violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation.
The organisation’s head Simon Carnall and outreach worker Dan Henry
Derby County FC assistant manager Liam Rosenior and first team players Curtis Davies and Jason Knight
Chair of Derby County Women Nick Britten
Adam Buss who is leading Derby’s bid to be City of Culture 2025
Musician Jamie Joseph representing arts organisation Baby People
Bob Badwal from Punjabi Rams.
Together, they highlight the shocking national statistics and encourage men to speak out against harassment or threatening behaviour towards women.
The call to action is that individuals, businesses and organisations across the city show their support and sign up to the global White Ribbon movement which aims to end male violence against women.
The video ‘Allies of Women’ has been shared online for the first time to mark International Women’s Day (Tuesday March 8) and will then be aired on the Pride Park screens at DCFC’s home game against Coventry on Saturday March 19 and at the DCFC women’s match against Nottingham Forest on Sunday March 27.
Head of DCCT Simon Carnall explained: “Statistics surrounding violence against women and girls are frightening but we can all play our part to encourage behaviour change.
“Our aim by speaking out through Allies of Women is to make men and boys think twice about their own attitudes and behaviour but also to challenge and call out actions of others.
“I hope that it encourages male leaders across our local communities to also take a stand and to sign up their businesses and organisations to be part of the White Ribbon movement.”
Mr Carnall continued that ensuring equal participation in sport at all levels was an important part in changing attitudes and behaviour and promoting respect and tolerance.
He said: “By encouraging female participation across our wide range of programmes, we are empowering everyone, across society, to take part in whatever activities they want to – irrespective of gender, religion, race or any other factor.
“Whilst the Allies of Women campaign as been created to raise awareness as part of Safe Derby, we are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring participation opportunities and safety or women and girls across the remit of our work.
“This comes in many forms including encouraging female participation at typically male-heavy sessions and working alongside Safe and Sound in outreach work across local communities.”
Nick Britten, chair of Derby County Women, continued: “Our commitment to supporting women goes beyond the White Ribbon movement message with a rigorous programme in place to ensure that talented female players are able to compete at the highest level.
“The female player pathway is a partnership between DCCT and Derby County Women and aims to recruit the most talented players from under 11 and beyond – providing them with top quality training throughout their teenage years, into the Trust’s post-16 education programme with progression into first team football where possible.”
Safe and Sound, the Derby-based charity which supports children, young people and families across Derbyshire whose lives are affected by child exploitation, is among the first organisations to sign up for the White Ribbon campaign under Derby County Community Trust’s Allies of Women campaign.
Safe and Sound chair of Trustees, Mark Richardson, explained: “We support more than 200 young people every year who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation and see first-hand the devastating effects of both online and in person grooming and abuse.
“A key aspect of our grassroots work across the city and county is to raise awareness amongst local communities of the dangers facing young people regardless of their sex, age, where they live, family background or culture with a robust call to action that concerns must be reported.
“I hope that our pledge to the White Ribbon campaign sends a clear message that we must all stand together to do all we can to protect and support women and girls as well as everyone in our society who are vulnerable to exploitation.”
Councillor Matthew Eyre, Cabinet Member for Place and Community Development concluded: “In 2022 and beyond, it is crucial that all men are ‘Allies of Women’ and not only stand up to violence against women and girls, but also tackle and challenge the sexist comments, derogatory language, out-dated opinions and physical and online harassment that is so often how serious violence and exploitation begins and how abuse is perpetuated.
“We all need to think about our behaviour and our language and what the consequences of it, intended or unintended, can be. Everyone should feel safe in Derby – everyone should be safe in Derby. No one should be subject to gender-based violence, harassment or abuse.
“This video, featuring prominent individuals from across the city, highlights the horrifying realities of violence against women and girls, but also exemplifies the role that men can play in eliminating this violence and abuse from our society. It is so important that everyone hears its messages.”
