Students from the City of Bath College are leading a campaign to encourage young people to get home safely, following a number of late night fatalities involving students in the city.
The BTEC Level 3 IT students have teamed up with partner agencies to encourage people to stay safe during night-outs.
They will launch the Got Ya Back campaign at City of Bath College on Monday, 16th March.
The project team has secured more than £10,000 in funding to introduce innovate ways to improve personal safety and save lives.
Got Ya Back encourages young people to carry ICE (in case of emergency) cards and is looking at ways of working with taxi operators and licensed premises to help get young people home safely.
It is a partnership between City of Bath College, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Avon Fire & Rescue Service, Bath Spa University and the University of Bath.
BTEC Level 3 IT student Samuel Maggs, who is joint campaign manager, said: “We want to make sure young people are safe, we are working together to look after young people.
“The Got Ya Back message is simple; it’s about personal safety. We are reaching out to students in a non-patronising way.
“We are not preaching to anyone, we are simply informing people of the dangers and we believe it will have more impact coming from us than from parents.”
The students started working on the personal safety campaign about six months ago as part of their coursework as there had been a number of fatalities involving young people.
The team has already met with nightclub and bar owners and taxi driver associations to start promoting the campaign.
Tutorials are to be given to students at City of Bath College and both universities will include campaign literature in their student fresher packs from September.
Samuel added: “Students and young people are our priority. We are working together to help keep people safe whilst out at night.
“It’s not just about drinking because even if you are sober, it doesn’t mean you are safe.
“Some people think nothing will ever happen to them but we want to raise awareness that everyone is at risk.”
The Got Ya Back campaign has received donations including £10,000 from Bath & North East Somerset Council and £1,000 from the Somerset Crimebeat Trust.
The team has raised the campaign’s profile on social media and printed posters, flyers and wallet-sized cards to highlight safety messages.
The IT students have also given presentations to the Bath Nightwatch Group, Bath & North East Somerset Young People Substance Misuse Group and various secondary schools. Bath Rugby Club and RoSPA have also offered their support.
Each organisation has nominated ‘Got Ya Back’ representatives to champion the campaign.
Dine Romero, who is Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children, and Youth at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “I am delighted to support the Got Ya Back Campaign. It is a wonderful effort from the City of Bath College Students.
“It’s particularly exciting as its message is aimed at and appeals to both universities, the college and senior students at the local schools as well.”
