Industry Plants – How the term damages the resurgence of female fronted rock bands like The Last Dinner Party 

Eszter Vida on 6 March 2024

Written by Eszter Vida, edited by Millie Cain

Industry plants: artists that music nerds love to hate and point out within seconds of hearing new bands that break through unexpectedly. Arguably, London-based indie rock band The Last Dinner Party became the centre of new music hype as well as a lot of unwarranted criticism for their unanticipated success, along with other bands like Manchester’s Picture Parlour and in the past, even Wet Leg. The key theme of these accusations? They’re somehow always women.

It’s no surprise why the average listener would accuse the music industry of wanting to take advantage of this gap in the market and creating what they would recognise as ornaments of progressiveness in the music industry. Female fronted bands barely scrape the line-up for traditional rock festivals and there’s no doubt always been a gender gap in the industry.

(Image Credit: Eszter Vida)

But I think it’s important to remain nuanced when approaching conversations on industry plants and consider the geographical and economic factors on whether a band makes it beyond a local status. It’s mutually agreed that since most record labels have always been based in London or getting your foot in the door would rely upon a complex network of connections or nepotism, a band like The Last Dinner Party may have been gifted the advantage of finding themselves in the music scene’s capital. Arguably, if you want to pass this judgement towards someone more suitable, there are surely other male indie rock bands with famous dads that wear shades and like to forefront themselves on social issues and equality; that is if the nepotism label sabotages your ability to simply enjoy music that much. 

I managed to catch The Last Dinner Party at Live at Leeds this past October. What I saw was not a plastically manufactured line up of industry puppets that were jumping to sell you corporate messaging and to fill their own pockets, but rather a band with a sisterhood quality, incredible talent and clever aesthetically pleasing image. The band present themselves as some fantastical quintet, catering to the girls who want to live out the romance of a pastoral renaissance novel, in the backdrop of living in our confusing modern world. They are certainly not ornaments for anyone’s gaze, except for the audiences they have since captivated. 

Lead singer Abigail floated around elegantly in her white Austen-esque dress, addressing the crowd like the host of a dinner party eponymously as she released guttural screams in ‘My Lady of Mercy’, among the presence of roaring guitars and booming synths. I personally sense a lot of influence from the likes of Siouxsie Sioux, Patti Smith and Stevie Nicks: all veteran trailblazing female figures. What defines their image should not be that they’re all 5 women-presenting musicians but that they are truly a group that work in harmony and greatness. In alignment of this, it was extraordinary to see them tone their set down by way of singing a choral chant and was empowering to experience live.

The Last Dinner Party have been formulating this image as early as 2021, judging from the beginning of their Instagram account. They themselves have come to defend their origins as 18-year-olds who met during freshers week and got signed, as any university band ever dreams. I was quite shocked to learn that back in 2022, they were even on the line up to play alongside Northwest local acts like Seb Lowe and Pixey on the smallest stage of my hometown’s festival Neighbourhood Weekender in Warrington before I had even learned of their existence. For female artists, constructing an identity to prove their relevance and the pressure to have outstanding marketing has somehow survived as this unkillable shadow since 1950s girl groups have been around to be recorded and exploited by greedy music bosses. I’d like to think that we are beyond the age of female passivity.

I’m relieved when bands like these women break into the mainstream. Whether you believe they are industry plants or marketing geniuses, one thing is true that the image of the band is beyond captivating. You shouldn’t leave their gig or finish enjoying their music by saying ‘I didn’t expect them to be THAT good’ or promote them later how ‘they ACTUALLY sounded decent’. Nails can be heard on distant chalkboards when I hear someone’s preconceived judgments; they are sadly not welcome into both band’s expanding musical worlds that should be treated with patience if you’re expecting some longevity. That’s the true renaissance of female acts in a male-dominated genre of rock.

The growing appetite for Asia: Culture, travel and more

Anna Jackman on 9 February 2024

With the upcoming Lunar New year, also referred to as the ‘Chinese New Year’, ‘Tet’, ‘Spring Festival’ and other festivals such as India’s vibrant ‘Holi’ and the cherry blossom season the world is increasingly turning its attention to this dynamic continent. 

In an era of unprecedented global interconnectedness, cultural landscapes are undergoing a seismic shift, the allure and rise of Asian culture with trends from the east transferring to the West. From K-Pop anthems dominating music charts to the global obsession with ‘Squid game’, the West is experiencing an undeniable hunger for all things Asia. This fascination spans beyond entertainment, influencing fashion, cuisine and even travel aspirations. But beneath the glossy veneer of ‘Kawaii culture’ and trendy bubble tea shops lies a complex reality teeming with questions: Is our ‘appetite’ for Asia genuine cultural appreciation, or simply a fleeting fad fuelled by exoticisation and stereotypes?

With AMA award winning artists like BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) known for top hits like ‘Butter’ and ‘Dynamite’ and the rising success of emerging K-Pop groups like Le Sserafim and New Jeans – Korean music has solidified its place in the west. However, it doesn’t just stop at music. There has been increasing accessibility to K-dramas with both Prime and Netflix ‘Originals’ highlighting this global interest.  Furthermore, Academy award winning Parasite (2019) by Bong Joon-Ki was the first foreign language film to win Best Picture, while the newly released animation ‘The Boy and the Heron’ (2023) by the acclaimed animation house Studio Ghibli recently won a Golden Globe reinforcing East Asia’s media ascent. However, the global appetite for Asia reaches much wider than its role as a media superpower. It has asserted its position through market liberalisation, technological breakthroughs and an emphasis on human capital development which has surged its rapid rise and enhanced its global economic prosperity. 

The travel industry has capitalised on this ‘Asian Fever’ despite the effects of COVID. Countries like Thailand, Japan and Indonesia are rapidly rising in popularity as tourist destinations. The travel industry’s growth has been fuelled by improved infrastructure, increased flight connectivity and the rise of digital nomadism, making Asia more accessible than ever. However, the promotion of these ‘exotic’ destinations and curated experiences raises critical questions about responsible tourism practices. This can be seen through the capitalisation of the white middle to upper class desire of ‘finding themselves’, through backpacking across countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Because of the allure of Southeast Asia as a ‘gap year paradise’, a destination dedicated for finding yourself, with beautiful vibrant culture, stunning landscape, and a different way of life, the region seems to offer the perfect escape. However, beneath the idyllic Instagram posts lies a more complex reality, prompting us to critically examine the narrative of ‘finding yourself’ in Southeast Asia. This romanticised view often stems from colonial era stereotypes, painting the region as mystical and otherworldly. This ‘exotic’ lens disregards the region’s rich history, complex challenges, and diverse identities. Ultimately, the idea of ‘finding yourself’ is driven by privileged individuals with the financial means and limited awareness of the power dynamics at play. Backpackers and short-term volunteers (through ‘Voluntourism’), though well-intentioned, inadvertently contribute to unequal power structures and gentrification and lead to critical questions about responsible tourism. 

‘Voluntourism’ is a form of tourism in which travellers participate in voluntary work, typically for charity. The work they can do may include social work such as volunteering at orphanages, agricultural work, healthcare, and education. However, voluntourism has led to local communities’ resources being drained and child exploitation. Research has shown that short-term orphanage volunteering can cause damage to children’s development and emotional well-being, creating unhealthy short-lived attachments and separation anxiety. 

Therefore, whilst the growing appetite for Asia reflects a global recognition of its dynamic and diverse nature, it is important to recognise the region’s diverse socio-economic realities, political struggles, and environmental challenges to foster a genuine appreciation and respectful engagement. As people continue to explore its rich cultural heritage, rapidly developing technology and engage with its art and entertainment, this fascination with Asia highlights it’s not just a fleeting trend. However, a nuanced and respectful approach is needed to truly understand and appreciate the rich tapestry of cultures and histories that make up the continent to ensure cultural appreciation rather than cultural appropriation.

Grief: Coping with death for the first time

Robyn Lawrence on 9 February 2024

Coping with death for the first time

Come to think of it, grief is a weird and wonderful concept. Now, hear me out. It’s weird because all of a sudden you are thrown into a world of sadness, anger, and often emptiness. You have to learn to cope with all of these intense emotions all at the same time. Happiness seems like an emotion that is out of reach; your world has crumbled down, and you often don’t know how to process your feelings. It’s weird in the sense that your emotions become uncontrollable, and you feel lost. And yet, it’s also wonderful. Not because someone has died, but because you get to reflect back on the memories you have with them. Looking back on these memories often fills us with sadness, because we can’t turn back time, but it’s a period of great reflection and understanding. A time to be grateful for your memories together. On the 16th December 2023, I lost my grandma to cancer, and this is our story. 

My Grandma

My grandma was my second mum and best friend. It often felt like it was me, my mum and my grandma against the world. I’ll always feel grateful for growing up around two strong women. It’s often after death that you truly realise how lucky you were.

She would always be there holding my hands through the most difficult of times. Helping to take me to school, attending my hospital appointments and guiding me through a period of bullying. Grandparents often feel like eternal beings that will be here forever. I do wish that was true. From going on holidays to Devon, shopping trips, or just simply sitting on the settee with her dogs, everything was perfect. Growing up, I always made a conscious effort to see her and spend time with her. It was the little things that mattered. Her dancing in the living room after I passed my maths GCSE, and eating her baked goods like cakes, buns and sausage rolls. I was highly convinced that she’d win the Great British Bake Off with her skills. She wasn’t as convinced. 

And then cancer happened. 

She had already been facing treatments and operations by the time I moved to university in 2022. The distance between you and an ill loved one is something indescribable. The guilt of not being there for them every day and the fear of the worst happening is otherworldly. But I knew she was proud of me, and I knew she wanted me to succeed. That is what you cling onto. 

Don’t be ashamed to cry

Even though you’re told it’s terminal, you still hold onto the hope that everything will be ok. It’s a way of shielding yourself from the inevitable truth and future heartbreak. When the time comes you think you’ll be ready. But the truth is, nobody is prepared for grief. 

This was my first time losing a loved one. Whilst experiencing death at any stage in life is devasting, your first time often comes with an overwhelming feeling that you won’t be able to cope. You feel a million things at once, wanting to scream at the universe for making this happen, questioning why a cure to cancer hasn’t been found yet. 

According to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, there are five stages of grief:

Denial: This is a stage where you often feel numb. You struggle to come to terms with the fact that somebody has died, and often think they’ll be coming back.

Anger: Death is unfair. You question why this had to happen. Why couldn’t they have lived? These are all valid emotions in your process of grieving.

Bargaining: We believe that doing certain things will make us feel better. This is the stage where you often ask the ‘what ifs’, in hopes you can go back in time and do something differently.

Depression: This is the stage we often associate with grief. The intense sadness can feel overwhelming as you mourn the loss of your loved one. It’s always important to remember that it is healthy to cry. So get those emotions out of your system.

Acceptance: This is the stage where we start to accept that our loved one has gone. 

Looking after you

Your loved one wouldn’t want you to neglect yourself after they’ve gone. I won’t bore you with the same old advice about looking after yourself by exercising, eating well and maintaining a good sleeping schedule. 

Coming from someone who is still grieving, these things often feel so out of reach. Of course, it’s important to make sure you look after your body and try to do the things which bring you joy during this difficult time. But sometimes it’s ok to feel like you can’t do anything and that things are a bit too much.

My biggest tip is to just be kind to yourself. As we’ve gone into this new semester, I’ve found myself going through waves of sadness. This is the first time I’ve not been able to contact my grandma whilst being away at university. The best way I’ve found to cope, though it’s easier said than done, is to focus on what’s in front of you. You’re not forgetting your loved one by trying to do your best in all aspects of your uni life. In fact, you’re doing the opposite. I know that by working hard and carrying on doing the things I love, I am honouring my grandma, and as I reflect back on my life with my grandma in it, I can’t help but smile. How lucky was I? 

I’ve often been told grief never goes away, you just learn to live alongside it. It’s not easy, but it’ll get easier.

Expression Leeds: Fostering LGBTQ+ Creativity, Confidence, and Community

Ioana Gradinaru on 1 February 2024

Expression began as a student-led fashion show in Durham, offering an avenue for the LGBTQ+ community to express themselves creatively. Lulu, the company director, saw an opportunity to expand this initiative after noticing the lack of creative spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in the north of England. Choosing Leeds as a new base, the team aims to continue providing a platform for young queer creatives, both students and locals. Together with Sophie, the Expression Leeds President, they explained to me their goals for this project.

Expression Leeds not only focuses on fashion but aims to foster a sense of belonging and confidence within the LGBTQ+ community. Lulu emphasised the importance of inclusivity, mentioning instances where individuals found the courage to embrace different identities after being a part of the show. Lulu and Sophie’s stories exemplify the transformative impact Expression had in Durham and hopes to have in Leeds. Lulu’s partner, initially identifying as a straight man, found a safe space with expression, and as Lulu said, “I think when she saw just the liberation of expression, I think that really solidified [she] doesn’t have to kind of be miserable or settle for the identity that [she’s] in.” In the future, Lulu aims to open up a trans fund and a designer fund to support individuals with their transitions and creative futures.

Their outreach spans diverse avenues. From collaborating with universities to organising fundraisers and social events, Expression Leeds aims to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture through various mediums. Sophie shares that they are planning gigs, movie nights, and pub outings to give everyone a chance to meet more people from the community.

Our discussion brought to the forefront the realities of straight intrusion into queer spaces, with both Sophie and Lulu sharing their experiences. Unfortunately, these types of incidents are not isolated and they contribute to a sense of unease within the queer community. Sophie and Lulu emphasised the importance of creating and maintaining safe havens where LGBTQ+ individuals can freely express themselves without fear of discrimination or harassment and they hope Expression can become that for Leeds.

Lulu chose Leeds because of its rich LGBTQ+ history. Among Leeds’ LGBTQ landmarks is the New Penny pub, which has been a safe venue for the community since 1953. Leeds’s Freedom Quarter originated in the 1930s when Blayd’s Yard’s Pelican Social Club gained notoriety for welcoming gay and transgender individuals. Despite local opposition, the University of Leeds society branch of the national Gay Liberation Front distributed pamphlets and staged protests in support of same-sex rights during the 1970s.

According to welcometoleeds.co.uk, “Leeds has championed LGBTQ+ rights with many UK firsts, including:

  • The University of Leeds hosted what was said to be the country’s “first national conference for transvestite and transsexual people” with 102 attendees in 1974.
  • The Yorkshire Terriers Football Club was established in Leeds in 1997, the first gay-friendly team to be created in the UK.
  • The UK’s very first civil partnership was held on 21st December 2005 between local entrepreneur Terry George and Michael Rothwell, after a special licence was granted to Bar Fibre on Lower Briggate.
  • The first ever Trans-Pride celebration in the north of England was held in Leeds in March 2018, including talks, discussions, a march, and a day of film screenings.”

Expression’s future plans are to expand its reach and impact, bringing together diverse individuals and providing a supportive space for self-expression and growth. As they continue their journey, the team aims to hold a spectacular LGBTQ+ fashion show in Leeds in June 2024, showcasing not only fashion but also the resilience, creativity, and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. 

The team’s current focus lies in recruiting individuals for various roles, from designers and models to welfare officers and production directors. Their goal is not only to put together a successful fashion show but to create a welcoming environment where everyone, regardless of academic affiliation, feels included. If you’re interested in participating, contact Expression Leeds through their instagram @leeds_expression or their website expressionentertainment.co.uk

How “just putting one foot in front of the other” exploded onto the scene in 2023

Holly Millard on 31 December 2023

At the end of 2023, one of the big winners was running. It felt like everyone was doing it. Your walks to campus were filled with people on a run, and why not?

As a student, running appears to be the perfect solution. Getting out and about in the winter is hard, especially when we’re getting to and from university in the dark. Therefore, running on the weekend is a perfect way to spend some time outside, away from the laptop screens.  It’s not just on the streets of Leeds that people are running, it’s on social media too. From those running 5ks to the ones training for half marathons, it is fair to say running has just as much a presence online as on the tracks. The evolution of “RunTok” has opened the world up to the wonders of running. The majority are starting as beginners and showing just how accessible a run can be. RunTok also normalises the realities of running and is a perfect place to start before you even lace up the trainers.  

Why has running become so popular? Partly because of RunTok and partly because of its benefits. It improves mental health, and fills the long summer days. It’s a perfect opportunity to meet a range of people, which as a student can be a daunting task. Running is a global community, for sure, but it is also a great way to meet new people in the city. Around Leeds there are many running routes and loads of running communities; think the canal and the city’s parks. Of course, one of the largest benefits of running is the physical fitness, but there is so much more to it. 

There’s a certain consensus that to be a good runner, you need all the gear. The most fancy, colourful running shoes, shorts and tops. There’s so much out there it can be overwhelming. So here is my guide for running outside in the Winter:

  • A pair of gloves-  to keep your hands warm!
  • Layers or thermals- running in the winter is no joke, so having some layers is a nice place to start. 
  • A goal for the end of the run– whether it’s a sweet treat or a hot chocolate. It doesn’t have to be a PB.  
  • Run at a gym- If it is just too cold outside, you can always run inside.  

There is also a need to be careful, especially if running in the dark. Try to stay on well lit paths as much as possible and run in groups. There are a few running groups across Leeds such as Hyde Park and Harriers, and in the last few months, These Girls Run has popped up in Leeds. These Girls Run is a women’s only run club with two runs a week, and like the other clubs, it caters for beginners too. More information can be found on their retrospective websites below.

Where to start?

There are many types of running: road, track, trail and treadmill. Whilst the idea of going outside in the cold isn’t exactly at the top of everybody’s wish list, Park Runs are a great place to start. They represent a range of different abilities and have a really good atmosphere. 

The closest one to the university campus is at Woodhouse Moor. They meet at 9am on Saturdays. It has been said that you never regret a run,  so why not give Park Run a try! If you scan the barcode you can set up on the website, and there you’ll get accurate times to help track your progress. Park Runs are dotted across the UK and are a free, wholesome way to start your weekend. 

With the dark nights, and intense deadlines of university, running can be just the thing to help you balance your hectic student life. It doesn’t have to be a massive commitment. You don’t have to race, and you don’t have to have an insane training schedule. You can run for two minutes or twenty, it really doesn’t matter. Maybe that’s why it’s proven to be so popular in 2023, and why that looks set to continue in 2024.

More Information:

Hyde Park Harriers: https://www.hydeparkharriers.co.uk/

These Girls Run: https://www.thesegirlsrun.co.uk/

Park Run: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/

Just How Safe is Rwanda for Migrants?

Katie Hudson on 18 December 2023

Having already spent £240 million on the Rwanda asylum plan, the UK government remains committed to ensuring the migration ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ between the UK and Rwanda can be put into action.

Attempting to ‘Stop the Boats’ (in the words of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak), if successful, would be a partnership between the UK and Rwanda that aims to reduce illegal immigration across the Channel to the UK, by redirecting the migrants who arrive via boat to Rwanda instead.

However, on the 15th of November 2023 the UK Supreme Court ruled that the UK Government’s Rwanda asylum plan was ‘unlawful’. The ruling was based on the asylum plan being liable to ‘refoulement’ in international law– the concept of refugees being sent to a country in which they are subject to the possibility of degrading or inhumane treatment. Seen as the ‘cornerstone’ of the UNHCR 1951 Refugee Convention, article 33 states that refugees must not be sent to a country in which they face serious challenges to their human rights. 

The UK is also a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), prohibiting inhumane treatment and torture, as well as discrimination and the oppression of the freedom of religion and thought – binding the UK to accountability for human rights.

Unable to guarantee that migrants sent to Rwanda would not then be returned to countries in which they faced serious threats to their human rights, the Memorandum was therefore ruled as ‘unlawful’ and in violation of international law.

Undeterred in light of this ruling, the UK Government announced the UK-Rwanda Treaty on the 5th of December 2023, swiftly followed by the introduction of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Migration) Bill one day later. The Bill, if ratified by the House of Commons and the House of Lords, will define Rwanda as a ‘safe country’ under UK domestic law. It defines a ‘safe country’ as one which will not return people to another country in ‘contravention of any international law’ – upholding an agreement that refugees will remain in Rwanda or if returned to other countries, will not be placed in a situation which threatens their human rights. The Bill further dictates that this recognition of Rwanda as a ‘safe country’ will remain unaffected by international law – denying other nations or international organisations the ability to question the validity of Rwanda as a ‘safe country’.

If the Bill is passed, this will leave us with the question of just how safe is Rwanda for its prospective migrants?

In its constitution, Rwanda prohibits discrimination on the grounds of ‘ethnic origin, tribe, clan, colour, sex, region, social origin, religion or faith, opinion, economic status, culture, language, social status, physical or mental disability’. The prohibition of discrimination on such wide-ranging grounds is comforting to see for a state potentially about to gain the status of a ‘safe country’. However, despite this constitutional commitment to human rights, there are concerns of numerous human rights breaches in Rwanda, both past and ongoing.

Following the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, leading to approximately 800 000 civilian deaths, international organisation Human Rights Watch has assessed the protection and violation of human rights in Rwanda.

A letter written by Human Rights Watch to the UK Home Secretary in June 2022 outlines a list of ongoing human rights violations in Rwanda which dispute its credibility as a ‘safe country’.

Since 2006, vulnerable groups such as homeless people and children, as well as sex workers have been detained in Gikondo by Rwandan authorities. Those perceived to be ‘delinquents’ are detained, a fact which was recognised by the UK Government, but disregarded as an event of 2020 rather than the present day. 

In 2018, Congolese refugees from the war between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda were shot at and killed during a peaceful protest against the reduction of their food rations. A clear violation of the freedom of political expression, it is clear that previous refugees in Rwanda have experienced state violence and an encroachment of their human rights.

Perhaps most concerning is the UK Government’s current and open acknowledgement of state discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in Rwanda, contradicting its own constitution. Covered under the UK Government’s travel advice for Rwanda, the Foreign Office recognises that despite homosexuality being legal in Rwanda, ‘LGBT individuals can experience discrimination and abuse, including from local authorities’.

It is clear to see that Rwanda is not as safe as the UK government states. The documentation of present-day human rights abuses is alarming, and equally alarming is the willingness of the UK Government to endorse a country in which such abuses are taking place.

If the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Migration) Bill is passed, it is highly possible that, as the UK Supreme Court feared, refugees sent to Rwanda will face serious challenges to their human rights.

Flare: Your Student Safety Companion

Claudia Watson on 15 December 2023

Our sense of safety and security is something we often take for granted until it is taken from us. In the blink of an eye, spaces previously comfortable and familiar can be transformed into strange and dangerous territories. University campuses and communities are no different.

The irregular schedule and busy life of a student often sees us working anti-social hours and travelling alone. Leaving the library late and walking home after dark is a regular occurrence, and 9 times out of 10, we encounter no problems.

But what about that 1 in 10 instance where something does go wrong? What then?

Seeking to answer that question is Gabriel Brown, Morgan Saville and Geno Racklin Asher, a team of recent graduates from Cambridge University’s Kings College.

Together, the team created Flare, an emergency SOS app, which allows users to instantly send a pre-customised emergency text to trusted contacts by simply swiping or pressing the Flare notification on their lock screen.

The app has been designed with students in mind and aims to improve safety on and around campuses. In light of this, it is important to take a look at the figures supporting the push for additional protective measures.

Data collected by the Office for National Statistics reveals that for the period between March 2018 and March 2020, students were more than 3 times more likely than the average person to experience sexual assault. The Unsafe Spaces report 2020, an investigation into sexual abuse at English and Welsh universities, estimated that on average, 50,000 incidents of sexual abuse and harassment occur at universities each year. Whilst data most commonly records crimes of a sexual nature, other crimes, such as theft, also largely impact student areas.

Although statistics somewhat reveal the extent to which students are at risk, they do not accurately reflect the whole picture. Research by NUS in 2019 found that only 14% of students who experienced sexual misconduct at university reported the incident, and of this number, only one in five told their college or university.

Flare stands out as a valuable safety-companion for students due to its accessibility and convenience, and this has not gone unnoticed by universities across the UK. Societies and student unions are sharing in Flare’s mission to make campuses safer by partnering and sitting on Flare’s Advisory Board, which will meet regularly to discuss student safety on campus how Flare can help.

Amongst the app’s partners are Leeds’s very own, University Commuters’ Society, and the Society Against Sexual Harassment and Assault (SASHA.) The Leeds University Commuters’ Society supports students who live at home or commute into university, aiming to foster a sense of community and accessibility. Flare represents an important opportunity to enhance student safety when getting to and from campus, and CEO and Co-Founder Gabriel Brown believes, “that Flare’s technology will play a crucial role in ensuring that commuter students are secure and supported.”

SASHA advocates for increased awareness of sexual assault and rape culture at universities, by providing a safe space for students to share their experiences and to meet a community of survivors.

SASHA’s Secretary, Kay Corbin, spearheaded the society’s partnership with Flare, and explained: “SASHA is incredibly excited to begin working with Flare, a company whose remarkable dedication to enhancing personal safety perfectly complements our mission. This partnership represents a pivotal moment for us, as it strengthens our ability to serve and protect our student community. Flare’s innovative solutions and proactive approach align seamlessly with our commitment to student support. We are confident that this collaboration will help us foster a culture of safety and well-being within the student community, setting new standards for student security.”

Flare can of course be used in conjunction with calling 999, but what makes it unique is its ability to act as a middle ground between feeling threatened and contacting the emergency services. By allowing users to let trusted contacts know of their location, it is an extremely valuable tool in instances where the police may not be needed, but the user feels at risk.

Discussing the collaboration between Flare and universities across the country, Gabriel, emphasised that, “Flare isn’t just an app; it’s a movement that is all about creating safer communities. We’re thrilled to see the positive response from the student community, and we are committed to continuously enhancing Flare to champion safety in university communities.”

Unfortunately, feeling unsafe at and around university is a shared experience for many students, but the partnerships between Flare and the Leeds University Commuters’ Society and SASHA signify a positive step in the journey towards making our campus and city a safer place for everybody. The Flare app can be download for free on both iOS and Android:

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/flare-stay-safe/id6461013913

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cx.cause.emergency

Or you can visit the Flare website for further information: www.flare.cx

For more information on the Leeds University Commuters’ Society or SASHA, visit:

https://engage.luu.org.uk/groups/Q93/commuters

https://sashaleedsuni.wixsite.com/sashaluu/about

Or find them on their social media @leedscommuters @sasha_uol