NDML endorses WAVE Training
NDML has partnered with the WAVE Programme to offer Welfare and Vulnerability training to nightlife businesses.
WAVE Training is a package involving multiple forms of education, including seminars, presentations and virtual reality, which aims to improve awareness of vulnerability and staff responsibilities. WAVE training will increase the knowledge and confidence of employees and venue owners, helping them identify vulnerabilities and harassment, and educating on how to intervene appropriately.
WAVE Training is designed to prevent and reduce violent crime, sexual offense, alcohol-related injuries, anti-social behaviour. WAVE also intends to promote engagement between businesses and communities.
NDML invited Eren Bessim from Safer Business Network to run a WAVE Training presentation with some of our Leeds-based clients. After the successful sessions, we sat down with Eren to discuss the intention of the sessions and the importance of equipping nightlife operators with relevant intervention skills.
What is Eren Bessim’s background?
We asked Eren Bessim about his experience and career background, and his intention behind the origins of WAVE training.
Eren: I’m currently the Training and Development Manager at Safer Business Network, which is a non-profit organisation. Safer Business Network aim to train and upskill businesses to support them. We work with grassroots as well as leadership and management levels.
Before Safer Business Network, I worked for the police. I was a Metro police officer in Brixton for a very long time. I specialise in working with businesses in the nighttime economy on crime, as well as within licensing and events. My background allows me to bring my experience to my role at Safer Business Network, helping me improve people’s understanding of crime, and bring this training to life.
How did WAVE Training originate?
Erin tells NDML that WAVE Training was a training programme built as a response to the murder of Sarah Everard.
Erin: Sarah Everard was sadly murdered by a Met Police Officer. In light of this incident, and abject failure from certain organisations, businesses were seeking out support, better understanding what to do on a practical level. There existed a need for nightlife businesses to train their staff how to understand dangerous situations, particularly of sexual harassment. WAVE aims to give individuals the confidence, the skills, and the knowledge on how to deal with vulnerability.
Hence the training was built around the relevant licensing objectives, preventing crime and supporting local communities.
How do you teach WAVE Training?
Eren: We deliver a blended learning approach. The sessions can be delivered either in person or online. In person is preferred as it’s often smaller groups and I can interact with the audience, answer questions and take on feed back.
In a session, I try to gauge and build from their level of understanding around vulnerability. We cover a number of aspects, including what could be a vulnerability, how to recognise them, and how to input proactive measures at their venues. I will then show them a video, a fictionalised video of real world examples, and witness their reaction.
We want people to be comfortable with being proactive when dealing with vulnerabilities. This includes spotting incidents before they happen, creating an inclusive environment, and ensuring the right policies are in place.
What welfare policies and procedures should nightlife venues have in place?
There are a wide range of policies and procedures discussed during the WAVE Training, Eren explains.
Eren: We go through necessary documentation, such as public liability insurance and risk assessments. I ask whether they business has a vulnerability book, an incident book, a health and safety book – and review what they can change as an organisation.
We discuss spiking incidents, allyship, disabilities and hidden disabilities. We also identify unwanted sexual attention, and we talk them through the motions of dealing with a victim and perpetrator. We also discuss interactions with the police and local authorities, including how to preserve a crime scene. Then the final policy we cover is Ask For Angela, a more reactive policy which should be present at every venue.
Why have you adopted VR for WAVE Training?
Eren is a huge pioneer for alternative learning methods and believes stand up virtual reality, using VR headsets, offers an excellent opportunity. When it comes to getting up close to real life situations without any risk, VR is the ultimate tool. The benefits to VR are; ease of us, accessibility and the element of fun important to educational engagement.
Eren: People learn differently, and some people are not always comfortable with the classroom approach. The next generation are using mobile phones and technology to learn. Stand up virtual reality puts you in the intended scenario with actors and includes proactive questioning throughout.
How it works is they become a part of the scenario, we then test the learners on what’s happening, and assess accuracies. It doesn’t matter if they haven’t spotted anything because they can easily go back and try again. Seeing a real life scenario play out, and being within the setting, gives learners the practical skills to deal with incidents.
What other alternative methods of teaching are included in WAVE Training?
Eren: I will incorporate mock crime scenes. I will set up a crime scene in the space and get the learners to proactively find objects and understand how it should be preserved. The crime scene must not be cleaned up, drinks which may have been spiked should be safeguarded for evidence, and pictures should be taken of the area.
Is WAVE Training successful?
The statistics around sexual harassment and spiking are striking. One in four women have been assaulted, and five in six incidents are not reported. WAVE Training is necessary, but at NDML we want to know if the training has already seen positive results.
Eren: I always receive excellent feedback after a session. I visit venues, and can see actions being implemented. Learners come to me after the session and respond by saying they’ve learned more than they had even hoped, and have actions points to put in place.
NDML took feedback from the WAVE Training event held at our offices – Clients reported:
- “The training was really interactive and I loved the VR.”
- “The training was very useful and included resourceful information.”
- “Erens great. Everything was explained perfectly, I was really impressed and pleased with it and I’ve managed to learn a lot.”
How does a business receive WAVE Training?
The standard cost is £750 for an inhouse session, that’s a face to face session. NDML members will receive a discount to this cost, and therefore should enquire about WAVE Training by contacting NDML.
Eren: We have an E-learning version of the training, which starts as little as £5. Nightlife and hospitality businesses should go through NDML in order to contact me at Safer Business Network.
NDML want nightlife businesses to undertake welfare and vulnerability training because it shows due diligence. It reduces the likelihood of a claim and specialises in the prevention and de-escalation of dangerous situations at the venue.
WAVE Training is hosted by myself and my colleague Bianca Simpson. We teach up and down the country, and have trained over 110,000 people both nationally and internationally.