On Tuesday 24 March 2026, Ask for Angela, the safety initiative for people who feel harassed on nights out or in other venues, officially launched in Luxembourg. This marks the first centralised and country-wide launch of the Ask for Angela scheme globally.
Ask for Angela is a discreet safety scheme that enables anyone who feels unsafe, threatened or uncomfortable to use a simple, discreet phrase to seek help in venues with trained staff. By asking if Angela is working, they signal they need help without having to provide a long explanation.
While the concept is well established in the UK, where it was created by Hayley Crawford ten years ago, there was until now no structured equivalent in Luxembourg and it remains relatively unknown.
The initiative is being launched by the board members of the recently established Ask for Angela (Luxembourg) Asbl, Terri Allington, Elodie Lemagnen and Arne de Wal, with backing from Hayley Crawford. They noted that the launch introduces a clear, consistent system that allows both venues and the public to engage with the scheme confidently, helping to make seeking help simpler and more accessible.
Ask for Angela (Luxembourg) detailed that venues that join Ask for Angela demonstrate a clear commitment to safety. Participation signals that a venue takes harassment and vulnerability seriously and is prepared to act when support is needed. The public will be able to identify venues where help is available if something doesn’t feel right. Whether on a first date, a night out with friends or meeting someone new, customers can feel reassured that trained staff are ready to step in if needed.
The association highlighted that by making support more visible and accessible, the initiative helps people act early in uncomfortable situations, without needing to explain themselves. It also sends a clear message that inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated, contributing to a safer and more respectful atmosphere in social spaces.
Ask for Angela (Luxembourg) offers free self-paced online training for venue staff in English, French, German, Luxembourgish, Portuguese and Italian, which takes under 30 minutes. Once 80% of staff are trained, the venue can join the ASBL as a Horesca member. Members receive physical and digital assets to signal their membership to the public and inform customers how to get help. The onboarding process is designed to be simple and low-effort for venues. Managers will not need to track training progress or proactively remember to arrange training for new colleagues as the process is largely automated.
According to the association, a more formal launch will take place in June, at which the first member venues will be announced.
Venues can register at askforangela.lu and will be invited to become Asbl members once 80% of their staff are trained.
The public can sign up to receive email updates on the Ask for Angela (Luxembourg) website and follow Ask for Angela (Luxembourg) on all major social media platforms.
Terri Allington, President of Ask for Angela said, “I’m struck by how widespread Hayley’s Ask for Angela campaign is in the UK – there are posters in almost every pub toilet. Sadly, unwanted harassment is not uncommon in any country, including Luxembourg. It would have been great to have Ask for Angela when I was younger, as I have been harassed and sexually assaulted in bars in the UK and Luxembourg and sadly it is still more common than one might think. The scheme has clearly resonated with people in Luxembourg, as we have over 40 people kindly volunteering to help raise awareness, translate, and get involved in other ways.”
She added: “I’ve spoken to some venues already, all of which have good intentions and willingness to provide safe environments. Venues don’t have the time, budget, or expertise to independently implement a scheme. I hope that offering a centralised and somewhat automated rollout helps to remove any management burden, lower costs, and ensure that more venues sign up. I believe that venues showing a commitment to safety will attract more customers, offsetting the small membership fee. Our focus is on making sure staff feel confident, venues feel supported, and the public knows that help is available if they ever need it. By offering accessible training and a consistent standard, we hope to create safer, more welcoming social spaces across the country.”
Hayley Crawford said, “When I created Ask for Angela in 2016, I did not ever dream it would become as successful and widespread as it has. Seeing Ask for Angela being taken up in Luxembourg means the world to me. Knowing that venues and communities in Luxembourg are choosing to put people’s safety first is incredibly heartening. I wish Terri and everyone involved the very best as they bring the scheme to life.”
