KICKING INTO ACTION

from RTW Together town centre magazine, issue one

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE SPELLS

RTW Together kicks into action with free self defence classes for town centre workers.

RTW Together has helped over 120 town centre workers to learn self defence for free.

BID Director for RTW Together, Sarah-Jane Adams explains “With the darker nights and mornings, many of us are thinking about getting to work or home safely, and after recent high profile events personal security is a very current and real consideration. We felt it was important to offer a free self defence class and personal alarm to the workers who are employed within our town centre, to give more people confidence as they come and go from work.

We’re lucky that Tunbridge Wells is a relatively safe town, and ideally we’re hoping to provide the women and men who come along with skills that they will never have to use!”

Instructed by Surge Self Defence, the session covered topics and physical elements such as being grabbed from behind and evading the hold, being grabbed by the wrist, escaping a chokehold, knife defence, mugging, being followed, bag defence - how what we carry can be used as a defensive weapon and the legality of self defence - the law regarding defending oneself and what we can and cannot do.

Participants have also received a free personal alarm, a worksheet of moves and a code to access a safety map.

Trainer Heather Jordan explains why she is so pleased to be delivering this initiative on behalf of RTW Together:

“I am passionate about women having access to self defence knowledge and techniques. It’s really important that women know how capable they are of overpowering someone bigger or stronger with simple techniques and skills. I love seeing the confidence grow in each and every person.

Working with Sarah-Jane at Tunbridge Wells Together has been amazing, it’s brilliant to work with people who share the same passions regarding town centre staff accessing self defence. I’m really looking forward to working alongside RTWT over the next few weeks.”

The lessons have been available to anyone who works within a town centre business, such as a salon, bar, shop, restaurant or office, taking place in central locations.

A number of town centre businesses have helped to host the classes such as Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, Lush, Energie Gym and Geography wine bar in the High Street. Owner Fleur shares why she kindly volunteered her venue:

“We didn’t hesitate to offer up our brand new event space at Geography for the BID self defence classes. As a female business owner, I personally think it’s really important we all have the tools we need to defend ourselves should we need to. It’s empowering and at the end of the day, just common sense. It’s also great to be a part of the BID community and contribute in any way we can.”