About and Ethos
Introduction
Safe Only is a queer-led, not-for-profit collective providing professional, inclusive, and trauma-informed security and welfare services for LGBTQIA+ and broader nightlife and cultural settings.
Founded in response to the frequent mistreatment of queer individuals by traditional security providers—such as misgendering, aggressive searching, and cultural insensitivity—our mission is to create safer nightlife spaces by embedding community, compassion, and harm reduction into every aspect of our work.
Background and Credentials
Safe Only was launched in 2022 by queer individuals who experienced firsthand how mainstream security approaches often failed to protect—and sometimes actively harmed—queer people.
What began as a small group of three has grown into a collective of over 60 SIA-licensed security professionals, welfare officers, medics, and consultants.
All our staff identify within the LGBTQIA+ community and are trained in trauma-informed care, safeguarding, and harm reduction.
We’ve worked with more than 100 promoters and venues across London and beyond, including The Clapham Grand, ICA, Chapter 10, Forest Gayte Pride, and Hackney Safer Nights, Gala/Rally Festival, The Cause, London Trans Pride, Bishopsgate Institute, Body Movements, Mighty Hoopla, Corsica Studios, Drumsheds, Peckham Audio, and many more.
Values
For us, by us
Our practice is peer-led, and it always will be.
That means the worker supporting the community is part of the community.
Cultural Shifts
Promoting the values of harm reduction, co-regulation, abolition.
Celebrating our community’s care practices and working with them, rather than against them.
Heart of the Party
Our hearts are with the party goers.
We share the space with them, we bring the energy we want to receive.
Setting the Standard
Paying industry leading wages which reflect our team’s skill, expertise and commitment to the job.
Working with venues and promoters willing to guarantee a high standard of working conditions for all our workers.
Fully Supported Staff
Access to niche training, and professional development, with ongoing pastoral support and reflective practice.
Working with practitioners whose approaches reflect ours.
Nothing but Love
We’re not interested in scare tactics, intimidation or brute force.
We will not co-opt the behaviours of systems which oppress marginalized people.
We work with de-escalation principles, from a starting point of calling in before pushing out.
Want to learn more?
Find out more about our Services. We’re looking forward to working together.