Leeds Festival is one of the 103 festivals that has committed to the campaign.
1 in 5 festival-goers experience sexual assault or harassment at a UK festival. That's according to a 2018 YouGov report. Whilst this is what is called a lifetime statistic that isn't connected event or year- and shows that we need to do so much more to tackle sexual harassment and violence at festivals.
This year, festivals across the UK are hoping to change this, including Reading and Leeds Festival, Bluedot, Dot to Dot, Kendal Calling, Latitude, NASS, Parklife, Tramlines and Y Not? Festival.
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) announced this morning that over 100 festivals across the UK has signed up to commit to the Safer Spaces at Festivals campaign.
Image: Leeds Festival
The idea is that the campaign will tackle sexual violence at 2022 festivals and beyond. Relaunching from today, the AIF is working with Rape Crisis England And Wales, Good Night Out, Safe Gigs For Women, Girls Against and UN Women and has updated an charter of best practice developed with input and guidance from experts, which all festivals participating have committed to following.
A statement made by the AIF states that an important part of the charter is that it "states all allegations of sexual harassment, assault and violence will be taken seriously, acted upon promptly and investigated. This will be supplemented by a commitment to clear, robust reporting and disclosure procedures, including how to report incidents onsite and post event".
Training will also be given to staff and volunteers on how they can proactively monitor and deal with incidents of sexual assault or harassment by specialist providers.
Part of the campaign will see an update in festival policies to include all the relevant health guidance, promote the idea that consent can be revoked at any time and advise festival-goers on how to be an 'active bystander' by using a tactic known as the '5 D's of Bystander Intervention devised by the Right To Be' which include: Direct, Delegate, Distract, Document and Delay.
Image: AIF
AIF Membership & Operations Coordinator Phoebe Rodwell said: “The original Safer Spaces campaign has had a positive impact across festivals for music fans and festival staff alike. Festivals are microcosms of society and sexual violence is a problem that persists in our society.
"Our understanding and approaches to tackling the issue are evolving all the time. That’s why it’s important that we renew the Safer Spaces campaign in 2022 with up-to-date messaging, resources and practices, to prevent sexual violence and promote a survivor-led approach, helping festival organisers to fulfil their duty of care at events.”
The UK Aids Memorial Quilt is set to go on display across Wakefield this summer.
The quilt - consisting of 42 quilts and 23 individual panels, representing over 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS - will go on display at WX Wakefield from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 June 2026.
All 42 quilts will be on display, with WX working in partnership with the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Conservation Partnership.
Across the same weekend, selected individual panels will be displayed at different venues across the city including The Hepworth Wakefield, The Art House Wakefield, Theatre Royal Wakefield, Pontefract Castle and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Part of the world’s largest community art project, this is a huge opportunity for the city of Wakefield. The project started in the USA back in 1985 by activist Cleve Jones, commemorating friends, family and loved ones lost to AIDS.
Individual panels were then stitched together to create larger quilts, which were shown outdoors as a form of protest to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Today, the quilt stands as a crucial reminder of those who were lost and of the continuing affect that HIV and AIDS has on the people of today.
At WX Wakefield, viewing the quilt is completely free and on Friday 5 June there will be a special late night opening up until 10:30pm to view the exhibition.
And on Saturday 6 June at 2:30pm, there will be a very special and poignant reading of the names of those commemorated on the quilt.
Featured image - UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, installation view at Tate Modern, June 2025. Photo: AM Hanson
Leeds
Leeds’ first frozen yoghurt bar is opening in Headingley this weekend
Clementine Hall
The frozen yoghurt craze is on its way to Leeds as Kefiyo is set to open in Headingley in just a few days.
It's a phenomenon that has caught the attention of the TikTok and Instagram girlies as of late, with frozen yoghurt bars popping up in Manchester and going viral online.
The ice cold sweet treat is supposedly 'healthy' and with a slogan of 'eat Clean. feel Light. live Better.' - this new spot in Leeds seems to be going down that route too.
Kefiyo will be opening in the old Sixes site on Ash Road in Headingley, and they've just announced that they'll be soft launching this Sunday 19 April 2026.
The space is already sporting a super cute pastel green and pink exterior, and it's exactly matching the aesthetic that you'd expect with froyo.
Kefiyo will offer a range of frozen yoghurt flavours with a whole bunch of toppings for you to customise to your tastebuds, as well as fresh acai bowls.
Situated slap bang in the centre of Headingley, we've got a feeling it'll be very busy with students on their way to their morning lecture or at night for those looking for a sweet treat that doesn't feel too naughty.
We'll keep you updated on more Kefiyo updates as and when we find out.
But in the meantime, you can keep an eye on their socials here. We'll see you soon for a scoop Leeds.
Sophie Smith -
16th May 2022 
