The Student Safety App, a real-time safety companion for students, has secured the official backing of the Barnaby Webber Foundation ahead of its nationwide launch.
Designed to help prevent harm and provide peace of mind to students and their families, the app will be free to use for students and universities across the UK.
The initiative comes in direct response to growing concerns over student safety, following a rise in violence towards students. Among the most tragic incidents was the June 2023 attack on University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley Kumar, who were killed after a night out.
The Barnaby Webber Foundation was created by Barnaby’s family to honour his memory and to champion initiatives that improve the lives, safety, and wellbeing of young people. The Foundation works to raise awareness of the dangers students face, campaign for change and support projects that empower young people to live full and secure lives.
A spokesperson for the Barnaby Webber Foundation said: “Barnaby’s father, mother Emma and brother Charlie are very happy to support the Student Safety App – it’s really a no-brainer.”
Monica Ghuman, Project Manager at (For) the Student Safety App, added: “We are deeply honoured to have the support of the Barnaby Webber Foundation. Our mission is to make every student feel safer and more connected, whether they’re walking home from a night out or visiting friends in a new city. This partnership is a powerful step towards ensuring no family has to experience the heartbreak that Barnaby’s did.”
Former Leicester, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Birmingham premier league and England International striker Emile Heskey has also publicly endorsed the app, which aims to revolutionise campus safety through technology and community trust.
The Student Safety App will allow students to report incidents such as drink spiking, knife crime, aggressive door staff and suspicious activities in student accommodation. Its location-based safety zones automatically update when students travel to new areas, ensuring protection wherever they go. Users will receive live community safety alerts for local concerns in clubs, bars, venues and public spaces – operating like a “Waze for student safety” to build a trusted network of peers.
Additional features include journey tracking so friends can follow a user’s progress home, a fake call function to help them exit uncomfortable or dangerous situations, and tools to capture video, audio and location details for detailed reporting later. The app also offers “Looks Sketchy” alerts, warning users about incidents or suspicious individuals in their vicinity.
The Student Safety App will be available to download for free this August on iOS and Android.
