An empathy training tool for safer public spaces.

Which route would you like to take, bus, taxi, park or city? The choice seems simple, but each choice leads to more choices. In each setting, verbatim voices bring to life the multitude of decisions women make to keep themselves safe in public spaces at night.

CurfewVR is Calico’s first immersive technology training tool for policing and security teams, using virtual reality to build empathy of the lived experiences of women in public spaces at night. CurfewVR features the voices of 16-86 year-old women from the West Midlands, allowing users to step into their shoes as they travel through Birmingham. The training tool aims to foster victim-centred approaches to violence against women and girls.

The research and development of CurfewVR was funded by Innovate UK Creative Catalyst 2023. The tool is now used within new recruit police officer training across the West Midlands, and has been instrumental in driving Calico’s mission of using creativity to bridge sectors, shift perspectives, and combat gendered violence.

Contact

Daz Scott

Lead organisation

Calico

Hardware

VR

Team

Martha Harrison – Co-Founder & Director

Daz Scott – Co-Founder & Director