A virtual reality approach to safety messaging.
Recognition and reach.
From national awards to regional showcases, the Safer Streets Virtual Reality project has captured attention across sectors. Our innovative approach to safety education and knowledge exchange has been celebrated through public events, media interviews, and professional recognition. This section highlights some of the moments that have helped shape the project’s impact and raise its profile beyond the university.
Merged Futures Exhibitors
Students and Staff have demonstrated the Safer Streets VR Scenario on a stand and talked about their work at the Merged Futures conference in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The event is free, open to the public (mostly attended by people working in digital-oriented roles) and attracts approximately 350 delegates each year.
“The Virtual Reality Safety project, a collaboration between the University of Northampton and the PFCC, is exactly the kind of innovative, high-impact initiative we aim to showcase at Merged Futures. It’s been inspiring to see how VR technology has been used to produce compelling safety content, while giving students meaningful, real-world experience. This is a standout example of cross-sector collaboration that brings genuine community benefit and exemplifies how digital innovation can make a difference.” Richard Beards – Innovation Manager, West Northamptonshire Council
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Criminal Justice Team / Project Vigilant Event
University of Northampton Criminal Justice team hosted a networking/knowledge exchange event on VAWG and project vigilant. This was to bring together academia, industry, law enforcement, human trafficking SME, sexual trafficking survivors (US) and UK government in one space in order to exchange expertise and insight.
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Kardi Somerfield gave a presentation about the project, meanwhile Matthew Holtz and two students (Charlie and Davina) demonstrated the scenario to delegates.
We are now looking to explore how an independent academic advisory group can bring together invested academics, identify research opportunities and support the work conducted by LE and partners.
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Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO)
Initiative of the Year 2024 – Winner: Security and Community, University of Northampton
The judges praised Northampton for their commitment to ensuring that its security and community safety messages, strategies, and initiatives are relevant, engaging, and impactful for their student community.
Northampton impressed judges by developing a new way of delivering their training, creating interactive, immersive, and fun sessions that allow students to remain in a safe environment while learning about important safety topics.
The team was successful in a bid to the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund, acquiring virtual reality headsets known as “classroom in a box”. These allowed the team to integrate security into a curriculum for digital, marketing, and media students. The team became actively involved in developing virtual reality tracks, merchandise, and educational literature related to various safety themes including staying safe on a night out, the dangers of open water and property theft awareness. The utilisation of virtual reality technology by this team not only enhances engagement but also allows students to experience potential dangers in a safe and controlled environment.
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The College of Policing website provides case studies which detail effective policing approaches to share best practice, encourage evidence-based policing, support professional development and drive innovation.
This project is published as a case study which has resulted in three police forces and two third sector organisations contacting the teaching team for advice and guidance on use of Virtual Reality for safety education.
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The Northamptonshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) has spent £4 million since 2021 on initiatives to make the county’s streets safer, thanks to grant funding awarded by the Home Office. £30,000 was spent on virtual reality equipment for the force, which was loaned to the University of Northampton to create an immersive experience focused on keeping themselves safe in the Northampton night-time economy.
Paul Golley, Delivery Manager for the OPFCC said, "our collaboration with the University has allowed students to ‘bring crime prevention to life’, allowing us to deliver important crime community safety advice more effectively, using ‘perspectives’. By bringing the OPFCC and University together, we have merged our expertise to create wonderful content for the end user to remember- teachable moments that are retained because the experience feels real. Marketing students have developed material to promote safety within the night-time economy, providing students with an interactive and fully immersive experience. This approach will embed a culture from within, led by students themselves driving credibility with fellow students."
Digital Northants is a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering digital innovation and connectivity across Northamptonshire. It brings together the University of Northampton, West and North Northamptonshire Councils, and local digital businesses to support and promote the region’s digital economy.
The Future of Virtual Reality is Now: VR Experience Day was held in November 2023 and open to the public. The Safer Streets project was demonstrated and the teaching staff were exhibitors.
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Our Students were central to the production of our VR experiences. Not only was this their work, but they are also the target audience for the messages meaning that their response to the initiative has a double significance.
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As part of their assessments they were invited to blog, create view, make press releases and write personal reflections of their experience - see some of this on the links below.​
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Passion and progress: Inspiring the next generation of digital marketers | Digital Northants Interview
Kardi Somerfield, Senior Lecturer and Program Leader, BA Advertising and Digital Marketing at the University of Northampton, tells us about her approach to teaching digital marketing and introduces the work the students are doing with Virtual Reality.
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Link to interiew with Kardi Somerfield about VR project & pedagogy
RiVR Link x Uni of Northampton | Kardi Somerfield Interview
Another amazing example of how RiVR Link is being used in the #Police and #Higher Education.
The Home Office Safer Streets Initiative has enabled Northamptonshire Police and Uni of Northampton to collaborate on creating immersive 360° content. This content will emphasise changing attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls and their safety. Our RiVR Link kit is the perfect delivery method to support this Initiative.
Not only can these kits be used to increase behavioural change, they can be embedded into the #digitalmarketing courses and be adopted for #teaching and #learning.
We are very proud to see RiVR Link being used in the curriculum and creating a pathway for future #career opportunities.
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