How the Sound Sanctuary is keeping Notts ravers safe

“I wanted to create a little haven of safety in a place that can be scary and can be unpredictable” says Magda, a young University of Nottingham student who has been pouring their spare time and budget into this project for the last two years.

“We have a gazebo or table and we provide water, food, vitamins, medicine, first aid - we’re fully first aid trained. We have volunteer nurses and paramedics as well, part of our team, who have experience at festivals.”

The team carry naloxone at all times – an opioid (and synthetic opioid) overdose reversal medication, that can be used in cases of emergency – and all the core members are trained to administer it. Magda says that luckily, they have never had to.

“We also give out a lot of leaflets, condoms, sanitary products, ear plugs and devices for safer use and disease control like clean supplies, disinfectant, sanitizer, or sniffing straws because using contaminated notes can cause transmission of Hep C and HIV,” says Magda. “And then we usually have an area where people can come sit and relax. One of our other lead members is a grade two counselor, so if someone just wants to have a chat because they're not having a good time, or they've lost their friends or something, they can sit down, have a breather, have some water. We also have a tent. If anyone needs to sleep, you can have a little nap.”

The Sound Sanctuary collective mainly operates within the illegal and underground rave scene, but Magda stresses this initiative is needed in legal events too: “you get welfare officers, stewards and security at clubs. But it's obviously very hush about the realities of the scene and how to pay attention to everyone,” Magda explains.  

Denying that people take drugs at parties avoids taking the very first step towards understanding how to help them. “We’ve all been at a party where we’re witnessing someone who’s taken a bit of a turn for the worst and we’re not quite sure what to do with them,” says Cerys, another core Sound Sanctuary volunteer. 

“Often on a night out, it isn't a question of emergency. If we need to refer to emergency services, we know exactly how to, but a lot of times, referring people in those states to emergency services is only going to make it worse, because it increases a lot of paranoia, rather than someone sitting there holding your hand and saying, ‘It's gonna be okay’”. Magda says, “Just having someone at the rave that you can lean on if you need it, it makes a massive difference.” 

“I think that's why work like what we do can be so powerful,” says Cerys. “We make them feel comfortable.”

It’s not just drug use or bad trips that might lead people to needing a moment of calm. Raves are loud, immersive environments. “I'm neurodivergent myself, sometimes when I'm a little bit overwhelmed at an event, it would be lovely to have a little safe space to have a breather,” Magda says.

So that is what The Sound Sanctuary provides - a safe space for partiers to “chat to people whenever they need it.” Magda met Cerys through a passion for drug education in the rave scene, and she is now a crucial part of The Sound Sanctuary. Currently studying a masters in Chemistry at NTU, Cerys does drug testing assistance with an organisation called The Loop, based in Bristol. Drug testing identifies the presence of dangerous substances such as nitazenes, an extremely potent synthetic opioid which party drugs can be contaminated with. 

“If someone gets to the point where they're a bit worried about what they have, they come to see us. I can do nitazine testing, xylazine testing and some reagent testing, just to help them navigate what they have.”

Magda holds their finger and thumb up, leaving a tiny gap between. “Even that much of a contaminant like xylazine or nitazine can cause an overdose death.”

Both Cerys and Magda tell stories of friends whose drug experiences inspired their passion. “I’ve lost people in my community through drug death that could have been preventable, had they known what was in their drugs, had they had access to naloxone when they needed it,” Cerys says.

The Sound Sanctuary originated from a gap Magda noticed for harm reduction within young people and the rave and club scene. They moved to Nottingham from Italy, which was very harm reduction oriented. By comparison, Magda felt that within the UK scene this approach was completely absent.

“Harm reduction services in Nottingham at the minute - you often have to go and find them,” Cerys says. Magda explains that you have to refer yourself and you don't know if you're going to be judged or accepted. The result is that younger people who take drugs at parties feel cut off from seeking support.

The Sound Sanctuary aims “to meet them where they are, which is at parties and at raves, then it opens more opportunities for them to learn about harm reduction as drug users,” says Cerys.

“If you go to an event, you're not having a great time, or you have a few questions about previous experiences you've had, and you see two young people sitting there who enjoy the music, who seem really approachable, it definitely changes the experience. It makes it a lot more welcoming,” Magda says.

Though Magda learned about substance education with the University of Nottingham and trained with Nottingham Recovery Network, The Sound Sanctuary is currently funded out of their own pocket. They have launched a fundraiser to raise £600 for supplies, including more drug testing and a new gazebo after theirs was damaged by the wind. The more the collective grows, the more they need to replenish supplies, and costs quickly mount up.

Coming into colder weather, Magda wants to use some of the fundraiser to ‘winter-proof’ The Sound Sanctuary. “Raves still go on during the winter and that's the most dangerous time because you're now talking about drug induced hypothermia, things like that. A lot of supplies will help in the colder months - heaters and hot water tanks for teas and coffees will be fundamental.”

The Sound Sanctuary was borne ultimately out of a love for the scene - parties, music, dancing, and the desire to enable everyone attending to feel safe and have the best time they can.

“Drug use is a real fact, and it does happen every day - ignoring it is not helping,” says Magda. “Some people are a bit unsure - are we promoting use?” says Cerys - but as she maintains: “it is just providing education and welfare, which doesn’t harm anyone.”

To follow the Sound Sanctuary or donate to the fundraiser head to their Instagram page below.

@rigside23

https://www.gofundme.com/f/raving-safe-the-sound-sanctuary-harm-reduction-collective