Public safety

Violence Against Women and Girls

Practical half-day awareness training for organisations whose staff may encounter abuse, exploitation, harassment, intimidation or vulnerability in public-facing and community roles.

Duration: Half day
Audience: Local authorities, housing associations, community safety teams, neighbourhood services, youth services, charities, voluntary organisations, support workers, housing officers, community wardens, customer-facing staff and educational organisations.

Book or enquire about this training

Woman walking through a city street at night

Objectives

Practical outcomes for safer decisions

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most significant community safety issues affecting organisations, public services and local communities. This course improves understanding, builds confidence and gives delegates practical crime prevention and personal safety advice they can use professionally and personally.

The course is designed to help staff recognise risk early, apply clear procedures, and make calm, defensible choices under pressure.

Target Audience

Built for the staff who face the risk

Local authorities, housing associations, community safety teams, neighbourhood services, youth services, charities, voluntary organisations, support workers, housing officers, community wardens, customer-facing staff and educational organisations.

Delivery can be adapted around role, sector, incident history, and the confidence your organisation needs delegates to build.

Core Learning Modules

What delegates will work through

Understand the wider issues surrounding violence against women and girls
Recognise different forms of abuse, exploitation, harassment, stalking, coercive control and domestic abuse
Identify vulnerability indicators, behavioural warning signs and higher-risk locations or environments
Understand barriers that may prevent victims seeking help
Engage safely and appropriately with individuals who may be at risk while maintaining professional boundaries
Apply personal safety considerations when working in the community
Use practical crime prevention measures, including safer travel planning and improved situational awareness
Understand national safety initiatives including Ask for Angela and Ask for ANI, alongside support agencies, partnership working and referral pathways

Why this training matters

For organisations supporting safer communities

Organisations increasingly recognise that improving awareness of violence against women and girls is an important part of safeguarding staff, supporting vulnerable members of the public and promoting safer communities. This course focuses on practical knowledge that can be applied immediately within frontline roles.

Group size

15 delegates, maximum 20

Sessions are designed for up to 15 delegates, in person and online. Smaller groups keep everyone involved in the discussion and scenario practice, which is where most of the learning happens. We can take up to 20 where an organisation needs it, with an additional charge for each delegate above 15.

Lead time

Up to five weeks

Allow up to five weeks from confirmation to the first session, depending on trainer availability and your own staff availability. That window lets the session be built around your organisation: reviewing your policies and procedures, working your reporting routes and organisational requirements into the material, and giving your teams enough notice to secure diary time and attend. Where a programme runs across several sessions, the full schedule is agreed up front so you can plan cover.

Delivery

In person or live online

In-house at your premises, or live online with a trainer. Both formats are tutor-led and cover the same content, discussion and scenario work.

Coverage

UK and Ireland in person, international online

In person across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Live online sessions can be delivered to teams anywhere in the world. Training is delivered in English, with live subtitles through Microsoft Teams or PowerPoint, which can translate captions into the delegate's own language. Where legislation differs across the UK and Ireland, we research the law that applies to you and build it into the material rather than delivering the England and Wales position by default.

Larger programmes

Rolled out across multiple sessions

Larger workforces are trained as a planned programme rather than a single booking, with the schedule agreed at the start of the contract and worked around your shift patterns and operational cover. Where travel is involved we will look at running sessions on consecutive days, and half-day courses are often best delivered back to back, morning and afternoon on the same day. Where back-to-back half days are agreed there is a saving on the half-day rate. Sessions are delivered by our experienced associate trainers, and we prioritise continuity of trainer wherever availability allows.

Cost

Quoted for each programme

We do not publish prices. Cost depends on group numbers, delivery format, travel, overnight accommodation where the location requires it, and how much bespoke design a programme needs. Any figure published here would be misleading. Tell us what you need and we will quote for it.

Common questions about this course

Who should attend this training?: The course is suitable for organisations whose staff work directly with members of the public, including local authorities, housing associations, community safety teams, neighbourhood services, youth services, charities, voluntary organisations, support workers, housing officers, community wardens, customer-facing staff and educational organisations.
What does the course cover?: The course explores risks women and girls may experience within the home and while travelling, working or accessing services. It includes abuse and exploitation, child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, sexual harassment, coercive and controlling behaviour, stalking and harassment, modern slavery, gang-related risks affecting young women, vulnerability indicators and appropriate support routes.
How is the training delivered?: The programme is delivered as a highly interactive half-day session. Delivery includes tutor-led discussion, practical exercises, realistic scenarios, group participation and opportunities for questions throughout. It can be delivered virtually or in-house for organisations across the UK.
Does the course include personal safety advice?: Yes. Delegates receive practical crime prevention and personal safety advice they can use themselves, including improving safety when travelling, reducing everyday risks, increasing situational awareness, planning safer journeys, recognising developing risks and using measures that improve confidence without increasing confrontation.
Can the course be tailored for different organisations?: Yes. Although the programme is primarily designed for staff working within local authorities, housing associations and community-based organisations, Safety Solutions Training can tailor awareness sessions for community groups and other organisations wishing to improve personal safety awareness and crime prevention knowledge.

Course guidance

Free, maintained guidance from our Safety Hub on the subjects this course covers.

Personal Safety Away From the WorkplaceTravel, commuting, walking, running, taxis and public transport. Written for employers to share with staff.
Workplace Violence and AggressionEvidence-led guidance on foreseeable violence, employer responsibilities, incident response and learning.
Digital Safety and Online HarassmentGuidance for employers whose staff are recorded, livestreamed, named online or targeted after an incident.
Being Recorded and LivestreamedWhat to do when members of the public film your staff, and how to prepare staff before it happens.
Workplace Violence Risk Review ChecklistA structured review of violence and aggression exposure across roles, settings and reporting routes.
Post-Incident SupportImmediate welfare, supportive conversations, debriefing, referral routes and organisational learning after an incident.