Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

Training for safer, more respectful environments

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a real issue that can affect people at work, in public spaces and in everyday life.

At Understood, we design VAWG awareness and prevention training to help organisations prevent harm, respond safely and build more respectful, safer cultures.

For wider context on national priorities and responsibilities, see the UK Government’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.

A practical, human approach to VAWG awareness and prevention training

Our approach is practical, human and grounded in real situations. We focus on confidence, clarity and knowing how to act safely.

As a result, people leave with a clearer understanding of their role, their boundaries and how to respond without putting themselves or others at risk.

VAWG TRAINING FOR LEADERS & MANAGERS

Setting Clear Expectations and Accountability

Leaders and managers play a critical role in preventing violence against women and girls. Because of this, the expectations they set directly shape workplace culture and behaviour.

This training supports leaders and managers to:

  • Treat VAWG as a safety, safeguarding and organisational issue
  • Turn strategy, policy and legal duties into everyday behaviours
  • Lead calm, supportive conversations when concerns are raised
  • Build trust and psychological safety around reporting
  • Use insight and data to spot patterns, risks and improvement opportunities

Ultimately, the focus is on prevention, inclusive leadership and safer workplace cultures.

VAWG TRAINING FOR FRONTLINE & PUBLIC-FACING ROLES

Responding Safely in Real Situations

Harassment and abuse often happen in everyday, customer-facing environments. However, many staff want to help but feel unsure how to act safely.

Our VAWG awareness and bystander intervention training helps frontline teams to:

  • Recognise early warning signs of harassment or distress
  • Prioritise their own safety while supporting others
  • Respond calmly without escalating risk
  • Communicate with empathy and clarity
  • Understand reporting routes and why they matter

As a result, teams feel more confident, supported and clear about what to do.

Many staff feel unsure how to act in public-facing situations. This issue is explored in detail in our blog Facing the Facts on VAWG to Support Safer Bus Journeys about how VAWG affects everyday journeys and why training matters.

VAWG AWARENESS & PREVENTION TRAINING FOR ALL STAFF

Building Confidence to Notice, Assess and Act

Preventing violence against women and girls is a shared responsibility.
Therefore, everyone has a role to play in shaping safer workplaces, services and communities.

Our awareness training helps people to:

  • Spot warning signs in workplaces, public spaces and online environments
  • Trust their instincts and assess situations calmly
  • Use simple bystander strategies to intervene safely
  • Know when, how and where to report concerns
  • Understand how everyday behaviour shapes culture

Over time, this builds confidence, awareness and shared responsibility across teams.

How we deliver VAWG training

Our training is:

  • Practical and grounded in real scenarios
  • Trauma-informed and delivered with care
  • Clear about roles, boundaries and responsibilities
  • Focused on safety, empathy and confidence to act

Training can be tailored for leaders, frontline teams or mixed groups, depending on your organisation and environment.

Our approach is grounded in real-world practice. To read more about how we translate strategy into action across organisations, see our blog VAWG Training: Turning Strategy into Action.