Every time a new strategy on preventing men’s violence against women and girls (VAWG) comes out, I ask the same question: What actually changes on the ground? It is encouraging to see growing national focus and calls to treat VAWG as a national emergency. However, strategies alone do not change outcomes – people do.

In April 2025, the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection opened to support police forces with specialist training. It leads national efforts to prevent these crimes before they happen. Meanwhile, the Lady Elish Angiolini Inquiry has exposed serious problems in policing culture and recruitment. These findings highlight that prevention needs to extend beyond policies and happen daily, in real life.

Why strategies alone aren’t enough

Stopping violence against women and girls requires more than good intentions. It means listening carefully to those affected. It also means providing professionals with clear guidance and confidence. Put simply, systems must be designed to support action. Unfortunately, there is often a gap between “we should” and “we know how” which can stall progress.

Practical, trauma-informed training helps to close this divide. It teaches people how to spot risks, act safely, and support others. More importantly, it builds cultures where speaking up is encouraged. I believe this is where real change begins.

Training that makes a difference

At Understood, our VAWG awareness and prevention training programmes work at every level within an organisation:

• For Leaders: Leaders set the tone. They embed accountability and prioritise VAWG prevention. They learn to use data effectively, build respectful cultures, and form strong partnerships.
• For Managers: Managers turn policy into daily practice. They recognise early signs of harassment or distress. They lead trauma-informed conversations and support staff. They ensure reporting routes are clear and consistent.
• For Schools: Schools are vital for early prevention. We help schools challenge harmful attitudes and support healthy relationships. Our training aligns with national strategies and the statutory RSHE curriculum.
• For Everyone: Everyone has a role. Our bystander intervention training helps individuals spot warning signs and act safely. It encourages shared responsibility and creates safer environments.

These principles matter most in everyday, public-facing settings, places where staff are not specialists, but are expected to act. Public transport is one of those spaces. Bus drivers and station-based staff regularly witness harassment, anti-social behaviour and abuse, yet are often left without clear guidance or confidence to respond.

VAWG awareness and prevention training for transport workers

This is why our VAWG awareness and prevention training includes specialist work with transport workers. With the Bus Services Act now mandating training for drivers and other frontline transport staff to recognise and respond to anti-social behaviour and crime, including violence against women and girls, this work is both timely and essential.

Our training equips staff with practical, trauma-informed tools to respond safely and appropriately, supporting both staff wellbeing and passenger safety. You can read more about this work in our blog Facing the Facts on VAWG to Support Safer Bus Journeys.

Aligned with national priorities

The Angiolini Inquiry calls for a focus on perpetrators, serious treatment of all offences, and tackling toxic workplace cultures. Our training aligns with these goals. It helps organisations put prevention into practice, challenge minimisation, and build trust through open reporting.

Our whole-system approach supports government initiatives like the National Centre’s drive for professional public protection. This is especially important in sectors such as transport and public services, where disrupting harmful behaviour is essential.

Making prevention real

Prevention must be more than a headline. It should turn big goals into clear actions. Whether through harassment prevention, staff safety, or VAWG prevention and awareness training, practical learning helps people move from intention to action.

If your organisation wants to make a real difference, visit our VAWG awareness and prevention training page to discover how tailored training can build safer cultures, boost confidence, and support lasting change.

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