Communities In Practice: Active Bystander
5 January 2023
The Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit has funded training on the Bystander approach which is being delivered across the County in late January and February.
An active bystander is someone who sees or hears something that is socially unacceptable, such as sexist language, carrying a knife or bullying others, and takes positive action to challenge or report what they have witnessed. The Bystander approach has had a positive impact on communities in Scotland as part of the work to reduce violence, but has also been run in universities, the Australian armed forces and other organisations.
The Bystander approach helps people see the different ways that they can make a positive difference amongst their peers or in their communities. The training will allow professionals to understand the five ways in which a bystander can take action and provide the resources so that conversations can be had with young people or adults about how they can be an active bystander.
The training is free and available to professionals from all services; statutory, educational, social and voluntary in the County. It will be delivered by Graham Goulden, an expert on the Bystander approach, and local professionals who have been trained by Graham.
The Active Bystander flyer (PDF, 77.4 KB) provides details of the dates of the training and how to apply for a place. We ask, where possible, that attendees join one session that corresponds to the district in which they practice. These sessions will be delivered through Zoom. Please email VRU.Programme.Delivery@kent.police.uk to apply or find out more.