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Training empowers park staff to tackle harassment

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Society & Politics news
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Woman walking alone on a curved path in a park toward a small, closed pavilion with shuttered windows

Hundreds of park staff and volunteers across the UK have been trained in how to spot, safely challenge, and prevent harassment or behaviour which could stop women feeling safe in public places.

The ‘Stand Up Against Harassment’ training, delivered by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and tailored for parks staff by University of Leeds researchers, has seen more than 400 staff learn about the “5Ds” of bystander intervention, and the academics involved now want to see the programme rolled out to park workers across the country.

Dr Anna Barker, from the University of Leeds School of Law said: “We know that safer parks are not just about better lighting or design — they’re about people. This training gives staff and volunteers the confidence to act when they see or hear something that isn’t right. It empowers communities to look out for each other.”

A new report, Safer Parks: Fostering a Community of Active Bystanders for the UK’s Green Spaces, by Dr Barker and her colleague Dr Rebecca Brunk, includes evaluation of the training which shows:

  • 94% of people who attended felt confident or empowered to act as bystanders
  • Confidence and skills to intervene significantly increased after training
  • Participants valued the opportunity to discuss and apply their learning through park-based scenarios based on real experiences of women and girls.

The report builds on researchers’ earlier findings showing that harassment in parks is a key factor affecting women’s and girls' feelings of safety. 

The report identifies active bystander training as a key gap among park workers and volunteers, calling for local councils and park managers to make it a compulsory part of staff induction and regular refresher training. 

This training gives staff and volunteers the confidence to act when they see or hear something that isn’t right.

Dr Anna Barker, University of Leeds School of Law

The researchers found that almost two-thirds (65%) of park staff and volunteers had never received any sexual harassment training before taking part. Around a third (31%) had witnessed harassment, while 27% were unsure - suggesting that some may not recognise certain behaviours as harassment and reinforcing the need for clearer definitions and training.

Dr Barker said the need for such training is clear, with research by L’Oreal Paris showing that 80 percent of UK women have experienced public harassment, yet 75% report that no one stepped in.

The report was launched on Tuesday 25 November – the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – and at the beginning of the UNITE campaign’s 16 Days of Activism. To coincide with this campaign the Suzy Lamplugh Trust is offering free Stand Up Against Harassment bystander training to anyone working or volunteering in parks and green spaces.

Lecture hall presentation showing a slide titled ‘What’s the problem?’ with a bar chart comparing feelings of safety for women and men in different public spaces. Audience members are seated at desks, and a speaker stands near a podium.
Dr Anna Barker speaking at an event about Safer Parks in May 2023

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s Saskia Garner added: “Everyone deserves to feel safe enjoying our parks. Becoming an active bystander is something we can all do to help make that a reality.”

The training was offered to parks staff and volunteers in Cardiff, Wigan, Doncaster, London, Hartlepool and Rugby between October 2024 and September 2025, with a total of 245 people taking part across the six regions. It followed an earlier pilot scheme in West Yorkshire in 2024, when around 180 people took part.

The bespoke half-day sessions were designed using real world situations to give attendees a better idea of women’s experiences using parks. 

Everyone deserves to feel safe enjoying our parks. Becoming an active bystander is something we can all do to help make that a reality.

Saskia Garner, Suzy Lamplugh Trust

The report also offers a series of policy and practice recommendations, from quick wins to longer-term strategic changes.

In a forward to the report, Paul Todd, Green Flag Award accreditation manager, added: “We strongly encourage the parks and green space sector to empower staff with the ability and confidence to take action to make our parks safer for women and girls by completing the training and becoming active bystanders.”

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