Training sessions take place to reduce violence against women and girls
They have been held in Truro - with the aim of helping college and university staff, youth workers and people working in the night time economy
Training sessions to reduce violence against women and girls have been taking place in Truro.
College and university staff, youth workers and people working in the night time economy have been offered the free Active Bystander sessions.
The sessions involve learning how to safely intervene to call out negative behaviour - whilst also helping those taking part to educate more people about the issue.
The sessions are being delivered by trainers from Safer Cornwall and Safer Futures, with their 'active bystander' approach also able to be applied to a number of other settings to help prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV), sexual harassment, bullying, and hate crimes.
The training's being delivered in person in Truro and is hoped to leave a lasting legacy for preventing VAWG and DASV in our communities across the Duchy.
They say the ‘active bystander’ approach is more than just a philosophy; it's a call to action - and is in their bid to make a lasting impact on preventing VAWG and DASV in our communities.
Gavin Hartshorn is a security training manager in Falmouth - he said: "It's my role as the trainer, and the training manager, to make sure that my team, and those I interact with in the industry, have the skills in the toolbox they need to keep members of the public safe.
"That, ultimately, is our role.
"I think it's important that my team are aware of the issues of sexual violence and consent - because we are at the front. We will see people in the worst states."
Sculptor Jessica Pierson is a victim of domestic violence, she said: "The work that I do has been inspired by wanting to find solutions - and the bystander training programme is about finding community responsibility.
"The more that people know, the more people will be able to make a difference to somebody's life before they just become another statistic."
The two-day course required everyone to attend both days - and has now ended - but you can find out more about Safer Futures on their website.