Expect Respect
Expect Respect is a free training programme we offer to schools and universities to educate young people about unhealthy relationships.
Expect Respect Programme for schools
We developed the Expect Respect Programme, funded by the Home Office, to support schools in preventing violence against women and girls. Based on our Influencers and Attitudes research, it aligns with the PSHE curriculum, ETF Standards, British Values and the Equality Act, and is designed for children and young people aged 4–18, including those with SEND or English as an additional language.
We are currently running a pilot train-the-trainer programme to equip our member services to deliver the programme in their local schools.
To find out if your area is taking part, please email us at cyp@womensaid.org.uk
If your local service is not involved in the pilot, we hope there will be opportunities when we roll the programme out nationally.
In the meantime, young people can still access our Love Respect website, which offers information about further support, survivor stories, and an interactive healthy relationships quiz.
Expect Respect Programme for universities: ‘Reach Respect’
The Reach Respect Program is part of our Expect Respect initiative, offering free training sessions tailored for university students across the UK.
These sessions help students:
- Understand what makes a healthy and respectful relationship
- Recognise coercive and controlling behaviours
- Learn how to intervene safely as an active bystander
This program is delivered in partnership with Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) and is available until June 2026. Free of charge from September 2024 to June 2027 .
Training goals:
- Build understanding of healthy, respectful relationships
- Equip students to act safely and appropriately as active bystanders
- Raise awareness of coercive control and abusive behaviours
- Increase confidence in seeking support and helping others
Reach Respect is open to all students currently enrolled at UK universities.
Relevant to all disciplines and backgrounds.
At Women’s Aid, we believe that everyone deserves a healthy and respectful relationship. That is why we are offering free training for university students through our ’Reach Respect’ training sessions.
Our Reach Respect training sessions are a unique part of our Expect Respect training programme, specifically tailored for university students. The sessions are designed to give students the knowledge and skills to build healthy and respectful relationships as well as how to intervene as an active bystander safely and appropriately when witnessing abuse. Another benefit of this training is that it offers students the chance to earn points towards their Continued Professional Development (CPD) accreditation.
To find out more or book a session, contact universities@womensaid.org.uk
