FREE VAWG AWARENESS TRAINING MADE AVAILABLE TO SOUTH YORKSHIRE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Published 9 October 2026 at 9:58am

Colleges, universities and sixth form providers across South Yorkshire are being given free access to a new educational package designed to help tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), thanks to funding and support from the South Yorkshire Violence Prevention Partnership (VPP).

The initiative will allow post 16 education providers across the county to deliver FE Tech's VAWG eLearning course to both male and female learners, and staff, at no cost. The package forms part of South Yorkshire's wider commitment to preventing violence, supporting victims and creating safer communities for women and girls.

The South Yorkshire Violence Prevention Partnership (formerly the Violence Reduction Unit), part of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, has partnered with FE Tech to make the 60-minute learning course available to learners and staff in further and higher education settings and to training providers. The course explores issues including coercive control, digital abuse, cyberstalking and the influence of online content on young people's understanding of relationships, through interactive learning and real-life experiences.

Through a unique interactive learning experience, learners engage with realistic scenarios and hear lived experiences that encourage reflection, understanding and discussion around unhealthy and abusive behaviours. By increasing awareness, challenging harmful attitudes and helping young people recognise the warning signs of abuse early, the training aims to prevent violence against women and girls before it occurs and promote healthier, more respectful relationships.

South Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kilvinder Vigurs, said: “Preventing violence against women and girls requires action from all parts of society. Education has a vital role to play in helping young people understand healthy relationships, recognise abusive behaviours and know how to seek support when they need it.

“By making this training freely available to providers across South Yorkshire, we are investing in prevention and helping to create safer environments for current and future generations.

“We know that attitudes and behaviours are shaped early, which is why it is so important that young people have access to high-quality learning that helps them understand consent, respect, healthy relationships and the impact of abuse.”

Violence against women and girls can have a lasting impact on confidence, wellbeing, education and future opportunities. Many women and girls change their behaviour, limit their activities or avoid certain places because they do not feel safe. Preventing violence and challenging harmful attitudes early can help ensure women and girls are free to thrive, participate fully in society and reach their potential without fear.

The initiative directly supports the ambitions set out in the Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029, which identifies VAWG as a key public safety and public health priority. The Plan commits to preventing abuse through early intervention, supporting victims and survivors, tackling perpetrators and strengthening partnership working across South Yorkshire.

The rollout comes as violence against women and girls continues to be recognised as a national priority. The UK Government has described VAWG as a national emergency and has committed to halving these offences within the next decade through a range of measures aimed at prevention, enforcement and victim support.

James Earl, Founder and CEO of FE Tech, said: “Last year, one in every eight women experienced domestic abuse, stalking or sexual assault. That is a horrific statistic and it's critical that we educate as many people as possible if we're going to eradicate the current issue with violence against women and girls.

“This is why we're proud to be working with the Violence Prevention Partnership to give everyone an opportunity, via the power of scalable online learning to understand the issues we have around violence against women and girls and how each individual can help.”

Kelly Wilson, Head of the South Yorkshire Violence Prevention Partnership, added: “Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent violence before it happens. By making this training freely available, we're helping education providers equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to recognise harmful behaviours, challenge unhealthy attitudes and contribute to a culture where violence against women and girls is never tolerated."

This package follows the announcement in July that the VPP had purchased and was rolling out the ‘PolEd’ educational resources to schools, colleges and community organisations free of charge across South Yorkshire). So far 128 schools have signed up and are delivering tailored, age-appropriate lessons to young people on a range of topics designed to help them learn about personal safety, well-being, positive relationships and the law.

As part of the programme, providers will also be invited to take part in a special event during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, taking place from 25 November to 10 December 2026. The event will provide support for organisations wishing to deliver the package in a face-to-face setting and will include contributions from police and community organisations from across South Yorkshire.

Post 16 education providers are also invited to attend a webinar on Friday 16 October, 10am to 11:30am, to learn more about the offer and available support.

For more information or to register for the webinar, please contact: SYVRU@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk