Summary

The Angiolini Inquiry highlighted that the design and management of public spaces are critical yet underdeveloped components in preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG) and improving perceptions of safety. Weaknesses in safety supportive features limit women’s freedom of movement and shape daily decisions about where they feel able to go (Miles et al. 2026; Barker et al., 2026).

Urban parks, which support wellbeing, social connection and active travel, are among the public spaces where women and girls most frequently report feeling unsafe. Across Britain’s parks and green spaces, around one in six women feel unsafe during daylight, rising to four in five after dark (ONS, 2022).

The course builds on research by Dr Anna Barker and colleagues at the University of Leeds, which informed the co‑produced Safer Parks guidance - this sets out ten principles across three themes of Eyes on the Park, Awareness and Inclusion, offering a practical framework for designing and managing parks that support confidence, belonging and safety for women and girls.

Taking collaborative working with key partners to the next level, we will co-produce a freely available and accredited online module that will enhance local working arrangements. By embedding inclusive, safety‑focused design into mainstream practice, the training will strengthen professional capability and support system‑level change, contributing to safer, more equitable public spaces for all.