Ahead of its general release, key stakeholders from the urban planning, policing, local government and green space management sectors will be gathering for an invite-only official launch event for a brand-new, free online training course designed to make public parks safer and more inclusive for women and girls.
The invite-only launch event taking place on 5 October in Leeds will offer attendees an exclusive preview of the online module prior to its public rollout. Following the launch event, full sign-up details for the online course will be shared across partner channels — so watch this space!
Safer Parks is about creating parks and green spaces where women and girls feel safer, more welcome and able to use and enjoy them.
The new 90-minute online course translates evidence-based research into practical strategies for creating green spaces where women and girls feel safe and welcome. Following successful completion of the end-of-course knowledge test, learners can download an e-certificate which is endorsed by the University of Leeds, Green Flag Award, Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, Urban Design Group.
Hosted by the University of Leeds, the self-paced module brings national Safer Parks Guidance to life using interactive 3D modelling and real-world video case studies from Rowntree Park in York and Manningham playing fields in Bradford.
Developed collaboratively by the University of Leeds, Police CPI (Secured by Design), Suzy Lamplugh Trust, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Make Space for Girls, Keep Britain Tidy and Green Flag Award the curriculum focuses on three core themes:
- Eyes on the park: Reflects that the presence of others makes women and girls feel safer.
- Awareness: Addresses design issues that can help women and girls feel more secure.
- Inclusion: Considers the importance of bringing a diverse cross-section of women and girls into our parks and designing spaces with their input.
Dr Anna Barker, University of Leeds, said: "The Safer Parks: Improving Access for Women and Girls online training course is so important because it brings the Safer Parks Principles to life in a way that is practical, accessible and relevant for everyone who has a role in shaping, managing and caring for our parks.
"For me, the real value lies in seeing the voices of women and girls from our research translated into action. The course helps bridge the gap between evidence and practice, giving people the knowledge and confidence to apply the principles in their own settings. That's how we create the wider change needed to make parks safer, more welcoming and equitable for everyone.”
Paul Todd MBE, Accreditations Manager, said Britain Tidy and Green Flag Award were proud to support the launch of the new Safer Parks online training courses this October. “Built with academic, policing and urban design experts, we know this practical training will give park managers and local authorities the confidence to apply the Safer Parks Principles — creating safer, more inclusive green spaces with a focus on the needs of women and girls,” he added.
The course builds upon research led by Dr Anna Barker and Professor George Holmes at the University of Leeds, which revealed that women and girls are three times more likely than men to feel unsafe in parks, a figure that rises sharply after dark.
The findings highlighted that safety extends far beyond crime statistics alone; design factors like lighting, vegetation height, clear sightlines, and ongoing park maintenance directly dictate how confident women and girls feel using public spaces.
