Training and Workshops
Turning bystanders into allies.
We deliver evidence-based bystander training that helps people challenge harmful behaviours, overcome barriers to intervention, and build safer, more inclusive communities, tailored for schools, workplaces, public bodies, and community groups.
What Do We Focus On?
Responsibility
Shifting the burden and responsibility, and action from the person affected to those present who may witness it (Bystanders)
Participation
Encouraging everyone to play a role in contributing to tackling hate, harm, and prejudice, however big or small
Intervention
Providing interventions and responses that support the victim, as well as challenging the inappropriate behaviour
With everyone on board and playing a role, our programs set the path to new positive social norms and inclusive culture,
Backed by research. Proven in practice. Highly recommended by hundreds who’ve taken our training.
Our Training and Workshops
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The Stand By Me session with the board combined education, insight, challenge, reflection, and time for us to consider our role as senior strategic leaders in supporting our people and all those who use and need our services. And it was delivered in a safe environment that enabled us all to participate. I strongly recommend Shamsher and her colleagues.
“Most impactful training I have ever attended. And an excellent speaker!”
“Pitched perfectly. Clear, informative and great examples. Thank you.”
“Absolutely fantastic training. Thank you so much. Your work is so important.”
“Sham was fantastic. She kept me thoroughly engaged even though the session was long. Love it!”
“Pitched perfectly. Clear, informative and great examples. Thank you.”
“Absolutely fantastic training. Thank you so much. Your work is so important.”
“Sham was fantastic. She kept me thoroughly engaged even though the session was long. Love it!”
Stand By Her Training
“The presentation from Shamsher on the work of Communities Inc and the importance of positive bystander interventions is a must-see. You are engaged from the start on the importance of not being a bystander and the impact of inaction for the recipients of hate. The presentation is impactful and thought-provoking. The case studies really hit home how failing to act to stop hate crimes can cause its own emotional and psychological damage to those affected most by it. This work changes perceptions, and you are left enthusiastic to make a positive difference.”
“I have to thank all three of you for the training you did. It was inspirational in so many ways. You might guess that my only true regret is that I wish more folks were in the room. But there is also terrific value in having a small group attend. I thought you (all) were just excellent. My husband, Jim, generally refuses to attend these types of things – he believes he’s forced to deal with ‘these’ issues continuously – because he’s with me. As you know, he did attend. To my surprise, he also actively participated!! He, later, explained that he felt “it was a safe space to open my mouth.” He noted that he didn’t always “say nice things about people.” So obviously, he, too, was impressed. Thank you so very much.”
“This training provided me with an opportunity to hear different perspectives and to challenge myself to make a difference. It’s helped me to feel better equipped to offer appropriate support and intervention, as well as identify the circumstances where that might be necessary. The content was delivered effectively and in a way that engaged positively with difficult issues. As well as the individual learning, it’s been great in helping us get to know other members of our wider team, and share awareness of those topics back in the office and at home.”
Stand by Her Training
“West Midlands Police (WMP) has now worked with Communities Inc. for several years in the provision of their Stand By Me training programme for witnesses of hate crime. This bystander training has been of the highest standard and has enhanced the understanding of officers, our partners and our communities. The feedback and evaluation has been strongly positive. WMP are grateful for this support and look forward to continuing to work together in the future.”
“I’m the Member of Parliament for Nottingham North. Through this role, through my role as a chair of governors of a primary school or as any person going about my business, I was conscious that there could be occasions where I would witness a hate crime. Like most people, I would want to help out – certainly not to look the other way – but to know that my help was actually helpful. Happily, Communities Inc are running a brilliant training course to educate you on how to be an effective third party in such a situation. I enjoyed it, and it has helped give me the skills to be confident in such a situation.”
Stand By Me Bystander Intervention Training
“Just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for yesterday. I appreciate that it is training, but it feels more like a safe place to have a conversation and to reflect on our own approaches and responses, rather than being ‘trained’. I have had 100% positive feedback from the team, which I am not sure I have ever had for training! Thankyou once again … we’ll be back for more. A lot more! Thankyou to our brilliant colleagues, Communities Inc, for providing Stand by Me Bystander Intervention Awareness training for the whole team today. Really engaging, confidence-building training. Highly recommend this if you haven’t already. Our team spent a valuable morning with Communities Inc Bystander Intervention Awareness training today. We would recommend this training to anyone and any organisation. Don’t be a bystander, be an ally.”
Stand By Me Bystander Intervention Training
“Thank you for arranging the workshops, our staff and pupils found them to be really engaging. We felt that it worked well in terms of organisation, having the workshops with two tutor groups at a time, and feedback from staff and pupils was positive. We supervised the sessions using teaching staff, SLT and HOY to ensure that pupils remained focused and on task.”
Stand By Me Bystander Intervention Training
“This was an absolutely brilliant session – the best I’ve been to – delivered so well by Shamsher, who created just the right environment – safe and supportive but also challenging and moving as the topics under discussion merited. The whole session was so thought-provoking and inspiring, mixing testimony and experiences with a range of tools, methods and support systems to help contribute to a safer and more tolerant society. I’d recommend this to any colleagues who weren’t able to attend – I thought it was brilliant, I learnt a lot and feel inspired and motivated to be far more proactive in being aware and calling out harassment, microaggressions and other worrying behaviours. Thanks so much for putting this on!”
Stand By Me Bystander Intervention Training
“It was one of the best trainings I’ve ever been to. The 3 hours just flew by.”
“The training was delivered to students across six of our secondary schools and was very well received. Being an upstander, not a bystander, is a key part of our personal development curriculum, and having Shamsher deliver the training using a presentation for the year group, whole group, and peer discussions and hard-hitting videos brought an outside voice, additional perspectives and a clear message that every student must take responsibility for being an upstander.”
Stand By Me Bystander Intervention Training
“Can I just say, once again, how brilliant we all found this training. There have been so many conversations starting within our teams that wouldn’t have happened before. I would also like to say how fantastic Shamsher was on both days. She was so engaging and really informative!”
Stand By Me Bystander Intervention Training
“I just want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you for the training yesterday.
You have a natural ability to put people at ease and help them reach their full potential in a safe and encouraging learning environment.
The content was excellent, and personally, it has been thought-provoking. I found it particularly interesting to consider others and the day-to-day challenges they face, using the mosquito effect. I also enjoyed the common interest, and this is something Jayne and I felt we should build on with the teams to support a more supportive and cohesive approach. Again, many thanks for your time, and for sharing your knowledge and skills.”
You have a natural ability to put people at ease and help them reach their full potential in a safe and encouraging learning environment.
The content was excellent, and personally, it has been thought-provoking. I found it particularly interesting to consider others and the day-to-day challenges they face, using the mosquito effect. I also enjoyed the common interest, and this is something Jayne and I felt we should build on with the teams to support a more supportive and cohesive approach. Again, many thanks for your time, and for sharing your knowledge and skills.”
Stand By Me Bystander Intervention Training
“This was an absolutely brilliant session – the best I’ve been to – delivered so well by Shamsher who created just the right environment – safe and supportive but also challenging and moving as the topics under discussion merited. The whole session was so thought-provoking and inspiring, mixing testimony and experiences with a range of tools, methods and support systems to help contribute to a safer and more tolerant society. I’d recommend this to any colleagues who weren’t able to attend – I thought it was brilliant, I learnt a lot and feel inspired and motivated to be far more proactive in being aware and calling out harassment, microaggressions and other worrying behaviours. Thanks so much for putting this on!”
Stand By Me Bystander Intervention Training
“Thank you so much for opening our eyes and educating us – it really is making a difference.”
Stand By Me EDI Ambassador Delegate