Training for Professionals

We offer training to other agencies and individuals who come into contact with survivors of sexual violence, to enhance and improve the quality of services available.

Our training can either be done face-to-face or we have E-Learning courses which you can access at home and work through in your own time.

Does your organisation work directly or indirectly with survivors of sexual violence?

Through training, consultancy and support work SAY Women aims to extend worker's knowledge on childhood sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault, its connection to homelessness, and to increase their ability to respond to the issues survivors present with. All training packages are devised to meet the specific needs of services and focus on building worker's capacity to understand and deal with survivor's needs. Our programme reflects and contributes to the four key priorities of the Scottish Government's Equally Safe strategy:

• Scottish society embraces equality and mutual respect, and rejects all forms of violence against women and girls. 

• Women and girls thrive as equal citizens: socially, culturally, economically and politically.

• Our interventions are early and effective, preventing further violence and maximising the safety and wellbeing of women and girls.

• Men desist from all forms of violence against women and girls and perpetrators of such violence recieve a robust and effective response.

We have designed specific courses for you, your staff and colleagues, have a look below for details of our face-to-face and e-learning options.

If you can’t see what you need, the SAY Women team can design and deliver information sessions, training workshops and courses tailored to help you better meet the needs of survivors of sexual violence. We work with people from various services including housing, mental health, addiction, street teams and GPs.

Our Face-to-Face Courses:

Child Sexual Abuse and the links to Housing and Homelessness (1 day)

This course informs participants about the links between child sexual abuse and homelessness, exploring how the impacts of sexual abuse can contribute to difficulties in tenancy sustainment. Participants will develop their understanding of child sexual abuse and the social context in which abuse occurs and consider a gendered analysis of homelessness.

Working with Self-Harm (1 day)

This training aims to increase participants’ awareness of self-harm. By identifying the various forms of self-harm and the events, feelings, and functions behind it, participants are enabled to recognise the needs of individuals and respond appropriately.

Toolkit for Working with Survivors (1 day)

This course builds on workers’ knowledge and understanding of sexual abuse and its impacts, enabling improved ability to identify the needs of survivors. Workers will explore appropriate ways to work with and support survivors of sexual abuse through appealing to a model of trauma recovery used by SAY Women.

Working with Survivors of CSA who experience Addiction Issues (1 day)

Developed and delivered in partnership with SDF, this course raises participants’ awareness of substance use for survivors. Participants are encouraged to consider why survivors may use different drugs, the effect of substances (both on their own and in combination) and reflect how to support survivors who use substances.

CSA Awareness (half-day)

This half-day course seeks to raise participants’ awareness of child sexual abuse and its prevalence.

Supporting Disclosure of CSA (half-day)

This half-day course supports participants’ to feel confident about managing disclosures of sexual abuse, offering space to reflect on concerns around this issue and practical guidance about how to facilitate disclosures.

Understanding Gender-based Violence (half-day)

This short input provides participants with an understanding of Gender-based Violence, introducing a feminist analysis of why violence against women and girls occurs.

Groupwork Facilitation (1 day)

This course supports workers to develop knowledge and skills in running groupwork. Drawing on SAY Women’s successful groupwork provision, the training offers participants guidance on the planning and execution of groupwork within their service.

Secondary Trauma and Self-Care

This course is designed to discuss exposure to traumatic content, the potential subsequent impacts, and the ways in which we can support a healthy work-life balance. Protecting our own or our employee's psychological wellbeing at work can prevent burn out or the development of vicarious trauma.

Please email us to arrange a course or to discuss your specific needs and any topics you wish to have covered.  

Fees for Face-to-Face Courses:

SAY Women is funded to deliver free training to staff who work within the housing sector. Otherwise the usual charge is £600 for a one day course, and £1000 for a two day course. Fees for small or low funded organisations are negotiable. Please note the cost of renting a training space is not included. Individuals have the opportunity to join our annual running programme, please contact us for information. 

E-Learning Courses:

We offer e-learning courses which you can access at home and work through in your own time. You will learn through a combination of text, case studies, audio clips, and videos co-produced with the young women on the SAY Women Advisory Board.

Each course is £15.00. 

Supporting Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse (2 hours)

This introductory course aims to build participants' skills and confidence in managing disclosures of CSA, through reflecting on the prevalence of abuse, the obstacles survivors may face around disclosure and expressing needs, and the voice of lived experience about why workers' willingness to support disclosure is important.

Introduction to Supporting Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (2 hours)

This introductory course aims to build participants' knowledge and awareness of the issue of CSA, reflecting on the long-term impacts of abuse on the lives of survivors, and provides guidance about practical measures that can be taken to better support.

If you are interested in accessing courses for your staff team, group access can be arranged. Please contact training@say-women.co.uk for more information.

To access our online courses click on the link below:

If you would like further information about the courses we provide or would like to be added to our training mailing list please click here: