Women & Personal Safety

Who is it for?

The programme is open to women who are interested in learning some basic techniques of self defence along with consideration of personal safety issues, with the opportunity to progress onto a training course for those wishing to become trainers in self defence for women.

The basic self defence course is particularly designed for those with few or no qualifications. It aims to build women’s confidence in their ability to take greater control of their own safety as well as their general ability to learn, and it provides a stepping stone to further educational and vocational opportunities.

The training course is an opportunity for women to take their interest further and to become trainers in self defence for women themselves. This course is open to all women who have successfully completed the basic self defence course.

What does it cover?

The Basic Self Defence course offers 20 hours of tuition with around 10 hours of home study. Women will be introduced to a range of physical techniques as well as confidence building, assertion, and the use of the voice and senses to develop greater control over their personal safety.

The Training the Trainers in Self Defence for Women

course offers progression from the basic course with 120 hours tuition spread over a six month period.

In addition students will be expected to undertake around 60 hours of home study and a teaching practice session with a Basic Self Defence for Women group at a local centre.

The course consists of five units which cover:

• Personal self defence skills
  
• Teaching self defence strategies
  
• The learning process
  
• Violence against women: the issues
  
• The teaching environment

The course is designed so that on its successful completion students can progress onto an Adult Tutoring qualification offered by the City & Guilds Accreditation Body, in which students’ prior learning from the training course will count towards the City & Guilds qualification.

This will enable students to become fully qualified adult tutors with opportunities to work in the adult education sector.

How is it organised?

The basic course is offered to women in their local community, in a safe and accessible location. It usually runs with two hour sessions over 10 weeks.

Students can gain a credit from the Open College Network if they so wish, by successfully completing the coursework.

The training course is offered in those areas where there is sufficient demand from women to form a group. Sessions will be spread over 6 months, with some sessions being offered on a weekly basis in a local community centre, and with some tuition being offered on a weekend day school basis. Accreditation is necessary for this course, with 6 credits gained from the Open College Network on successful completion of coursework and teaching practice.

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