The Safe Woman Launches With Pledge To Bring About Quiet Revolution In Safety
A new safety initiative run “by women, for women” has launched with a vow to create a “quiet revolution in confidence, clarity and readiness.”
The Safe Woman offers skills to help women reduce their risks of falling victim to an attack, and to equip them with the tools on how to deal with incidents if and when they occur.
The movement has been created by Sarah Schofield, who devised the Safe Woman project after falling victim to an incident herself many years ago.
Last week she addressed dozens of women during a launch event at the North Lakes Hotel and Spa in Penrith.
She explained how her experience had left her feeling vulnerable, isolated and unsure of her next steps. But she’d also been left inspired to act and help other women.
“This isn’t just a training workshop; it’s a quiet revolution,” she told attendees. “I don’t want women to learn how to take care of themselves after something awful has happened, as I did. I want them to be ready now, so that, if danger ever comes, they know how to act.”
Founded through in-depth conversations with women about their lived experiences, The Safe Woman is built on a foundation of listening, empathy and empowerment.
The Safe Woman brings formal training in self-defence and mental health first aid, backed by personal experiences ranging from solo global travel to hostile environment training.
Unlike conventional self-defence classes, which can often be male-led and targeted toward gym-goers, The Safe Woman is exclusively for women and led entirely by women, and what’s taught is kept strictly confidential.
Workshops are accessible to all women, regardless of age, fitness or ability, including those with mobility challenges. Plans are also underway to offer adapted training for wheelchair users.
Sarah explained: “I learned the moves, and now I teach them, not as a reaction, but as part of healing,” she said. “But I’ve adapted them: less about violence, more about defence and escape. We focus on real-world safety, taught in three hours, wearing your everyday clothes. Women need practical skills that fit their lives.”
The course content also includes personal risk assessment, situational awareness, de-escalation techniques, escape strategies, digital safety, legal knowledge, and more, all designed for life’s real-world situations. Those taking part are also advised on key items to take with them when travelling to help them boost their chances of staying safe.
Each session is tailored to meet the specific needs of its group, whether they are lone workers, young women, frequent travellers, or professionals navigating urban and remote environments.
The methodology is rooted in tools originally developed during WWII to help ordinary women stay safe. But The Safe Woman has modernised those concepts for today’s world.
Sarah added: “We must break the narrative that women protecting themselves are vigilantes. This is about restoring confidence. I want to shift how we approach women’s safety, in communities, in government, in policy. Most of all, I want women to feel strong, supported and ready, not scared.”
Testimonials:
Sharon Brook, the head of sales at the North Lakes Hotel and Spa, was among those who attended the event.
She said: “The workshop with Sarah was, quite frankly, powerful. It brings safety training for women out of the shadows and into everyday life. The response from the 36 business women in attendance, who travelled from around the country to attend, was incredible.
The initiative has also been backed by film maker Beatrix Wood who was among those to attend the event.
“The Safe Woman workshop was superb,” she said. “Sarah is an expert in this field. This training should be available to all women, of all ages. There was so much useful information, training and guidance. Having filmed in some fairly sketchy situations, I wish I had had the benefit of this earlier.”
