Our programmes
for schools
& communities

Building Respect Online and Off

Shaping norms before harm escalates

Everyday actions that build safety

Building skills that last a lifetime

Tailored, practical, and grounded

Confidence, connection, early action

Join, host, or partner with us

Building Active Bystander Cultures

Safer communities start with people who know how to look out for one another.

Schools, community organisations, and local groups are some of the most powerful places to build an active bystander culture — where harm is noticed early, support is visible, and respect is reinforced every day.

This is where young people learn what’s normal.

This is where communities practise care.

Why Schools and Communities Matter

Most harm doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in shared spaces — classrooms, sports clubs, youth groups, online communities, neighbourhoods.

Schools and community groups are uniquely placed to:
Shape norms and values early
Model respectful behaviour across generations
Create environments where people feel seen and supported
Intervene before harm escalates

When adults and young people share the skills to act, safety becomes collective — not something left to a few.

What an Active Bystander Culture Looks Like

An active bystander culture is not about confrontation or punishment.

It’s about people knowing how to:

Notice when something doesn’t feel right

Step in safely and respectfully
Support someone who may be experiencing harm
Challenge behaviour without shaming
Ask for help and back each other up

These are learned skills — and like any skills, they grow with practice.

We often describe this as building bystander muscles:

confidence, awareness, empathy, and courage.

Why This Matters for Young People

Rangatahi are already navigating complex social worlds — both offline and online.

Without the tools to respond, young people can feel:

Unsure when to speak up
Afraid of getting it wrong
Isolated when harm occurs
Pressured to stay silent

By building bystander skills early, we support young people to:

Lead with empathy
Look out for their peers
Navigate conflict safely
Carry these behaviours into adulthood, workplaces, and whānau

This is not about putting responsibility on young people — it’s about equipping them.

How Be There Works With Schools & Community Groups

We don’t deliver one-size-fits-all programmes.

We work alongside schools and community organisations to:

Understand your context, age groups, and community dynamics
Tailor sessions to your values, kaupapa, and setting
Use real-life scenarios relevant to young people and communities
Support adults as well as rangatahi to model bystander behaviour

Our programmes are interactive, trauma-informed, and evidence-based — designed to be engaging, practical, and culturally grounded.

What Changes as a Result

Schools and communities that engage with Be There report:

Greater confidence to speak up and step in
Stronger peer support and connection
Earlier intervention when harm occurs
Safer online and in-person environments
A shared language for care, respect, and accountability

Over time, these shifts ripple outward — into whānau, workplaces, and wider communities.

Be Part of the Change

Building safer communities is a collective effort.

Whether you’re a school, kura, youth group, sports club, or community organisation — you are already part of the solution.

Get involved. Host a programme. Partner with us.

Let’s build active bystander cultures together.

Testimonials

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Evalution data says we can confidently say:

“Over 90% of participants report increased confidence to intervene.”

“Participants consistently report feeling empowered to act within their sphere of influence.”
“Highly recommended across health and social service settings.”
“Average enjoyment ratings above 89/100 across diverse workforces.

Item Title Two

Here are some verbatim quotes from participants:

Take aways

“Made me want to be a better person.”

“Being present and calling out unacceptable behaviours.”

“Making sure my words don’t impact negatively.”

“Noticing unconscious bias.”

“Be courageous to speak out.”

“Think more about what happens in the workplace.”

Item Title Three

Best part

“Getting clear on the various ways we can intervene.”

“Affirming the role of an active bystander and ways to do this respectfully and effectively.”

“Good reminder of what to do and how I can act when in the position of a bystander.”

“Understanding my own bias and challenging others safely and respectfully.”

“Good to have space to talk as a team together about these important issues.”

Be There for community organisations

Building safe, respectful cultures — together

Be There isn’t just for schools or workplaces.

We partner with community organisations of all kinds — charities, clubs, faith groups, youth organisations, sports bodies and volunteer networks — who want to reduce harm and build safe, inclusive cultures.

What This Can Include

We tailor Be There to your community — building practical bystander skills across members and leaders, addressing online and offline harm, and strengthening the culture that brings your values to life.

Participants build practical skills to recognise harm early, step in safely, support those targeted, strengthen positive norms, and respond confidently when escalation is needed.

Let’s Build What Works for You

We’ll work with you to understand your community, your challenges, and the culture you want to build — and design something that fits.

Enquire Now

Be There For Schools

Creating safe, inclusive learning environments

This programme builds a consistent, school-wide response to bullying, discrimination, and gender-based harm — equipping young people and educators with the confidence and skills to act when it matters.

What Students Learn

Through interactive workshops, real-life scenarios and discussion, students learn how to recognise harm early (including cyberbullying, sextortion and image-based abuse, misogyny and gendered harassment, self-harm coercion, pile-ons and public shaming) and respond safely and confidently using practical strategies:

Be There Now – safely interrupt harm in the moment

Be There Later – check in privately with someone targeted, or the person causing harm

Be the Switch – redirect harmful conversations or dynamics

Be the Champion – use influence to shape positive norms

It is a skills-based programme that empowers young people to lead culture change.

What Teachers and Schools Learn

Programme supports schools to build consistent, proactive responses to harm.

Teachers and pastoral staff learn:

How young people are experiencing harm today

How to respond to disclosures in a supportive, trauma-informed way

How to reinforce bystander behaviours across school culture

How to align the programme with existing wellbeing and behaviour frameworks
School Partnership & Design
We work alongside school leadership to tailor delivery to your context.

Interactive Workshops
Delivered face-to-face to year groups using discussion, scenarios, and skill rehearsal.

Adult Ally Training
Equipping teachers and staff to reinforce learning and respond confidently.

Youth-Led Culture Activation
Supporting students to lead visible, positive culture campaigns within their schooland online.

Community Champions Programme

Growing local leaders of respect

This modular programme trains community leaders to sustain respectful-culture initiatives long-term.

Facilitate conversations about respect in your own setting.
Lead small-group reflection and bystander practice.
Embed inclusive practices in policy and events.
3 modules delivered over 8–10 weeks.
Includes facilitator training, resources, and mentoring.
Who It’s For Community organisations, sports clubs, iwi and hapū groups, youth or faith organisations.

Sustaining Change 
Graduates join an ongoing Be There network for shared learning and collaboration.