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Women and girls
Practical workshops that teach awareness, boundaries and simple breakaways you can remember when it matters.
Teesside & the North East
You protect you.
Professional, trauma-aware personal safety education and self-defence. Real skills for everyday life, taught by a policing and security expert with more than 20 years of frontline experience.
Who we help
Built for people who want to feel safer, not become fighters.
We specialise in supporting women, girls, LGBTQ+ people and anyone who feels vulnerable or unsafe. Sessions are calm, inclusive and designed for people with no previous experience.
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Workplaces
Safety training for public-facing, lone-working and frontline staff across universities, healthcare, retail and hospitality.
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Support services
Gentle, trauma-informed sessions for survivor services, wellbeing spaces and community groups.
Founded by Lois Speakman
Why we are different
Real-world experience, not martial arts theory.
You Protect You is a female-led safety organisation created to give people skills that actually work in real situations. Training is grounded in 20+ years of policing and security work, safeguarding knowledge and trauma-informed practice.
This is not combat sport. You will learn how to spot risk early, hold your space, de-escalate where you can, and break away if someone grabs or corners you.
- Trauma-aware
- Inclusive
- Practical
- Confidence-focused
- Designed for everyday life
What we offer
Training that fits the room you are in.
From community workshops to corporate sessions, hen parties and 1:1 coaching, every booking is shaped around the people in front of us.
Self-defence workshops
Easy-to-remember techniques for women and girls aged 12+. Awareness, boundaries, breakaways and escapes, taught at your own pace.
Corporate safety training
Conflict resolution, de-escalation and breakaway skills for staff in public-facing or lone-working roles.
Wellbeing & community
Empowering sessions for women’s wellbeing spaces, festivals, sports teams and community groups.
1:1 confidence coaching
Private, personalised support for anyone who wants extra time, a quieter space, or help after a difficult experience.
Next public class
Upcoming sessions from Eventbrite.
Public classes are added in Eventbrite and appear here automatically. Private, workplace and group bookings can be arranged through the contact form.
Kind words
Trusted by women and organisations across Teesside.
Recent attendees came away feeling more confident, more informed, and ready to bring their daughters next time.
★★★★★“The session really helped build my confidence and knowledge, all within a relaxed, supportive environment. I attended with my two teenage daughters and we all came away feeling it was incredibly useful, empowering and worthwhile.”
★★★★★“What an amazing class showing women and young girls how to protect themselves if they get into a difficult situation. I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend.”
★★★★★“Great experience with You Protect You. Practical advice and good demonstrations that can be put into everyday situations. Highly recommended.”