Build confidence
Help women, girls and vulnerable individuals feel stronger, calmer and more in control of their personal safety.
About us
Safety skills shaped by real frontline work.
You Protect You is a female-led personal safety and self-defence organisation based in Teesside. We exist to make practical, trauma-aware safety education accessible to women, girls, LGBTQ+ people and vulnerable groups.
Our story
Founded by Lois Speakman
Lois is a policing and security professional with more than 20 years of frontline experience. She has worked across public-facing environments, vulnerable-group support, conflict situations and community safety roles.
That background shapes every session. Training is realistic, inclusive and supportive — grounded in lived professional experience, not martial arts or combat sport.
It also makes You Protect You one of the only female-led specialist safety providers in the North East, offering a clear alternative to male-dominated martial arts clubs and traditional self-defence approaches.
Mission
Make personal safety feel relevant to everyday life.
Every session is delivered with compassion, professionalism and a clear understanding of the challenges women and vulnerable groups face today.
Teach what works
Give people practical skills they can remember and use in real-world situations, not complicated sequences.
Support survivors
Offer trauma-aware, gentle learning for people accessing support services or rebuilding after difficult experiences.
How we teach
Trauma-aware, legally sound, built for real life.
Trauma-aware approach
Techniques are taught with sensitivity to past trauma and emotional wellbeing. You can learn at your own pace. Nothing is forced.
Legal compliance
Skills are taught in line with UK law, so people leave knowing not only what they can do, but how to use those skills responsibly.