Creating welcoming, safe environments is something many community groups already value as part of their work. Whether that’s running a local walking group, sports session or engagement workshop, the way people feel in those spaces can make a real difference to their experience.
When someone feels safe and included, they are more likely to return to the activity group, boosting their health and wellbeing in the long term.
One of the ways to create safer, more positive experiences is by encouraging people to be active bystanders.
An active bystander is someone who notices when something isn’t right and takes simple, safe steps to help. This could include responding to situations such as racist or sexist abuse, harassment, or other inappropriate behaviour.
Intervening doesn’t mean putting yourself at risk or being expected to solve a situation on your own. It’s about feeling more confident to act in small, practical ways that can make a difference to the person experiencing the behaviour.
Knowing what to do in the moment can feel unclear, especially for volunteers or staff who are there to support others.
That’s why we’ve created this short animation to help. We encourage organisations to watch the animation and share it with teams, volunteers, and wider networks.
The animation introduces the “5 Ds” of being an active bystander, each offering a different way to respond:
- Distract – create a simple interruption to defuse a situation
- Delegate – ask someone else for help, such as another colleague or nearby venue staff
- Document – if appropriate, record what’s happening and share it with the person affected
- Delay – check in afterwards and offer support
- Direct – speak up and address the behaviour, if it feels safe to do so
Not every situation will feel the same, and there’s no expectation to do everything. Even one action can help someone feel supported and less alone.