Brave spaces

What are brave spaces?

A ‘brave space’ is a safe, inclusive and empowering environment in which every and any individual can feel confident to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves to learn and grow. Creating and holding a brave space is a shared responsibility of facilitators and learners.

Why are brave spaces important?

We know that people learn better in a space where they can fully participate - free of harm, risks, biases, discrimination and violence in any form. As a Movement for every and any girl working towards an equal world where all girls can thrive, we want learners to feel not only safe but also encouraged to speak out and share their experiences, concerns and points of view.

What do brave spaces look like? 

A brave space is:

Safeguarding means the actions we take to prevent harm and promote the welfare of the young people we work with and for.

When facilitating learning, we must be aware of any intentional or accidental harm that may take place and put in place measures to reduce any risks and have a process to respond to safety or welfare concerns. If we do not feel safe, we cannot learn. An important aspect of safeguarding is to provide the best environment, not just to minimise harm but to nurture growth, recognising that learners may have different needs to help them feel safe. A safe space is one where all risks are managed and where learning is supported by positive relationships between all learners and facilitators.  

It is created through:

• Safeguarding training and awareness for all adults in the organisation (both volunteers and staff)
• A Code of Conduct which sets expectations for behaviour and which everyone is aware of
• Actively listening to all members, and taking them seriously regardless of their age

• Recognising and responding to individual needs to create a safe learning environment

Every one of us comes from a different background and our lives are impacted by many different factors (such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, race, mental/physical ability…). To support every and any member to have equal opportunities to grow and learn, we need to apply an equitable approach to how we deliver learning experiences. This means giving more support to those who need it, according to each member’s personal circumstances.

We create an inclusive environment by:

• Create a welcoming environment where every and any member can follow their journey at their own pace
• Value their members and strive to ensure each of them has the best learning experience
• Include diverse perspectives in the design of learning experiences and be ready and open to adapt the learning experiences as needed.
• Have clear and supportive policies that support everyone and enable us to recognise and respond decisively to discrimination.

When building our learning environments, it is part of our duty as Girl Guide and Girl Scout organisations to make these environments empowering spaces - where children, young people and adult members are comfortable to express their identity and where they feel included, respected and empowered to make decisions. 

We can all participate in creating an empowering space by being:

• Supportive to others, helping them grow their confidence
• Brave to raise our own voices and encouraging others to raise theirs
• Open to being challenged and to collaborating with others who think differently to us
• Lifelong learners who actively seek opportunities to learn and grow