RESPONDERS LAB
The Responders Lab is a free (donated) interactive opportunity with peers. It is designed to support you in exploring and building on your understanding of domestic, family and sexualised violence, and how this influences what you might notice, think or do in your responses.
Each of us are part of communities, dependent on others, friends to many and family to someone. Every response matters. The Responders Lab is for anyone - friends, family, colleagues, neighbours, community peers, institutions, organisations, services, businesses and community groups.
The content (outlined below) has been developed with local and international input. It has been shaped by listening to lived and learned expertise about responses to violence and abuse.
CONTENT - ENGLISH
View, share or embed the invitation to the Responders Lab (80sec)
OUR INTERACTIONS (9mins)
Our interactions always matter, and our dignity is always central.
OUR RESPONSES (7mins)
We cannot guess or assume when responding to violence and abuse.
MY ECOSYSTEM MATTERS (10mins)
Respond with me in the centre of my ecosystem.
FOLLOW MY MEANING (7mins)
Follow me in what my world means to me.
CONTENT - ARABIC
تواصلنا مهمّ دائمًا، وكرامتنا أساسية دائمًا
(Our Interactions) (Arabic) (13mins) Our interactions always matter, and our dignity is always central.
لا يمكننا التخمين أو الافتراض عند الاستجابة للعنف والإساءة
(Our Responses) (Arabic) (10mins) We cannot guess or assume when responding to violence and abuse.
استجيبوا واجعلوني النقطة الأساسية في بيئتي الاجتماعية
My Ecosystem Matters (Arabic) (13.5mins) Respond with me in the centre of my ecosystem.
تفهموني وتفهموا ما يعنيه عالمي بالنسبة لي
(Follow My Meaning) (Arabic) (10mins) Follow me in what my world means to me.
SESSION PARTICIPATION (English)
Booking for a group - We invite you to view the invitation animation (above) & book a free (donated) virtual facilitated session (2hrs) for a group (minimum 10 people & maximum 30* people). You will have the opportunity to: (a) reflect and exchange insights by drawing on your own thinking and contextual expertise, (b) critically thinking about your assumptions, observations, actions, and inactions as a responder and (c) reflect on what these insights (content & conversations) reveal to you and your peers.
Bookings for 2026 (from February on) are now open. Specify your preferred date & time in the booking form (button below).
WHO IS BOOKING IN TO THE RESPONDERS LAB?
The tiles below share a picture of the participation of groups/teams in the 2hr virtual sessions (in English).
The participants in the Responders Lab Mexico (Spanish) at the in-person cross-sector scholarship - Mexico City, participated as themselves. In their day to day lives they work in varied roles listed in the lightbox of responders insights and responses (lower on page).
ANTICIPATED VALUE
Value: The anticipated value of the Responders Lab is outlined below. Building on my understanding & Uplifting my responses.
Building on my understanding
For example:
“I didn’t know what I didn’t know. And the difference that would make to where I see myself and others in the picture.”
“I understand more about the significance of my responses, even if I never fully know the impact, or when there is no immediately obvious impact.”
“I am more aware of and actively considering in my responses that we don’t all share the same power, resources, and safety.”
“I now understand my responses are ongoing and that my responses don’t start when someone tells me something, and my responses don’t stop when a direct interaction ends.”
“I know I am not alone in sometimes being uncertain and unclear as a responder, and that not operating from assumptions is important for building on safety.”
Uplifting my responses
For example:
“I realise now I had more ‘knowledge’ than ‘understanding’. This understanding has changed what I notice, what I ask about, how I ask, and if and how I create and use information.”
“I am more aware of how language (words and visuals) shape what gets noticed, valued, dismissed or minimised.”
“I am more attuned to the possible impact of the words I hear and use, and the information and records I create. i.e. What is recorded or shared, who sees this, who doesn’t, how this is used, and how far this travels.”
“I am more active in self-checking that my assumptions, observations, actions, and inactions, support safety, dignity and justice.”
“I notice, value and take seriously what is shared with me, what I am trusted with. I am more aware of and ok with the importance of silences.”
“I understand that many details may be revealed to me or protected from my view, and that this is part of ongoing considerations of safety, dignity and context.”
EXPERIENCED VALUE
Responders insights & responses (Virtual 2hr English)
Explore de-identified examples of insights and responses from participants involved in Responder Lab (2hr virtual) sessions.
Open in full screen the Responders Lab (English) - Participant insights and responses.
Responders insights & responses (In-person - Mexico)
Explore de-identified examples of insights and responses from participants involved in Responder Lab Mexico. (Venue: Museum of Memory & Tolerance – Mexico City).
Open in full screen the Responder Lab Mexico - Participant insights and responses.
