New Possible’s British Training Awards sets out to discover and celebrate the organisations that are truly passionate about L&Ds role in building a thriving workforce.
In our latest ‘Sharing Success’ series, we interview British Training Awards Winners to shine a light on the inspiring initiatives that are improving workplaces across the UK and beyond. In this article we chat with Iwona Kossek from Ask for Angela, winners of the ‘Not for Profit Initiative of the Year’ category.
Introducing Iwona Kossek
Iwona has been Director at Ask for Angela since 2023 and brings more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, primarily in area and site management roles. This extensive experience has given her first-hand insight into the challenges venues face, as well as a deep understanding of what is required to create safe, welcoming environments for both customers and staff.
Iwona shared: “Working in hospitality has shaped my approach to delivering practical, effective vulnerability training that works in real-world settings. I now work closely with organisations across the hospitality and wider public-facing sectors to provide vulnerability and safety training that equips frontline staff with the confidence and practical skills to recognise and respond effectively to vulnerable situations. My focus is on ensuring organisations have the support, resources and training they need to embed the Ask for Angela scheme successfully, empowering staff to act with confidence and helping create safer environments for everyone.”
About Ask for Angela
Ask for Angela is the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving safety in public-facing environments. They deliver vulnerability and safety training that equips team members with the practical skills to recognise and respond to vulnerable situations. All income is reinvested to enhance and expand their training, develop new resources and ensure continued impact. The scheme aims to provide a discreet way for individuals to ask for help if they feel unsafe, without needing to explain their situation.
Empowering Frontline Staff to Create Safer Spaces
Ask for Angela has developed an innovative vulnerability and safety training programme that equips frontline staff with the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed to recognise and respond effectively to vulnerable situations, including sexual harassment. Designed for public-facing environments, the programme addresses a common challenge where staff may lack the confidence or consistency to intervene appropriately when concerns arise.
Flexible, Accessible and Practical Training
The training is delivered through a scalable and flexible model, offering in-person workshops, a Train-the-Trainer programme, and a self-led online course. To increase accessibility and ensure organisations of all sizes can participate, free licences for the online training are provided wherever possible.
A key strength of the programme is its integration with the Ask for Angela scheme itself, providing participants with a clear framework for applying their learning in real-world situations. Rather than simply raising awareness, the training focuses on driving meaningful behavioural change, helping staff feel empowered and equipped to take action when it matters most.
When asked why it was important to offer a range of flexible training options, Iwona highlighted:
“We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible to implementing the scheme. Every organisation is different, so it was important to provide flexible training options that meet a range of operational needs. Alongside our in-person training, we offer Train the Trainer programmes, online learning and free downloadable training workbooks. Where possible, we also provide free licences for our online training to eligible organisations, including charities, CICs and other not-for-profit organisations, helping them access the resources they need.
To ensure the programme remains effective over time, we encourage organisations to refresh staff training every six to twelve months, helping to maintain confidence and keep best practice at the forefront of day-to-day operations.
Alongside this, our extended training options, including our Train the Trainer programme, provide organisations with the resources and confidence to deliver the training internally. This makes it much easier to embed the training into staff inductions, ongoing development and refresher sessions, ensuring new team members receive the same consistent standard of training as existing colleagues.
Our support does not end once the training has been delivered. We continue to work closely with venues and organisations, providing ongoing guidance and resources whenever it is needed. By building long-term relationships with our partners, we can help them adapt the training to their changing needs, overcome any challenges and ensure the Ask for Angela scheme remains an effective and sustainable part of their organisation, even in sectors where staff turnover is high.”
Extending Impact Through Partnerships
Ask for Angela has successfully partnered with organisations and local authorities to broaden the reach of the programme and improve safety in public spaces. In January 2026, Coventry achieved Purple Flag status for the first time, with the Ask for Angela online training and wider promotion of the scheme highlighted as a key contributing factor. The organisation has also worked with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to deliver online vulnerability training to hospitality staff across the region, helping create safer and better-managed environments at both local and regional levels.
Impact
The programme has achieved significant scale and impact. Over the past three years, it has been implemented in more than 5,000 venues, with over 10,000 professionals trained. Of those who completed the training, 90% reported increased confidence in handling real-life vulnerable situations.
Survey data from January 2026 demonstrates further measurable outcomes from the online self-led training launched in September 2023:
- Understanding of vulnerability issues increased by 26.3%
- Confidence in supporting vulnerable individuals increased by 24.3%
- Awareness of local safety initiatives increased by 38.7%
- Knowledge of the Ask for Angela scheme increased by 42.4%
- Familiarity with bystander intervention rose by 67.9%, representing the largest area of improvement and demonstrating a stronger willingness to take action when concerns arise
Through its scalable and accessible approach, Ask for Angela is strengthening staff capability, encouraging earlier intervention and helping create safer environments for the public. By combining practical training with a clear, recognised framework for action, the initiative is driving meaningful behavioural and cultural change across public-facing sectors.
We asked Iwona what has driven the scheme’s significant growth and widespread adoption. She explained:
“The success of the programme has been down to the support and commitment of local partners, industry partners, hospitality businesses and other public-facing organisations, all working together towards the same goal of improving customer safety. It's been really encouraging to see so many people willing to get involved and play their part in creating environments where people feel safe, and where staff have the confidence to step in and support someone if they need help.
We have also focused on making the training accessible and practical for organisations of all sizes. By offering a range of delivery options and ensuring the training provides clear, real-world guidance, organisations can easily embed the learning into their existing practices.”
What advice would Iwona give to organisations looking to empower their frontline teams to recognise and respond confidently to vulnerable situations?
“Start by making vulnerability training a priority and ensure every member of the team understands their role in creating a safer environment. Good training gives people the confidence to recognise when someone may need support and the practical skills to respond appropriately.
It is equally important to create a culture where staff feel comfortable asking questions and know exactly who they can speak to if they are unsure about a situation. Regular refresher training, open communication and visible support from managers all help build confidence. When staff know they are supported and have the right knowledge and tools, they are far more likely to act when it matters most, leading to safer outcomes for everyone.”
Overall, the judges praised the initiative for its ‘excellent scalability’, ‘clear impact’, and strong ‘real-world application’.
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