Speak! was founded by Sophie Cooke, a facilitator, policy writer, and consultant specialising in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Sexual and Domestic Violence, LGBTQ+, and Disability.
Her background is as a front-line worker with a Rape Crisis Centre, supporting women and girls affected by sexual violence. As a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual violence, and as a queer, disabled, and neurodivergent woman, her lived experiences underpin her approach, supporting delegates in exploring sensitive issues with empathy.
Through discussions with professionals and with friends and family Sophie realised that for many people the workplace training they received around sensitive topics like sexual harassment, disability, and sexuality was profoundly inadequate. Often delivered by trainers with no frontline professional or lived experience of the issues, and lacking a trauma informed and values led focus, training often felt unrelated to delegates day to day work. Most of the people Sophie spoke to didn’t feel equipped to deal with sensitive topics like sexual violence and domestic abuse, and wanted to be able to better support their teams.
Sophie is a Training 4 Influence accredited trainer and Taye facilitator. Click on the link to find out more about the Training 4 Influence methodology.
Speak! Training & Consulting 