School Accompaniment Network
They're targeting kids walking to school. Walk with them. Numbers protect.
Pressure addressed: psychological, displacement
Time: Weeks to establish
People: Adult volunteers with schedule availability
Resources: Volunteer coordination, communication system
About this tool
The route to school becomes dangerous. Harassment on the way. Kids targeted because of how they look, how they're dressed, what language they speak at home. Schools should be safe, but the journey isn't. School accompaniment networks organise adults to walk with children.
How to do it
Map the routes
Where do kids walk? Which routes are highest risk? Where have incidents happened?
Recruit volunteers
Adults available during school commute times. DBS checked where required. Committed to regular schedules.
Create schedules
Coverage for high-risk routes and times. Backup systems for when regulars can't make it.
Train on protocols
What to do if harassment happens. How to document. When to call for help. Clear procedures.
Maintain communication
Daily check-ins. Incident reporting. Threat updates. Coordination among volunteers.
Before you start
- Volunteer base
- Route mapping
- Communication system
Implementation guidance
Starting point
- Full coverage of high-risk routes
- Reliable volunteer scheduling with backups
- Clear protocols understood by all
- Incident documentation system
- Connection to broader community safety network
- Track record of safe passages
Building on it
- Some routes covered
- Core volunteer group committed
- Basic protocols in place
Advanced practice
- Inconsistent coverage that creates false security
- Volunteers who escalate rather than de-escalate
- No incident reporting
Inconsistent coverage is worse than none, families rely on protection that isn't there. Volunteers who escalate turn accompaniment into confrontation, putting children at greater risk. Without incident reporting, you can't identify patterns or adjust coverage.
Examples
Various communities with accompaniment programmes
Adult volunteers walking children to school in areas with hate incidents
Reduced harassment, increased child and family confidence, community visibility