UK Police Forces Take Action for Gender Equality with HeForShe Barbershop Toolkit 2.0

UK Policing, a proud member of the HeForShe Alliance, is taking concrete steps to embed gender equality in policing culture through the Barbershop Toolkit. The UK Policing team delivered an in-person presentation to a force of 22 attendees, all new to HeForShe, to introduce the movement and explore what it means to be a HeForShe Ally.

To make the session more engaging, two exercises from the Barbershop Toolkit were incorporated. The first, Workplace Bias Bingo from the Gender Equality in the Workplace module, was adapted for interactive group work. Attendees worked in small groups to identify biases that might exist in policing, then shared which they had witnessed, experienced, or enacted. The discussion sparked thoughtful reflection on how bias appears alongside professional responsibilities. One group highlighted how “treating everyone the same” can feel like a safe approach, leading to a discussion on why equality does not always mean sameness, and how empathy and vulnerability can strengthen leadership.

The second exercise, the Allyship Checklist and Commitment Activity from the Bystander Intervention & Allyship module, introduced examples of allyship in policing. Participants were encouraged to think of concrete actions they could take to support colleagues and the wider workplace. While the session ran out of time to complete the commitment exercise, the conversation itself underscored a strong interest in practical allyship.

Putting the Toolkit into Practice through South Wales Police Force
South Wales Police’s HeForShe Network has taken this approach a step further, recognising the importance of creating safe and constructive spaces for meaningful conversations about gender equality, inclusion, power dynamics and allyship.To support this objective, the force adopted the Barbershop Toolkit, using it as a foundation for facilitated discussion and shared learning. The aim was to introduce an evidence-based engagement approach that could increase awareness of gender inequality, encourage open dialogue and empower participants to identify practical actions that contribute to more inclusive workplaces and cultures. South Wales Police also sought to test the Toolkit within a policing environment and share learning through the wider national HeForShe Network.

To put this approach into practice, South Wales Police launched a series of HeForShe Barbershop Workshops, adapting the Toolkit to reflect the policing context while maintaining its core principles. Facilitators selected relevant modules, including Accountability and Power Sharing and Gender Equality in the Workplace, and tailored discussions to consider organisational challenges, representation, lived experiences and opportunities for positive change. The initiative has provided a structured and engaging platform for honest conversations about gender equality and workplace culture. It has increased awareness of barriers experienced by underrepresented groups, encouraged personal reflection and supported collective ownership of solutions. Feedback and learning from the pilot are informing plans for further delivery and continuous improvement.

These pilot session illustrates how interactive, reflective approaches like the Barbershop Toolkit can help law enforcement professionals explore gender equality in meaningful ways, creating space for honest conversations, shared learning, and actionable commitments. By sharing resources, learning and good practice through the wider HeForShe Network, UK Policing is helping demonstrate how the Toolkit can be adapted to different policing contexts and contribute to longer-term organisational change.

Access the full Barbershop Toolkit 2.0 here: https://www.heforshe.org/en/resources