Graham Goulden, BA, founded Cultivating Minds UK to address critical issues that can negatively affect learning, business, and sports performance. With a distinguished 30-year career as a Scottish police officer and Chief Investigator, Graham possesses extensive experience in criminal investigation, drug investigation, training, and crime prevention.

During his final eight years in the police force, Graham served as a Chief Inspector and a key member of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, a globally recognised organisation renowned for its innovative approach to reducing violence. Graham's work with the VRU enabled him to address a recurring challenge he encountered during his policing career.

The Bystander Approach

Graham observed that witnesses to abuse and violence often stated, "I knew something was going to happen." Driven by this realisation, he developed programs that empower individuals to take positive action when faced with challenging situations. He is a passionate advocate of the bystander approach, which helps develop personal and organisational leadership skills to foster safe and supportive environments in schools, workplaces, and performance teams.

Empowering Action and Impact

Graham has successfully delivered bystander prevention training in diverse settings, including high schools, bars and clubs, colleges, universities, workplaces, prisons, military, and professional and amateur sports teams in the UK and the United States. His experience spans various sectors, working with hairdressers, dentists, vets, fire officers, police & prison officers, bar & security staff, the military, and local communities. He has also conducted numerous trainings and keynote speeches in Scotland, England, Wales, Sweden, and the United States.

Embedding Violence Prevention

Graham's expertise extends to embedding violence prevention programs within education and local government. His role with the VRU enabled him to develop and implement the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Programme within Scottish High Schools, now operating in 25 of the 32 Scottish Local Authorities. He has also supported US organisations like MVP Strategies, Active Bystander in Law Enforcement (ABLE), and Heroes Intervene, delivering training programs to address gender-based violence, reduce police misconduct, and support peer intervention within the US Corrections system.

A Sought-After Expert

Graham's extensive experience is highly sought-after, and he has contributed to creating safe and supportive workplace environments in both the public and private sectors. His work with Major League Baseball teams, US police officers, and UK police and fire organisations demonstrates his commitment to empowering individuals and fostering positive change.

Graham holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Studies and a Certificate in Training from Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland.

Consultancy Services Offered by Graham Goulden

• bystander prevention trainings to foster personal and organisational leadership to help create safe and supportive learning environments, workplaces, and high performing teams
• violence prevention programmes within education and in local government
• the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme
• the US Active Bystander in Law Enforcement (ABLE) Programme
• Heroes Intervene peer intervention training

For further information about Cultivating Minds UK, please visit Graham's website at https://grahamgoulden.com/.