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Trauma-related Complex Dissociation – Origins & Consequences
Spaces are now available for a one day training event delivered by First Person Plural, the dissociative identity disorders association.The event will take place in Birmingham city centre on Thursday 26th May.
This event on trauma related dissociation is suitable for any professional working with vulnerable people. Complex dissociation will affect individuals’ needs, their relationship with supporters and how they respond to any supportive or treatment intervention. Thus, an access level of understanding will be beneficial to anyone working in primary health care (including GPs), mental health, education, supported living, domestic abuse, drug/alcohol services, rape & sexual violence / childhood abuse services, criminal justice or social and pastoral care in the statutory, voluntary or private sector.
Counsellors, psychotherapists and similar, including those who already have some training and experience of working with dissociative clients, have found this training day a useful addition to their learning. Well supported stable survivors who have a complex dissociative disorder, and their family and friends may find the course a useful psycho-educational resource.
Learning Objectives:
- To raise awareness of dissociation and its role in surviving abuse or trauma.
- To introduce the dissociation continuum and the spectrum of dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID)
- To understand the reality of living with dissociative identity disorder
- To explore practical ways of supporting people who experience complex dissociation
Tickets: £75 for voluntary orgnanisations and individuals, £90 for statutory/private organisations. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please note that we need 7 working days notice before the event for cancellation refunds.
For more information, and to book a place go to www.eventbrite.co.uk
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Vacancy: LGBT ISVA
RSVP are recruiting a LGBT Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) to support and empower people affected by, and those vulnerable to, sexual coercion, sexual violence and sexual exploitation. The LGBT ISVA will support survivors accessing Umbrella Sexual Health services across Birmingham and Solihull and work closely with Birmingham LGBT Centre to coordinate, design and provide a targeted service for the LGBT community.
This is a part-time post, 19 hours per week.
It is essential you have experience of working with victims of sexual violence, and some knowledge of the criminal justice system, although training will be given. Successful applicants will be required to start immediately.
The deadline for applications is 5pm Sunday 3rd April 2016.
Read more about RSVP’s ISVA service.
Download the job advert
Download the LGBT ISVA Job Description
Download the application form
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Survey – outreach clients
As part of our ongoing feasibility study into outreach services, which we ‘re hoping will result in more RSVP services being made available in local outreach posts, we’re looking for client feedback on our services.
If you have accessed RSVP counselling via Dove Medical Centre, Castle Vale Childrens Centre, SIAS (Solihull Integrated Addiction Services) or Solihull and Chelmsley Wood Citizens Advice Bureaus we’d really appreciate it if you can complete this online survey.
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RSVPoutreach
All responses are anonymous. Your feedback will help us to shape and grow services in the future.
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Local Hero
Have you got what it takes to be a Local Hero?
This April, Localgiving is celebrating all the fantastic fundraisers who put themselves out to raise money on behalf of a local charity. From marathons to bungee jumps; sponsored silences to fire walks.
To help give a boost to their efforts, Localgiving will award £5,000 in prizes to the causes supported by the top 20 fundraisers in April. Participants will be ranked according to the number of unique online donors from whom they secure sponsorship throughout the month. The top fundraiser will secure a prize of £1,000 for their chosen cause!
In 2015, the top prize was awarded to Ability Dogs 4 Young People thanks to their fundraiser, Mick – who secured donations from 157 unique donors by jumping out of a plane! Read more about Mick’s story here.
Set up your fundraising page now
To take part, simply set up your free fundraising page now.
Key facts
Here is a list of the key facts about the campaign. If you have any more questions, please check the Local Hero FAQs.
Start date & time: Friday 1st April at 00:00:00
End date & time: Saturday 30th April at 23:59:59
Conditions of entry: Each active fundraising page on Localgiving was eligible to take part.
Process: Fundraisers will be ranked according to the number of unique donors who sponsor their page within the campaign start and end dates. Donations made outside of the campaign dates will not count towards a fundraiser’s ranking.
Prizes: The top 20 fundraisers at 23:59:59 on Saturday the 30th of April will be declared the winners. Prizes will not be given to the fundraiser, but awarded directly to the charities for whom they are fundraising. Prizes will be awarded as follows:
1st £1,000 11th £100 2nd £500 12th £100 3rd £500 13th £100 4th £500 14th £100 5th £500 15th £100 6th £200 16th £100 7th £200 17th £100 8th £200 18th £100 9th £200 19th £100 10th £200 20th £100 Charity & supporter limits: Only one donation made by each unique donor counted towards a fundraiser’s ranking. There was no limit to the number of prizes any single group may receive.
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Charity Comedy Night at The Victoria Feb 28th
For one night only, some of the finest national talent together in one room for your amusement and for the benefit of some very good causes.
To many people, Kate Smurthwaite is best known for her outspoken TV appearances on Question Time, The Big Questions and the news channels (though she is apparently too controversial for Goldsmiths College). But she is still first and foremost a stand-up, and her latest show is “The Wrong Sort Of Feminist”, about the Goldsmiths saga, Ex-Muslims, choice, feminism, the treatment of asylum seekers, the NHS, Couples Come Dine With Me and edible pants.
‘Hilarious … a powerhouse of observational wit’ (Spectator). ‘An important and inclusive narrative on our society’ (ScotsGay). ‘The verve with which she articulates her views on our land is monumental’ (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Comedy that cuts through the crap’ (ThreeWeeks). ‘You come across as not only being hypocritical, but incompetent and mendacious.’ (Frankie Boyle)
Iszi Lawrence gigs across the UK as well as internationally and has headlined nights in Oslo, Prague, Dublin and Brussels. She is a seasoned performer, having appeared in critically acclaimed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe since she was 17. Iszi is well-known for her podcasting exploits, namely The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, the Z-List Dead List and Sundays Supplement.
“She’s as adept with an anecdote as she is with a one-liner, and her trips down comedy asides are on-the-spot funny.” (The Herald) “She’s good. Really good.” (Oxford Mail)
Andy White is a Brummie bursting with creative energy who combines silly voices and a mad afro to devastating comic effect. Andy has appeared on the BBC New Comedy Awards, Brand Spanking New on BBC Radio 7 and the Weakest Link comedy special. (He won!) His appearance on the quiz featured in his five-star Edinburgh show ‘It Started With A Quiz’. This followed on from his well-received one-man show “Young, Gifted and Beige”.
“Had me exercising my pelvic floor muscles to avoid an accident Karen Slater, BBC Tees “Undeniably entertaining” Chortle.co.uk “Oozes talent” What’s On Magazine “The laughs turned to applause many times for Andy” Suzanne Worthington, BBC Cumbria.
Sunday 28th February
- Venue/Location: The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham
- Doors: 19:30 – 22:30
- Tickets: Minimum entry fee £10 (£5 unwaged)
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Bond Night Fundraiser!
Shaken Not Stirred is a glam night celebrating the best of the Bond films and theme songs.
Each table/booth is themed to a James Bond film and we will be treated to some amazing entertainment and pyrotechnics.
There will be a fun casino in the Green Room where you can win a great prize for making the most money.
Photographers will be on hand for glam or fun pictures.
Dress code is Black Tie/Evening Wear or a Bond film character. There are amazing prizes for the Best Dressed To Kill male and female.
The raffle and auction will also bag you some great prizes on the night.
Our aim is to raise much needed funds for RSVP (Rape & Sexual Violence Project) here in Birmingham and Solihull.
Tickets available HERE.
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Join us
RSVP are recruiting volunteers to join their expanding counselling service.
We are looking for qualified counsellors and psychotherapists with spare time to give to a good cause. We are also looking for students on Counselling and Psychotherapy Diploma or Degree courses looking for a great placement opportunity.
Download the cover letter and application form.
For an informal chat and to find out more call Anjella on 0121 643 0301
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Awareness Week February 1st-7th 2016
Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence awareness week is coming up.
This has been established to give an opportunity for the general public, statutory and third sector organisations to participate in a discussion about sexual abuse and sexual violence. During the week people will raise awareness about sexual abuse and sexual violence and how to prevent it in the UK.
This is happening across the entire United Kingdom.
To get involved-
If you are an individual you can join the conversation on social media following the topic hashtag and/or make contact with your local organisation to get involved in promoting awareness.
Find out more information about the week by following this link to the Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness page.
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Our Big, “Big” News!
We are absolutely delighted to tell you our great news …
We have been awarded a grant of £428,998 by the Big Lottery Fund’s “Reaching Communities” programme. All funds will be used to support children, women and men affected by sexual violence and abuse to overcome the traumatic effects and make positive outcomes and live a future with hope and confidence.
This grant will allow us to continue our valuable work offering one to one specialist sexual violence counselling from our premises in Birmingham city centre, as well as outreach services across Birmingham and Solihull. This 4 year grant will allow us to increase the number of RSVP counsellors, helping us to respond to the 275% increase in the number of people requesting RSVP counselling (from 2010 to 2015) and to reduce the times that people wait for counselling. This means that we can support and inspire more children, women and men affected by sexual violence and abuse and respond to their needs much more quickly and effectively. As one survivor said “ RSVP counselling gives you the opportunity to talk openly what happened to you, in a way which is too hard to do with friends or family. RSVP literally saved my life and gave me my future back.”
These are exciting times here at RSVP, as we grow our services. We are extremely thankful for this funding from The Big Lottery and look forward to working with them in the future. Read more about all the latest awards The Big Lottery has made: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/press-releases/england/110116_eng_dlf_sportingmemories
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Santa Cause
Thanks to those who supported- we raised £2000 for support services for sexual violence survivors.
A page in Bham Living magazine.
To see photos from the event click here to go to Birmingham Living.