Survivors At The Centre: Our Talk With the Victims’ Commissioner
At the start of the first Victims Rights Week (September 21–27, 2026) by the West Midlands Police And Crime Commisssioner, RSVP and our sister organisation GINA had a great opportunity. We welcomed the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, and the West Midlands PCC Victims Advocate Natalie Queiroz, whose own lived experience gives a voice to many survivors of domestic abuse.
RSVP and GINA were incredibly honoured for the opportunity to present the lived-experiences of survivors of sexual trauma in Birmingham and Solihull. Together with some of our leadership team, Counsellors and Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs), we spoke openly about the pressures facing specialist support services and the difficult journeys of survivors navigating the criminal justice system. Natalie highlighted her vital campaign driving awareness of victim rights across the region, while we focused on the reality facing survivors on the ground.
Just a few days later, the Government announced a series of reforms aimed at improving how rape and serious sexual offence cases are handled. The changes include fixed trial dates, specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sexual offences in every Crown Court across England and Wales, and better facilities for victims, including private waiting rooms and separate entrances.
These changes come in response to a system that, for too long, has failed many survivors. With rape cases taking an average of 424 days to reach Crown Court, it is unsurprising that many victims withdraw from the process before their case is heard. As Andy Burnham recently stated, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt “let down” by the justice system for far too long, and that this is NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
We see the personal, human impact of “not good enough” every day.
Behind every statistic is a person whose life has been placed on hold while they wait for justice. At RSVP, we have supported survivors who have waited as long as nine years from reporting an offence to seeing their case reach court. Others have faced repeated postponements, with trial dates moved multiple times or sentencing hearings delayed at the last minute.
Some survivors have arrived at court expecting the protections they were promised, only to be directed through the main public entrance and forced to fear coming in contact with the person accused of harming them. Others have felt unable to continue and have withdrawn from the process altogether.
These experiences can have a profound impact on wellbeing, recovery and confidence in the justice system.
However, we also see the difference that dedicated, specialist support can make. Our ISVAs walk alongside survivors throughout what is often a long and difficult journey, providing practical guidance, emotional support and advocacy at every stage.
We welcome these proposed reforms by the government, which offer hope that future survivors may face fewer barriers and less uncertainty. However, meaningful change will depend not only on policy announcements, but on their effective implementation. There is a need for a radical and urgent overhaul. We echo the concerns that Claire Waxman voiced in her open letter to the Prime Minister, stating: “As you prepare to set out your ten-year vision for the country through your Plan for Britain, I urge you to place criminal justice at its heart. Victims need more than assurances that the system will hold together.”
Survivors deserve a justice system that is timely, compassionate and trauma-informed. RSVP and GINA look forward to helping these changes ease survivors through improved criminal justice processes, and will continue working to ensure that every survivor’s voice is heard, supported and respected.
Thank You Curry for Charity: The Taste of Giving
In July, we were delighted to hear from Fiza and Kamran, the kind souls behind Curry For Charity. For many years, they have been supporting local and national causes, using their love language of food to do good and raise money for essential services.
Within a month, the fantastic team put together the fundraising event in support of RSVP: a heart-warming evening of delicious curries and community spirit. The taste of giving can fill every soul!
Fiza believes that food is such an underrated tool to bring together communities, to break and overcome barriers that continue to fracture our society right now.
“We started doing Curry For Charity 14 years ago, when we hardly had anything ourselves, but we didn’t let that weigh us down. We always knew we want to give back to the community in some way and we are achieving that with our love language: Food,” Fiza said.
People like Fiza and Kamran bring hope in every plate. And we feel so honoured to have them champion our cause!
We have raised £200 in support of survivors! That means 20 children can have toys or therapeutic resources to help with their healing. Or we can fund travel tickets for 36 adults so they can access our vital support services.
A big thank you to all who joined us for a wonderful dinner and helped us raise funds during such a difficult funding period in RSVP. To know more about our funding situation, check out our Recovery Appeal.
Every pound shows that survivors have a safe space, with RSVP.
Jo’s 100 Miles Dog Walking Challenge
Strengthening the RSVP Recovery Appeal is the 100 Miles Dog Walking Challenge by our dear supporter and colleague, Jo.
Joanne has taken on a brilliant challenge with her two paw-some buddies Pablo and Alfie. They are walking across various locations in the West Midlands and Wales over the month to complete a hundred miles in support of RSVP.
The challenge is running every day throughout July, with miles being added daily, on her page below.
We’re so grateful for her dedication (and her four-legged companions too!). Together, they’re putting in the miles to raise both funds and awareness for our work.
If you want to consider taking on a challenge of your own and raise funds for RSVP, we’d love to make it happen! Write to us at info@rsvporg.co.uk today.
Update: Extension due to Heat Wave
The red weather alert and high temperatures are impacting everyone in the UK, including Jo and her loving pets. That’s why the 100 Miles Dog Walking Challenge has to be paused till the weather cools down.
Read Jo’s update in her own words:
We thank Jo for sticking through this tough time, and will keep supporters posted when they are back on the walks again!
September will offer a pleasant weather to join Jo for the last few miles of the challenge. Keep a look out for her invitaton to join the trio for the final walks. Please come along, if you can, to help Jo finish strong.
Black History Month: Understanding Race, Culture and Sex
This delightful news comes from RSVP’s Race and Equality ISVA, Angela Foster-Mason. In celebration of this year’s Black History Month, Angela was invited to be a part of a grand event organised by a trailblazing black organisation, Melanin Moods 🎤🍹. She was accompanied by Jade Henry (CYP ISVA). Both were supported by Maria Serrudo (CYP ISVA).
Melanin Moods CIC is an award-winning Black-led organisation established in 2020. They provide specialist support to Black and Brown communities. Angela and Jade were invited to be a part of their Convos & Cocktails evening; a safe space for the Black and Brown community to come together and discuss about issues within our community.
The theme was ‘Black Culture and Relationship with Sex’, in response to high-profile Black men being accused/on trial for sexual assault. It was an evening of hard conversations and much needed debate.
Tapping into her expertise, Angela was invited to speak as part of the ‘Spotlight’ section of the evening. She opened the conversation about embodied trauma and what it can look like for minoritised survivors of sexual violence. This brought to attention the difficulties and barriers that are faced institutionally, but also internally from within the community. She also highlighted how language is important, and how we need to get to grips with the language associated with not only sexual violence, but our own body parts as well.
Jade Henry was a panelist and really brought to attention the need to break down the taboo around sex itself, and to revisit some misogynistic mind-sets and victim blaming attitudes that run rampant in our community. She and Maria were key in identifying police grey areas, specifically with statutory rape.
RSVP and our incredible ISVAs are proud to amplify the voices of our black and brown communities. We stand in pride and power, continuing to be an ally for black survivors of rape and sexual abuse.
You can find out more about Melanin Moods here.
Thank you BVH
A huge heartfelt thank you to Bournville Harriers (BVH) running club who had their Christmas party on Friday. Through their raffle they kindly raised £212 for us and another fabulous local charity, St. Mary’s Hospice. £106 will buy 26 public transport tickets so that any child or adult who needs to travel to us for an appointment, but can’t afford to, can be given a day travel ticket. This means they never have to miss out on receiving our support. That is truly fabulous, thank you!
As if this generosity wasn’t enough they also donated some festive party headbands and glasses so we can donate them to some of the children and families we support. This is just a very small selection of them! We hope that these will bring a little bit of festive fun and laughter at what can be a difficult time for many.
Thanks again BVH for your continued kindness and generosity. We really appreciate your efforts from all the different ways you’ve fundraised for us, including every single one of your runners who have run sponsored runs for us, and every member who has donated to these runs too. It means the world to us to have your support. Happy Christmas all.
Outstanding Charity of the Year nomination
We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) award for Outstanding Charity of the Year.
We’re in very good company! Other shortlisted charities Muslim Aid, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, Sense and Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer.
The winner will be announced at the annual dinner and awards event at The National Motorcycle Museum on Saturday, 7 December.
Thank you so much to the chamber for shortlisting us, and showing your big-hearted support to people subjected to sexual violence.
“A Disorder for Everyone!” The Book Launch Event: 20th September
A Disorder For Everyone is returning to Birmingham for the 3rd time to launch the upcoming book challenging the culture of psychiatric diagnosis. RSVP have contributed a chapter to the book and we’re excited to be co-presenting the event that will feature a talk by RSVP Chief Exec Lisa Thompson.
There’ll be a variety of speakers and workshops plus stalls by PCCS Books, RSVP, The Freedom Project, Mayday Trust, Bradford Soteria, Safely Held Spaces (and others to be confirmed).
This day is for anyone who is interested in and concerned about the current debates in ‘mental health’. Places should be booked in advance via this link
The Girl Behind the Glass – Thurs 8th Nov
Below is a blog post written by Abigail, one of the performers in The Girl Behind the Glass. The piece explores some of the effects of sexual violence on a survivor and will be performed at the mac in Edgbaston at 3pm and 7pm on Thursday 8th Nov. All are welcome and tickets can be booked here https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/the-girl-behind-the-glass-1
My name is Abigail and I am one of the performers in The Girl Behind The Glass by composer Chloe Knibbs, a piece which explores the shame and blame that is placed upon people who experience rape and sexual assault.
The piece is written for three musicians, (two singers and a cellist), who all represent an element of one person. As a singer I think that it is so important to be challenged by the projects that I take on and this has certainly been both musically challenging and thought-provoking. When we first started rehearsals for The Girl Behind The Glass for the work-in-progress performance in 2017, we were able to achieve a very open, trusting and supportive group dynamic, which really helped when discussing the issues surrounding rape and sexual assault.
At the start of the current rehearsal process we were also able to have a session with artist well-being practitioner Louise Platt, which was a wonderful way of reacquainting ourselves with the emotional nature of the piece and re-establishing our group dynamic in preparation to explore the piece and the subject matter again. I find that having had such open discussions in such a safe space, I am more confident about talking about sexual assault to my friends, family and colleagues and I hope that those who see the performance will be able to do so too.
My main goal as a performer, is to faithfully present what has been written by the composer, both musically and dramatically. Having Chloe involved in our musical rehearsals, combined with the fact that she is also directing the performance, is very reassuring. We started the rehearsal process by focusing on the music. Being able to ask Chloe specific questions about a certain passage phrasing or the emotional idea behind a melody has meant that I feel more able to give a realistic portrayal of the character both musically and emotionally. There are moments in the piece that as a singer intentionally verge on being uncomfortable vocally and emotionally. The bombardment of the girl by all the comments from friends and family in scene five, for example,lasts as long as we can push the levels of discomfort for both the performers and the audience. I found that performing to an audience, that were in close proximity to the stage area, to be very interesting indeed. I realised that some members of the audience could not look directly at us, as though they were intruding on something very personal. Whilst other audience members watched so intently as though they dare not look away.
What I have taken away from the performance and the rehearsal process, was a sense that having this topic presented as a piece of music theatre, was most definitely a success. Performances like this open up further discussion about rape and sexual assault by all involved performers and audience alike.
There will be two performances of The Girl Behind the Glass on the 8th November at mac Birmingham, at 3pm and 7pm. The shows will mark the 40th anniversary of the Rape and Sexual Violence Project and are supported by the PRS Women Make Music Scheme.
For further details, please see the following link: https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/the-girl-behind-the-glass-1
The Girl Behind the Glass
One voice in your head says – “He said everything is OK”.
The other asks – “Why do I feel sick…?”
With 1 in 3 women across the world experiencing sexual assault, this piece explores the non-linear journey of sexual assault recovery. The piece also considers how society perceives these issues, and the effect that has on those who have experienced sexual assault.
A multi-talented female trio of two singer-actors and a cellist use live music, movement and drama to explore recovery and shame, moving through a journey of denial, rejection and acceptance.
Chloe Knibbs has produced The Girl Behind the Glass, and is supported by the PRS Foundation’s Women Make Music.
You can see the performance at the mac in Birmingham on Thursday 8th November. There’s a matinee and an evening performance and you can book tickets via the mac’s website https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/the-girl-behind-the-glass-1
My Marathon Experience
We would like to say a massive thank you to Jude and to Kate who supported RSVP in our special 40th year by running the recent London Marathon 2018.
In this blog Kate reflects on her marathon experience, her first ever one, and how she is delighted to have raised £1,528. We are amazed at this and at Jude’s efforts too, which saw her raise £789. Both have shown their bold support for and belief in survivors and raised a colossal amount. THANK YOU.
Enjoy reading Kate’s blog about her experience of running her first ever marathon, for RSVP too and saying “I believe you” to people affected by sexual abuse.
Well after months of training in the rain, snow and minus temperatures the day of the hottest London marathon in history arrived. I was extremely nervous but also eager to put my training to the test and to experience something I had waited years to do!
It was an amazing experience, the crowds support shouting and willing you on is unbelievable and there really is a spirit of London that’s difficult to explain but will stay with me. It was tough there’s no doubt, it felt harder then I ever could have imagined, and the heat no doubt played a huge part in that; seeing people collapsing and struggling was so upsetting.
I was really lucky to have 10 spots where I saw my wonderful friends and family which I am so grateful for and they willed me through to the end.
I also felt especially privileged to be running for RSVP and for all of the survivors that this wonderful charity continues to help. I feel so humbled to have raised over £1,500 including Gift Aid, people are extremely generous and I am forever grateful.
I am proud to say, I completed it, in 6 hours and 9 minutes! It was an amazing experience and I achieved a personal goal, being able to support RSVP too, in such a way, made it even more special.
Thank you again to everyone for your support and sponsorship, it meant so much to me, to RSVP and the people they support.
Kate
#ibelieveyou #RSVPWM