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Shatter the Silence: an insight into sexual abuse
RSVP are pleased to present, on Saturday 27th February 2016, this introductory insight into the impact of rape and sexual abuse, and how it may affect survivors and their support networks, with trainer and qualified psychotherapist Amina Begum.
The programme offers information and knowledge about the mental health effects of sexual violence, and how to support survivors to live confidently and independently. Amina will also be discussing and exploring the barriers and cultural issues that may prevent individuals from taking appropriate actions, and why many survivors remain silent.
This training programme has been produced for health, and mental health professionals, carers, therapists. The event is open to anyone who has an interest in this field, including those who may have contact with survivors.
Shatter the Silence: An Insight Into Rape & Sexual Abuse
Saturday 27th February, 10am-3pm.
Grosvenor House, 14 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, B2 5RS
Booking info: £45 per person + booking fee, please book via www.eventbrite.co.uk
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Rape is a human rights abuse
Did you know that today is Human Rights Day?
Many people are still unaware of the existence of the International Bill of Human Rights and many countries around the world still have much to do to build political institutions, judicial systems, and economies that allow ordinary people to live with dignity.
At RSVP, we challenge sexual violence victim-blaming myths. Rape and abuse is a violation of human rights.
We think it’s really important to recognise that there is still much work to be done both here and around the world to allow ordinary people to live their lives in freedom. Here in Birmingham in 2015 we’ve added 11 new counselling volunteers and 9 helpline volunteers to our team and we’re providing support for more than 2,000 people, but we know the need for our work is even greater than this.
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16 Days of Activism – Stop Violence Against Women and Girls
In the lead up to Human Rights Day on 10th December, the United Nations launched the 16 Days of Activism campaign to end violence against women and girls.
The theme this year is ‘orange the world’. Campaigners have been sharing photos, messages and videos at facebook.com/SayNO.UNiTE and twitter.com/SayNO_UNiTE using #orangetheworld.
1 in 3 women around the world have experience sexual or physical violence. We need to keep shouting, and keep campaigning to protect the rights of women and girls.
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Training: Developing a therapeutic awareness of the impact of trauma on the body
We’re delighted to host a one-day course with Berlin based therapist Julianne Appel-Opper on Friday 8th January 2016 in Birmingham.
In psychotherapy/counselling practice it is important to be aware of the body and how to work with this without exposing or shaming clients. The workshop will focus on the cultural language of the body.
Julianne Appel-Opper has developed the ‘Relational Living Body Psychotherapy’, where therapist and client introduce mindful interventions (not touching the client) to acknowledge and validate the messages the client’s body is conveying. This approach avoids re-traumatising and makes healing and change possible.
This training is thoroughly recommended to counsellors/psychotherapists who work with survivors of trauma. Attendees will develop enhanced awareness of the body in therapeutic environments through live supervision and group work.
The training costs £85 + booking fee for individuals and voluntary organisations, £100 + booking fee for statutory and private organisations. The event will take place at The Priory Rooms, 40 Bull Street Birmingham B4 6AF.
Book tickets via www.eventbrite.co.uk
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Client survey
It’s survey time again! We regularly seek feedback on our work from survivors so can learn and improve. This survey is open to all survivors, whether they have used RSVP services or not.
The focus of this survey is outreach support; we want to know your thoughts on local, community services. The majority of our service stake place at our Birmingham city centre premises. We currently deliver some outreach counselling sessions at different locations in Birmingham and Solihull. We want to know if this is something you would like to see more of. Would you prefer to use services closer to home? What would be better, or not so good, about more local services? We want to hear from you.
We’d really appreciate it if you could take 10 minutes to complete this online survey www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSVPNov2015.
The survey will close at 5pm on Friday 4th December.
Do spread the word, many thanks.
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Training event: Working therapeutically with survivors of sexual trauma, with Zoe Lodrick
Saturday 7th November 10am – 5pm
The Priory Rooms
Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham, B4 6AFTrainer: Zoe Lodrick
Tickets: £85 + booking fee for voluntary organisations and individuals. £100 + booking fee for statutory and private organisations.
Book tickets via www.eventbrite.co.uk
What will be covered?
The neurobiology of threat: including, why people do not usually react in ‘logical’ or ‘active’ ways when faced with intimate interpersonal threat, how, and why, people become vulnerable to repeated victimisation, specific vulnerabilities of children and teenagers to sex offenders.
The ‘replay’ in the therapy room: including, how neurobiology can help us to understand what will get ‘re-enacted’ in the therapeutic work.
The psychology of the offender: including, the process that precedes offending, the ‘socially skilled’ sex offender, how, and why, they target certain people.
Suggestions for utilising the above to inform how we structure our therapeutic work and how we support disclosure.
Working with guilt and shame: including, the psychological underpinnings of guilt, how to hear guilt and challenge it.
About Zoe Lodrick.
Zoe is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and an experienced trainer. She has over 19 years experience of providing psychotherapy to women and men who have experienced rape, sexual assault and/or childhood sexual abuse; and providing training and consultation to professionals who work with victims/survivors of sexualised traumas. Zoe has specialist knowledge/expertise with regard to human behaviour/response when faced with a perceived threat (especially sexual threat).
Zoe held the full time position of Senior Practitioner at Portsmouth Area Rape Crisis Service (PARCS) from 1994 to 2009. Since April 2009, Zoe has been a self-employed trainer and consultant.
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The Rewind Technique for Post-Traumatic Stress
RSVP are offering training for all professionals working in rape and sexual abuse support services on Saturday 18th July, 9.30am-4.30pm in Birmingham city centre.
The Rewind Technique has become internationally recognised as an effective treatment for PTS/PTSD. The treatment is different to other imaginal exposure therapies as details of trauma don’t need to be disclosed to the therapist, reducing the risk of clients being re-traumatised.
This event is suitable for practitioners working with clients that have been traumatised by surviving or witnessing trauma, such as sexual abuse, and are consequently suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress. The course is suitable for statutory, voluntary and private organisations, as well as individual counsellors/therapists.
By the end of the course participants will have:
- Competence in applying the Rewind Technique,
- A clear understanding of how and why the Rewind Technique works,
- A solid grounding in recognising and treating PTSD.
The full-day course costs £100 for voluntary organisations and individuals + booking fee/ £120 for statutory organisations + booking fee. Price includes lunch and refreshments.
Places can be booked at www.eventbrite.co.uk
Venue: 7th Floor, Grosvenor House, Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham, B2 5RS. 5 minute walk from New Street station.
The session will be run by Dr David Muss. Prior to his involvement in developing the Rewind Technique Dr Muss was a Paediatric Surgeon and a family doctor. Since 1988 Dr Muss has worked as the Director of the PTSD UNIT at the BMI Hospital, Birmingham.
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Training for sexual violence support workers
THE MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE: THE SOCIAL / TRAUMA MODEL
The aim of the course is to explore a model linking experiences of violence and abuse with mental distress and draw implications for practice.
The course is aimed at practitioners delivering services to people who are, or may be, experiencing mental distress as a result of experiences of sexual violence, trauma and abuse.
Participants will learn about the connections between childhood sexual abuse and later mental health distress. The course will look into the impact these connections have on service delivery and develop tools for participants’ practical application.
Wednesday 3rd June. Arrival from 9.00am, training 9.30am-4.30pm
Mailbox, Wharfside St, Birmingham, B1 1RD. 10 minute walk from New Street and Moor Street train stations.
The full-day course costs £75 for voluntary organisations and individuals + booking fee/ £95 for statutory organisations + booking fee. Price includes lunch and refreshments.
The session will be run by Sally Plumb, an independent trainer in mental health law and practice. Sally has worked as a mental health training officer and mental health specialist social worker and has facilitated self-help groups for women who have been sexually abused.
Places are very limited. To book a place on the course, go to Eventbrite.co.uk
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Banger Rally – Birmingham to Venice
2015 is officially the year of banger racing! In September, the Rotary Banger Rally is taking place, seeing a convoy of beautiful bangers making the journey from Birmingham to Venice.
The great people at the Rotary Club of Solihull Satellite Group (Team RSG) are collecting for RSVP and we want to encourage as many of our supporters to get involved as possible. Various sponsorship packages are available for businesses and you can see your name rallied around the roads of Europe, all in the name of RSVP.
Would your place of work be interested in sponsoring the event? Speak to your employer about getting your company logo on one of the cars cruising through the continent – it could make a real impact! Supporters can also give direct, for as little as £10.
Have you ever wanted to experience driving on the Autobahn in style, the wind in your hair, accompanied by the face of our favourite bear? That’s right – Pudsey’s Cash Car is joining the fun journey across Europe and continuing to raise money.
For more information, and to see how you can get involved, go to www.rotary-banger-rally-2015.com and follow the journey on twitter #rotrally2015.
Safe driving… and Ciao!
Aleena x