Thanks to Waitrose Community Matters
A huge thank you from the RSVP team goes out to Waitrose Four Oaks branch for presenting RSVP with a cheque for £380. The sum was raised via their Community Matters programme, where shoppers vote with tokens for the charity they most want to support.
The funds will go towards specialist services for survivors of sexual violence, so we can continue our work supporting people across Birmingham and Solihull.
BCLC Autumn Quiz Fundraiser!
On Tuesday 18th October, Birmingham Chinatown Lions Club will be hosting their Autumn Quiz in aid of RSVP! The event will take place from 7:30pm at Edmunds Brew House (B3 2ES), and costs just £5 per person to enter – which includes canapes on entry.
If you’re a keen quizzer, or just want to support us in the work that we continue to do, book in a team of up to six people with Lion Stewart, who can be contacted on 07973833519 or stewart@chamberlainssurveyors.co.uk. Thank you in advance for your support, we can’t wait to see you there!
(Click on the image below to take you to our event page for the quiz)
![JPEG_BCLC Autumn Quiz 2016[54550]](https://rsvporg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/JPEG_BCLC-Autumn-Quiz-201654550-213x300.jpg)
Don’t be Afraid.
A guest blog by Lisa Thompson, RSVP’s CEO.
“Don’t be afraid”… that’s what my late beloved grandma, Nana Gina used to say when I was considering helping myself to more of her home made cooking. However, exactly 4 weeks before the beginning of my Icelandic, 6 day 155 mile run (250km for you more modern folk) I confess to being a little bit scared, well perhaps even more so.
Just like my Nana Gina’s comments which were meant to encourage and give permission to go for what you wanted, that’s how I’m choosing to interpret my fear. It’s telling me to go for it and feel encouraged. Going for a big challenge and a dream you’re chasing is not quite as easy as helping yourself to more of Nana Gina’s home made apple pie but maybe the message is no different; don’t let fear stop you from going for what you want. It’s a good thing to be reminded of as it’s easy to let fear and self doubt talk us out of a dream or to delay it until another day, which rarely seems to arrive. So for you and for every survivor of rape, sexual abuse and sexual violence (who I’m running for and being inspired by) let me give you a ‘thumbs up ‘ to go for that apple pie, to be open about your fear, reach out for support and achieve the dream you want, after all life is just too short not to.
If you can help please share my sponsorship page: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/fireandice
JamFest 2016 Launched!
We’ve had an exciting day in the office today, finalising our partnership with the annual music festival, JamFest, hosted by Birmingham’s premier Jazz and Soul music venue – The Jam House!
Tuesday 11th October will see a host of exciting acts descend on The Jam House, bringing an eclectic mix of musical delights right to our doorstep. All proceeds from the night will go to RSVP to keep supporting, inspiring, and encouraging survivors of rape and sexual abuse to be bold, hopeful, and to have self-belief.
We think this could be the start of something big, so if you’re interested in music and want to change some lives then come on down, we’d love to see you!
Why not like and follow our JamFest Facebook page and follow us on Twitter whilst you’re there? We’ll be releasing more details about the event and about the artists who will be supporting us in the run up to the event, so keep your eyes peeled on our social media! (Click on the icons below to take you to our pages, and to buy tickets).
#Giveme5 – £5 donations doubled tomorrow
Tomorrow, Thursday 16th June, £5 donations to RSVP via Localgiving will be placed into a draw. 1000 donations made to charities via Localgiving will be doubled. There’s no limit to how many donations to RSVP could be doubled, it’s a random draw, so the more £5 donations the more likely!
Start date & time: Thursday 16th June at 00:00:00
End date & time: Thursday 16th June at 23:59:59
Conditions of entry: Each £5 donation made to a participating charity through Localgiving between the promotion start and end times will be placed into a draw to be doubled by an extra £5 of match funding. Donations of other amounts will not be included in the draw. The promotion only applies to one-time donations.
If you’re able to donate please do so using the following link localgiving.org/charity/rsvp-wm/ from midnight, and please spread the word to family and friends.
Infinity Stage Company make RSVP their charity of the year!
We’re delighted to be Infinity Stage Company’s charity of the year for the next academic year. Charlie from Infinity has written this guest blog, as an introduction to the group, and explaining why the members chose to support RSVP.
Some of the members of Infinity Stage Company
The University of Birmingham’s Infinity Stage Company produce roughly six shows a year, specialising in contemporary theatre. However, what sets us apart from other drama societies at the university is that, every year, we choose a new charity to which we donate the proceeds from our shows. This allows us to combine our dedication to high quality performances with a contribution to charities and causes that we consider important. This year, we put the decision of choosing a charity down to a poll by our members and RSVP was chosen.
It isn’t difficult to understand why so many felt so passionate about supporting this local charity. As students, most of us are living alone and away from home for the first time in our lives. While this is obviously an exciting new chapter in so many ways, the flip side of this new independence is a new vulnerability. There are new dangers that we have to deal with and it means a great deal that there are institutions, such as RSVP, in place to help us if the worst should ever happen. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that RSVP should resonate so profoundly with Infinity.
The University of Birmingham and its Guild of Students have always taken an unwavering stance against sexual harassment, as shown by its #NotOn Campaign, which has mobilised students to challenge and prevent sexual violence wherever they find it. We hope that, by supporting and promoting this cause, we will not only encourage people to donate and contribute to the great service that it provides, but also raise awareness that, if you should ever need it, help is available. We plan to be actively involved in RSVP in whatever way possible, in order to benefit the
charity as best we can.
Enormous thanks to all the members at Infinity for supporting RSVP, watch this space for future updates on fundraising activity.
West Midlands PCC Awards Funding
Good news! We have secured £80,000 funding from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, to support survivors of sexual violence and abuse. “We are delighted to have received this one off grant,” Lisa Thompson, Chief Executive of RSVP said. “This will make a big difference to our clients.”
We can now increase our helpline hours for crisis support, and increase our counselling hours, which will help reduce the time that people have to wait for counselling, currently 7 months, down to 4 months. To give extra self-help support we will also introduce a 10 week cope and recover group, to build people’s coping and self-help strategies. This therapeutic group will support clients to understand their symptoms and deal with the immediate effects of sexual violence and abuse.
“There can be life after being raped or abused,” says Lisa. “People do not forget what’s happened but they can learn to cope with the effects and turn their lives around. We are extremely grateful to the PCC and his Office for providing funding, to enable us to help even more people to turn their lives around.”
As one of our clients commented, “RSVP gave me the confidence to come forward and speak about what had happened to me. I am ready to live my new life now.”
BBC Children In Need Funding
We received great news in March, as we were notified that we’d been awarded a grant from BBC Children in Need of £102,396. This will be spent over 3 years and will provide independent advocacy support for sexually abused children and young people aged from 5 to 18 years. This funding is a 3 year extension and a continuation of a current 3 year grant, to help vulnerable youngsters to be better informed about their choices, whilst receiving specialist support after they’ve reported sexual abuse, sexual violence or childhood sexual exploitation.
“We’re delighted that BBC Children in Need have awarded us an extension to our current grant, meaning that our advocacy service will be offered until at least 2019” said Lisa Thompson, Chief Executive of RSVP. “We’d also like to say a big thank you to all those fundraisers and supporters across the UK whose kind donations have helped to make this happen. This funding will help us make a real difference to the lives of children who have experienced a devastating trauma at an early age.”
Clients like this young person who told us, “Thank you for being there. Your help meant I could attend court when I had to. I had forgotten what my life was like before the sexual abuse happened. You made me realise my strengths instead.”
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)
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.