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ISVA Limelight awards

Limeculture’s LimeLight Awards for outstanding ISVA support is open for nominations until Wednesday 31st August. The four awards acknowledge the outstanding contributions and achievements of individual adult ISVAs, children ISVAs, ISVA Teams and ISVA Managers who have demonstrated excellence, dedication and commitment to supporting victims of sexual violence through their work.

Vicky Bardsley (right) with RSVP CEO Lisa Thompson

The LimeLight Children’s ISVA Award is dedicated to Vicky Bardsley,   an accredited ISVA who worked at RSVP. Vicky sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2015 leaving behind her family, many friends and her committed colleagues, and a positive legacy for the many sexually abused children and young people that she has supported.

If you you have received excellent support from an ISVA, you can nominate them for an award, follow the link www.limeculture.co.uk to download a nomination award and cast your vote. Return your completed nominations via email to info@limeculture.co.uk

We’re recruiting volunteer counsellors

If you’re a qualified or student counsellor, you could make a huge difference to the lives of survivors of sexual abuse by joining RSVP as a volunteer. You will be fully supported by a professional team  and be part of a unique, specialised service in Birmingham and Solihull.

Counsellors support survivors of any kind of sexual violence, including rape, childhood sexual abuse, forced prostitution and sexual assault.

There are 14 spaces available. The deadline for applications is Sunday 6th November, and should be sent via email to info@rsvporg.co.uk

More information, including interview and training dates, and the application form are in the links below.

Volunteer Counselling Cover letter

Application_for_volunteer_counsellor

RSVP Leaflet

To discuss further, contact Anjella Darcy, Head of Counselling and Wellbeing Services on 0121 643 0301

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

Vacancy: Specialist sexual violence trainer

RSVP are recruiting for a trainer with specialist knowledge in sexual violence.  The successful candidate will train professionals across sexual health services to improve understanding of, and responses to, sexual abuse, exploitation and coercion. You will have an understanding of the effects of trauma and be able to share this understanding to ensure that survivors’ voices are heard and they have access to respectful, confidential and compassionate services.

This post is funded by University Hospitals Birmingham, as part of the Umbrella sexual health services.

Application form

Specialist Trainer job description and person specification

For more information, contact Anjella Darcy at info@rsvporg.co.uk / 0121 643 0301

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).

New Legal Clinic for Survivors

Hi, my name is Yvonne Langham. I am the Head of the Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy (ISVA) Services at the Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP).

I am delighted to announce that RSVP are hosting free Legal Clinics with lawyers Scott and Neerali from the very well known and respected, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors.

Irwin Mitchell have kindly offered to have a lawyer available for two hours a month to offer free, legal advice to any RSVP client who would benefit from this service. The Legal Clinics will be held on the last Friday of each month between 11am and 1pm at RSVP. Anyone wishing to attend can just turn up and give their name at reception, stating they are here for the Legal Clinic. No other information will be required at the reception area and a private room will be allocated for the meeting. An Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) will be on hand to offer support, however it is entirely up to the individual if they wish the ISVA to be in the meeting, or if they would sooner speak one on one with the lawyer.
I am so pleased that the first Legal Clinic was such a great success. I look forward to seeing this new service accessed by any of RSVP clients who would benefit from good quality, free legal advice from a trusted and well established firm of Solicitors. I believe the ISVA service, which can be offered hand in hand with the Legal Clinic, will prove to be extremely useful in offering emotional and practical support to anyone who uses this exciting new service.

Free Legal Clinics for sexual violence survivors takes place at RSVP, Grosvenor House, 14 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, B2 5RS on the last Friday of each month 11am-1pm. The next clinic will be Friday 29th July.

Helpline volunteers – we’re recruiting

You could make a big difference to the lives of survivors by becoming a helpline volunteer at RSVP. Our telephone helpline supports survivors emotionally and practically, by lending a friendly, non-judgmental ear. As well as giving empathic support, we provide information on services available and make referrals into counselling, advocacy and other services.

The helpline opening hours has increased significantly over the past year, and we want it to keep growing. As a helpline volunteer you would commit to a weekly shift at our Birmingham city centre office, you would receive full training and regular clinical supervision.

For more information, and to apply please find below:

Cover letter for helpline applicants 2016

Helpline application form 2016

Role Description Helpline Volunteer

Please return completed application form by 5pm Sunday 18^th September to info@rsvporg.co.uk  Interviews will take place on  4^th, 6^th, 12^th October. 

If you are successful at the interview stage you will then be required to attend a training programme and complete shadow shifts to understand our work.  The training dates for this recruitment are on five consecutive Thursdays – all training dates must be attended. 

Thursday 10^th November 2016 10.00 – 16.00
Thursday 17^th November 2016 1000 – 16.00
Thursday 24^th November 2016 10.00 – 16.00
Thursday 1^st December 2016 10.00 – 16.00
Thursday 8^th December 2016 10.00 – 16.00

if you would like to discuss the role before making an application, speak to Katie Simpson, Helpline and Counselling Team Leader on 0121 643 0301 or info@rsvporg.co.uk

RSVP selected by John Lewis

John Lewis has selected RSVP as one of three Community Matters charities over the next three months at their Birmingham city centre store. £3000 will be shared amongst the three charities, and it’s up to customers to decide how much each charity receives! You can help RSVP raise funds by using a token to select us the charity you’d like to support. You can find the information, and tokens at the Place to Eat, Level 4 and Customer Collections, Level 2.

We’d love it if you could vote for us, and spread the word!

Vicky’s Room

Tuesday 21st June was about a very special person, Vicky. She was our beloved colleague who we lost last year. Since she was one of our children’s advocates, with the blessing of her family, we have created “Vicky’s Room”, a safe welcoming space where we’ll support all the sexually abused children and young people that we see.

Vicky’s Room

On Tuesday we held a launch event for her children, family, friends and colleagues. It was an emotional day but a great success too. We had lovely feedback about the special space that we’ve created as Vicky’s legacy. For everyone who attended it was both a proud day and a sad one at the same time.

We are pleased to share these images with you and let you know that Birmingham now has a special place to support children who’ve been sexually abused. Our thanks also go to:
-Vicky’s family, friends and loved ones, including those who gave to Vicky’s appeal last year

-the funders and businesses who donated to us

– to the builders who helped create our newly expanded premises.

To you all, we could not have done it without you. Vicky would feel so excited about the warm colourful space that traumatised children can now be safely supported in, so they can grow and thrive after sexual abuse. Just the sort of thing that Vicky helped so many children achieve.
Lisa, CEO.

#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.