We’re here for you

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.

Sex and intimacy after sexual abuse, with Nina Burrowes on Sunday 26th June

Finding pleasure after pain. Sex and intimacy after sexual abuse

We’re thrilled to announce an event with psychologist and cartoonist Nina Burrowes, who will be in conversation with RSVP Chief Exec Lisa Thompson on Sunday 26th June 3pm-5pm at mac (Midlands Art Centre), Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH.

How can sexual abuse as a child or adult impact the way you have sex and experience intimacy later in life? How can we ‘recover’ our sexual selves, as well as the rest of us? Join  Nina Burrows and Lisa Thompson for a conversation about sex and intimacy after sexual abuse. This event is open to anyone who has experienced any form of sexual violation, their partners, or professionals who work with sexual violence survivors in therapy.

Please note that this is not a therapy session, and participants will not be expected to share personal stories. The event will be a mutual educational session, with  opportunities for questions and discussion.

About Nina Burrowes

Dr Nina Burrowes is a psychologist who helps people understand the psychology of sexual violence. She works closely with police, prosecutors and the judiciary as a trainer and consultant both in the UK and overseas. She’s a regular contributor to media discussions on sexual abuse; the author of ‘The courage to be me’ and ‘Eyes open to sexual abuse: What every parent needs to know’, the creator of the online video series ‘Sexual abuse: The questions you’ve never had the chance to ask’, and the instigator of ‘Clear Lines Festival’ the UK’s first festival on sexual assault. You can find out more about Nina and her work at www.ninaburrowes.com or follow her on Twitter @NinaBurrowes

About Lisa Thompson

Lisa is a qualified social worker and psychotherapist with 23 years experience supporting survivors of rape and sexual violence. She is Chief Executive of RSVP, who provide compassionate services in Birmingham and Solihull for children, women and men who have experienced rape, sexual violence and abuse. Lisa also founded GINA, a community interest company that creates products, events and opportunities for sexual violence survivors, including a regular survivors’ running group.

Tickets are £15 + booking fee and available from www.eventbrite.co.uk

New LGBT ISVA service

RSVP and Birmingham LGBT have partnered up  with the Umbrella sexual health service to deliver a new advocacy service for the LGBT community. Bev Higgins writes about her new role as LGBT ISVA.

I became an ISVA to help survivors to have their say, and get the help and support to overcome the impact of sexual abuse, and not face prejudice or mistreatment. As a member of the LGBT community myself and as a professional, I have a wealth of knowledge and experience of the impact and trauma of any sexual abuse on LGBT people. I am passionate about developing and providing this much needed service.

WHAT IS AN LGBT ISVA?

If you are lesbian, gay, bi, trans* and have ever experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse at any point in your life the Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) now can offer you our specialist LGBT ISVA services within the Birmingham LGBT community. (*Including but not exclusive list- non binary, non cis, gender queer, MSM, androgynous, intersex, pansexual…)

An ISVA will offer a caring and professional service providing practical advice and emotional support to those who have been directly impacted by rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse. The abuse could be recent, in the past or ongoing.

Rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse are experienced by a significant percentage of the population and are prevalent in the LGBT community too. Sexual abuse of any nature is a very hidden problem and can be an extremely difficult issue to talk about. The LGBT community often are overlooked or misunderstood and can face prejudice and extra fears around speaking to professionals and organisations when seeking help and support. Rape and abuse against LGBT people can occur in relationships, they can occur as homophobic hate-crimes, childhood sexual abuse and as sexual harassment. Research suggests that the LGBT community experiences disproportionate level of sexual violence.

Support is available; we are here to offer you an advocacy service delivered with compassion, professionalism and humanity. We want to make a difference to you and help overcome the barriers that prevent sexual abuse survivors who identify as LGBT from getting the help and support they need.

Our service is free and is inclusive of all sexuality and gender identities. Everyone is treated fairly, equally and with value and respect. We embrace diversity, promoting equality and human rights for all. We are passionate about helping survivors to thrive and are a user lead service. We are here for you, and so will tailor the support to your individual needs. We understand you may feel nervous getting in touch and it takes a lot of courage to take that step. We will support you every step of the way.

How can we help?
• Talking you through your options
• Ensuring you can access the services and support you need
• Offering emotional and practical support
• Enabling you to report to the police if you decide to
* Exploring other ways you can pass on information about the trauma you have experienced (e.g. anonymously through the Sexual Assault Referral Centre – SARC)
• Ensuring your wellbeing, by chaperoning you on health appointments, including sexual health screenings

What is sexual violence? 

The term sexual violence is used as a broad term for all forms of rape and sexual abuse. Rape and sexual abuse might involve physical violence, coercion, threats and control.
Often rape and sexual abuse is committed by people you know, such as partners, friends, family, acquaintances, and people in positions of trust. You may feel love for the person who has abused/is abusing you. You may be befriended and offered things in return for sexual acts, you could have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol to such an extent you couldn’t consent. You may feel coerced or pressured into doing sexual things you don’t want to. You may be pressured/ forced into sexual acts with other people.

Being groomed?
Abusers can seem very charming and well liked, they will gain your trust and those around you. You may think people won’t believe you, we will. You may be terrified and living in fear, we can help.

If you are being forced, pressured or coerced into sexual activities, you can contact us. You don’t have to suffer in silence or cope alone – we’re here for you.

To contact the LGBT ISVA service speak to Bev via:
Tel: 0121 643 0301 option 2
Mob: 07535 172 052
Email: isva@rsvporg.co.uk

Administrative Assistant vacancy

We are recruiting a part-time administrative assistant to support us at RSVP to deliver professional, sensitive and compassionate services to survivors of sexual violence.

Administrative Assistant

16 hours per week

Wednesday 9-5

and

Tuesday or Thursday 9-5

£15,941 (pro rata)

Your role will be to provide general administration support, reception duties with some marketing duties. You will work closely with the Administrator, Head of Counselling and Wellbeing Services and Head of Business Development.

Download the job description

Download the person specification

Download the application form

Deadline for applications is 5pm, Thursday 16th June. Please email applications to info@rsvporg.co.uk

Please contact Anjella or Sarah with any queries info@rsvporg.uk / 0121 643 0301

ASC (Abuse Survivors Clinic)

We recently appointed a number of new ISVAs to grow our advocacy service, here is a guest blog post from one of our news ISVAs, Natalie Harris about our work at the Abuse Survivors Clinic.

Hi, my name is Natalie and I am a ‘newbie’ ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advocate) here at RSVP. Having previously worked in the field of addiction, supporting and empowering people is what I enjoy most, which reinforces that my day to day role is more than just a job.

The role of ISVA is so broad and varied that it is not the easiest to define. In a nutshell, we support and advocate for clients/service users that are survivors of sexual violence.  This entails support throughout the legal process, identifying, signposting and/or supporting practically with unmet needs and providing emotional support.

I see my role as walking by the side of the client and supporting with each step they take on their journey.

ASC

In order to continue to strive towards the delivery of a seamless service for our clients, we have recently embarked upon a fresh working partnership with Umbrella sexual health services. One of the latest projects is the ASC (Abuse Survivors Clinic) clinic.  This clinic operates 2-3 times per month on a Wednesday at Whittall Street Clinic, Whittall Street, Birmingham, B4 6DH and is available for survivors of abuse, providing specialised, sensitive support around sexual health screenings.  In addition, clients have the opportunity to explore support options available with an ISVA from RSVP who will be present at every ASC.

The schedule for this clinic is as follows:

8^th June 2016

22^nd June 2016

6^th July 2016

20^th July 2016

3^rd August 2016

17^th August 2016

31^st August 2016

14^th September 2016

28^th September 2016

12^th October 2016

26^th October 2016

9^th November 2016

23^rd November 2016

7^th December 2016

To access the clinic please contact: 0121 237 5700

Settling in as a new ISVA

We recently appointed a number of new ISVAs to grow our advocacy service, here is a guest blog post from one of our news ISVAs, Lisa Holden.

Hi and welcome.  I’m Lisa a new independent sexual violence advocate (ISVA) here. I wanted to write a post offering a glimpse into how I’ve settled in to my first month on the job.

As an advocate I provide emotional and practical support to survivors of sexual violence, offering them a voice and ensuring their wishes, opinions and needs are listened to and heard. This includes informing and supporting clients through their options regarding police reporting, aiding survivors through legal and court proceedings and procedures (ensuring any special measures are requested and provided), and offering support to clients who wish to access other service providers, such as organising GUM appointments and attending with the client for moral support.

Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the magnificence of the RSVP team. From ISVAs, managers, counsellors and administration staff, I have never found a more welcoming, caring, passionate and inspiring workforce. I not only consider myself immensely lucky to be part of such a supportive team, but I feel honoured to be working for an extremely worthy cause.

Consequently, settling in within the tremendously fast paced ISVA office has been an easy and relaxed journey for me. Each staff member has been attentive in helping me learn both the technical and emotional aspects of my role, ensuring that I have a safe and comfortable environment to ask questions. The team always makes sure I am on the right track and regularly ask ‘how are you?’ and ‘how are you getting on?’ which has really made me feel at home.

There are so many aspects of my job that I can already say I LOVE. The role is so varied and every day is different. One day I could be undertaking initial assessments with clients and discussing reporting procedures or undertaking an anonymous report with the police, the next I could be attending an ABE interview with a client, or going to a GUM appointment with a client.  The fact that I am responsible for my own caseload and organise my own appointments allows me to feel a sense of freedom and autonomy I haven’t felt before and this has had a massive positive effect on me.

The organisation are also really focused on making every member of the team an expert in the field and encourage us to undertake any relevant training opportunities.  I am excited about undertaking the ISVA specialist Lime Culture accredited training, and I’m extremely enthusiastic about becoming a young person’s mental health first aider. I have also attended training on FGM and alcohol and drug abuse.

But what I love most is my pastoral duties. Supporting and empowering clients by ensuring that they have all the right information and tools to make their own decisions is extremely rewarding. Providing clients with a safe space to explore their options and needs, as well as providing a platform for them to be heard enables them to gain back a sense of control at a time that seems completely out of control. Being the person that supports them to do that is an incredible honour.

Learn more about the ISVA service here. You can contact us for more information or to make a referral here.

Steve wins Volunteer of the Year!

We are delighted that Steve Tallett, who volunteers as a counsellor for us at RSVP (as well as volunteering with many other fabulous organisations too) has won ‘Towergate’s Volunteer of the Year’ award. Read more about the Care Awards on their website here. Well done Steve!

Legal Clinic for Survivors

Expert sexual abuse lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have teamed up with us to provide free legal advice for the people we have supported in the past and those who currently use our services.

The aim of the clinics, which will be held at Grosvenor House, Birmingham, on the last Friday of each month, is to offer free legal advice to survivors using RSVP’s services to provide a broad range of legal topics, including civil claims.

We were the Charity of the Year for Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office in 2015 and the firm has worked closely with us in its efforts to support survivors of sexual violence and abuse.

Expert sexual abuse lawyer Scott Tolliss, who is also a Trustee of RSVP, will be providing free advice, alongside Yvonne Langham, our Head of Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy (ISVA) Services and her advocacy team.

Scott said:
“Through our work with survivors of abuse in the West Midlands we understand just how important RSVP is to those affected by these issues and we have worked very closely with the charity in the past to raise funds to allow it to continue providing the services it does.

“We are delighted to now be able to provide free legal advice to those who use the service currently and anyone who used it in the past. We hope to be able to provide advice across a wide range of issues affecting survivors of sexual assault and abuse, to ensure they can access the help they require.” Scott Tolliss, Other Legal Expert at Irwin Mitchell.

Lisa Thompson, RSVP’s CEO, said: “We are constantly working to improve the services we can offer to women and men affected by sexual violence, rape and abuse and we believe these free legal clinics will once again increase the level of help and support we can provide.

“The clinics for our clients will take place on the last Friday of every month and we hope it will prove to be extremely useful to those who require legal advice, but may not be able to afford it.”

Survivors and self-harm

This guest blog is from Lesley Parker, a highly experienced professional who is delivering training at RSVP on Friday 10th June on Working with Self-harm. The training is open to counsellors, social workers and other professionals who come into contact with clients who self-harm. More info on the course and how to book a place is  here.

I’m Lesley Parker. I’ve been a counsellor and psychotherapist for over 20 years. During that time I have worked for an adult survivors service in Walsall and also specialised in working with rape victims at Victim Support. I spent a good few years setting up, developing and delivering a drug counselling service for young people and also developed myself as a trainer and supervisor. Over all of these years and services I have encountered many many people who have had issues with self-harm and one of the things I have learnt is there is no single form, purpose or outcome of self-harm. The behaviours, and the outcomes vary hugely from person to person and though there may be some common themes and patterns, in most situations it is best viewed from the perspective of the individual who is using the self-harm to make sense of it.
Having said that, during this time, with experience, I hope I have managed to gain an understanding that has enabled me both as a psychotherapist and supervisor to approach the subject in a meaningful and helpful way. It has become an issue for a growing number of people, from all walks of life, facing all manner of different issues. Its prevalence is still on the increase, therefore it has never been more important for us all to have a clearer sense of how to engage in meaningful and helpful conversations.
Lesley Parker CTA, MSc (TA Psych), UKCP Reg, Dip Supervision.

Our expansion is complete

Part of our new reception area

One of our new counselling rooms

The building work to our new office space is finally finished and a week ahead of schedule as well!  Thanks to all at Orton Estates for making the transition as painless as possible for everyone here at RSVP, and for our clients too.  It all looks amazing and the comments we have received have been very complimentary.  We have two more counselling rooms, another kitchen for the groups, and a further office.  Our new training room now has windows, and our old training room has been divided into two, to become a filing/stationery room, and staff room.  The ISVA office has increased in size to accommodate our growing ISVA team.  And we have Vicky’s Room, our new children’s room, which will be decorated with the kind help from Vicky’s family.

Before the work began

Putting up the stud walling