Important Update: A Message from Our CEO, Lisa
In this update, I have some difficult news to share with you and I want to speak to you directly and honestly.
The last few months have been the most challenging and destabilising time at RSVP.
We’ve been hit by a deepening funding crisis, at the same time as more survivors than ever have reached out for our support.
Demand for RSVP services has risen sharply, costs have increased and we have had to make painful, difficult decisions to protect RSVP’s survival.
These decisions have affected survivors, our dedicated team and the survivor community.
The Decisions We Have Made So Far
• Closed two of our services: our long-running social wellbeing groups, established in 2008, and our Sex Worker ISVA Service, established in 2017.
• Reduced other services, including pausing new referrals into our Adult Counselling Service from April.
• Made changes to our Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy (ISVA) Services, as ISVA/Advocates have caseloads higher than they should be. This is impacted by survivors being forced to wait longer for justice, due to the years that they wait for a court date, meaning they need ISVA support for longer.
These decisions affect real people, survivors who have finally reached out, and our dedicated team who give everything they have to this work.
All while, every single day, we continue to see the power of RSVP’s specialist support.
🙍🏽♀️Why We Keep Going: A Survivor’s Words
This is our why and why RSVP exists.
This is why we are determined to recover and rebuild.
For survivors 💜
🚀Launching Soon…
In June, we will launch something important for survivors, so do look out for more information in our next newsletter.
Its focus will be to:
• Start to rebuild our core services, and ensure that RSVP continues to stand with child and adult survivors, from Birmingham and Solihull.
• Rebuild hope, strengthen the survivor community, and ensure survivors are not alone.
Stay Connected: Join Our New WhatsApp Channel ✅
We have now launched a new WhatsApp Channel where you can follow:
- Real stories of impact.
- Behind-the-scenes insights.
- Updates on survivors’ needs.
- Ways to get involved with RSVP 🫱🏽🫲🏻
It’s a simple way to stay close to the work you care about. Scan the QR code or click the button below.
Other Ways to Help 🤗
We know that our supporters like to support RSVP, in many different ways.
This is why we have created a variety of meaningful ways to support survivors using what you already have:
• Corporate connections: Can you introduce us to your workplace CSR team or suggest RSVP as a charity partner?
• 🥿👚📱Fundraise with what’s at home: Can you sell or donate items you no longer need? Look out soon for information on our new schemes where if you donate good quality second-hand bras and smart phones (and other tech) to RSVP, it could raise funds for us.
• Share our messages: Can you share and help us use our voice and survivors’ voices to help us reach new people, who may never have heard of RSVP.
• Champion our work: Can you talk about why specialist support matters, especially now? 🗣️
Every single action strengthens RSVP’s support, care and community around survivors.
Looking Ahead With Determination 🌟
This is a tough moment, for survivors, for our dedicated team, and for RSVP. However, we believe it can also be a moment of change, connection and hope. RSVP has always been built on people who show big-hearted, bold, belief in survivors. These values will carry us through this period of recovery.
Thank you for caring, for continuing to support survivors and for standing with us.
With gratitude,
Lisa Thompson
CEO, Rape and Sexual Violence Project.
Speak Up- A Survivor’s Triumph After Trauma
My name is Shania‑Leigh, and I am a survivor. This is my story.
When I was a child, I lived with my nan and grandad. From around the age of 12, I went to my auntie’s house every week while she went to bingo with my nan. During those hours, I was left alone with her now ex‑husband. And he decided to take it upon himself to sexually abuse me every week without fail.
I said no. I tried to fight him off. But I was just a child, and he was bigger and stronger than me. He threatened me into silence, and I believed him. I was petrified.
The abuse went on for years. I was scared, ashamed, and believed somehow it was my fault — even though it wasn’t. I felt disgusting like I deserved it when I knew deep down I didn’t. But that’s how I felt. I was scared what he’d do to me if I did speak about. Things changed when I fell pregnant at the age of 15.
As soon as he knew about it, the abuse stopped. He was an abusive narcissist and told me to get rid of the baby. Which I would never do. So I had my child.
But the trauma and turmoil still lived within me. When it all felt way too much for me, I finally spoke to my health visitor. She contacted the police, and throughout the whole process, there was a lot of help and support out there. It was a relief, that I had been able to finally speak out.
The police put me in touch with an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate from RSVP. My ISVA stood by me through court and counselling. My advocate talked me through how the court case would run, as I didn’t know and I was terrified. Then after the court case, I was able to have counselling for it also, which was a massive help. For the first time, I felt seen, not silenced.
Today, I’m nearly 13 years free from abuse. I’m stronger, my mental health has improved, and I’ve gone on to have a loving family. I couldn’t be happier.
I’m sharing my story for anyone who went through sexual or domestic abuse, who are locking themselves away with it which is weighing them down. Abuse isn’t always by a stranger — sometimes it’s someone close. Someone who you consider to be “family”. I’m doing this to show people that if you do speak up, you will get justice for it all in the end as there is loads of help out there for you.
If you’re carrying this alone, please speak up.
You are a survivor — not a victim. Help is out there.
[Survivor name and story shared with consent.]
RSVP’s Message
RSVP is incredibly proud of Shania-Leigh. Her strength, courage and determination shines through to light the way for other survivors. We wish her all the best and echo her message: Speak up. We’re here to help.
Update on Our Adult Counselling Service (31st March 2026)
Update on Our Adult Counselling Service:
We are deeply saddened to announce that from 9am on Wednesday 1st April, we will be pausing new referrals to our Adult Counselling Service. This has been an extremely difficult decision, since we know the need for our service is high and growing. We will regularly review our decision, and will publish an update on our website and social media channels.
Why we have decided to pause new referrals to our Adult Counselling Service:
This pause is sad but necessary. We need to respond to the 850 adult survivors who are already waiting for RSVP counselling, some of whom have already waited 12 months (or more). We cannot continue to add more adult survivors to our waiting list, and ask them to wait even longer. This does not seem fair or trauma‑informed.
Our commitment to survivors:
We know how vital, life‑changing and often lifesaving our specialist counselling is for adults who have been subjected to rape, sexual violence or sexual abuse. As Birmingham and Solihull’s only rape crisis and specialist abuse service, we know and take seriously, the unique role we play in supporting survivors to rebuild their lives with hope and confidence.
We want to reassure adult survivors that we will:
- Continue to deliver counselling to everyone currently on our waiting list.
- Regularly review our decision, with the next review scheduled for May.
- Remain committed to increasing our capacity and gaining more funding, to ensure we can accept new referrals of adult survivors, to our Adult Counselling Service, as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Share information with you, about other organisations where you can request counselling from.
- Continue to advocate for you, to ensure there is more specialist counselling provision for survivors.
- Continue to support adults through our other services, including our Adult Advocacy, LGBT Advocacy, Race & Equality Advocacy, Helpline, Webchat and Online Services.
- Continue to support children and young people, and the parents, carers and loved ones who support them. There is no change to our Services for children, young people or their supporters.
Our commitment to funders and partners:
We have sought, and continue to seek, additional funding to respond more quickly to the needs of the high and growing number of adults who have been subjected to rape, sexual violence or sexual abuse. Despite being open 7 days a week this is still not enough to meet the need. We continue to seek and secure the level of funding required to meet the rising need for our specialist counselling.
We want to reassure funders that despite pausing new referrals to our Adult Counselling Service:
• We are still delivering counselling to survivors currently waiting.
• We continue to actively pursue new funding opportunities to expand our counselling capacity.
• We remain fully committed to being open with you and will continue to update you as the situation evolves.
A difficult but necessary step:
We know this decision is distressing and devastating for adult survivors across Birmingham and Solihull, and for every staff member and volunteer at RSVP too. Asking adult survivors to wait even longer for support is not something we can continue to do.
We remain determined to change this picture. We will keep reviewing our capacity, seeking new funding, and doing everything in our power to reopen to new referrals on our Adult Counselling Service, as soon as possible.
Support RSVP in the My Favourite Voucher Codes Charity Poll- February 2026
This February, we are proud to share that RSVP is taking part in the My Favourite Voucher Codes Charity Poll 2026. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our community to support our work in a simple, free and powerful way — by voting for us.
Every month, 4 charities are chosen to take part in the My Favourite Voucher Codes charity poll. At the end of the month, the charity with the most public votes will receive 20% of My Favourite Voucher Codes’ profits for the month, and that donation could make a real, lasting difference to the people we support every day.
In this article, we want to explain what the poll is, why it matters, how you can vote for RSVP, and how your support can help us continue our vital work.
About RSVP
The Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) is a charity dedicated to supporting people affected by sexual violence, abuse and exploitation across Birmingham and Solihull. Every day, we work alongside survivors, families, and communities to provide safety, understanding, and practical help when it is needed most.
Our services are built on compassion, dignity, and empowerment. Whether someone is taking their first step towards seeking support or continuing their journey of recovery, RSVP is here to listen, believe, and help.
Funding is essential for us to continue and grow these services. Donations allow us to reach more people, offer specialist support, train staff and volunteers, and ensure that no one has to face abuse or trauma alone. That is why this charity poll means so much to us.
What is the My Favourite Voucher Codes Charity Poll?
My Favourite Voucher Codes (MFVC) is a popular UK platform helping people save money on everyday shopping through discounts and voucher codes. Alongside their savings service, they run a monthly charity poll to give back.
Each month, MFVC and their supporters put forward 4 charities to be nominated for the poll. The public can vote for the charity they would like to support throughout the month, and the charity with the most votes receives 20% of My Favourite Voucher Codes’ profits for that month.
For February 2026, RSVP is honoured to be one of the nominated charities.
Important details about the poll:
● It is completely free to vote.
● You do not need to sign up or enter any personal details.
● You can vote in just a few seconds.
● The poll runs from 1st February to 28th February 2026.
● Every single vote counts.
This means that even the smallest action — one click — can help turn into real financial support for our charity.
How to Vote for RSVP – Step by Step
Voting is quick, easy, and free. Here’s exactly how to do it:
1. Visit the My Favourite Voucher Codes charity poll page.
2. Find RSVP in the list of nominated charities.
3. Click on the vote button next to RSVP.
4. That’s it — your vote is counted instantly.
No email address, no account, no forms — just one simple click to support us.
How This Donation Can Benefit Our Charity
The donation from My Favourite Voucher Codes would go directly towards strengthening our services. It would help us respond to growing demand, maintain high standards of care, and continue building a future where survivors feel heard, supported, and empowered.
Every pound raised through this poll has the potential to change lives — and your vote helps make that possible.
Please Vote and Share
We cannot win this poll without the support of our community. If you believe in our mission, we ask you to:
● Vote for RSVP in the My Favourite Voucher Codes charity poll.
● Share the poll with friends, family, and colleagues.
● Encourage others to take just a few seconds to support us.
One vote may feel small, but together, our voices can create real impact.
From all of us at RSVP, thank you for standing with us, believing in our work, and helping us continue to support those who need it most. Your support truly makes a difference.
Update: We Have Won!
Thank you to the amazing supporters who voted for us on the MFVC Charity polls. Now your hard work has paid off!
We received the lovely news that we have been the winners of the poll, awarding us £169.72! These funds will help strengthen our core services and respond to survivors across the West Midlands.
⚠️Office Closure- January 2026
The weather is taking a severe turn, and now there is an amber weather warning across the region. Storm Goretti might make travelling quite difficult due to snowfall predictions, and that’s why RSVP has made the decision to temporarily close our office till normal weather returns.
Here are the dates to keep in mind:
a. Office closed from Thurs 8th Jan, 2pm onwards, after which our team will work from home.
b. Office closed all day on Friday, 9th Jan, with our team working from home. This is a precaution, since the amber warning extends to Friday morning and could impact safe travel.
c. Office open on Saturday as usual, unless the current predicted weather changes. We will send further updates if anything changes.
We are in the processing of contacting clients, due to be seen in person (at our main premises, outreach, schools etc. and from 2pm today or tomorrow) to inform them to stay safe, not to travel & to be offered an alternative phone session instead. For younger children we will offer carers/parents a check in instead.
Please look out for a message on your email or phone to update you. Already booked phone appointments will generally continue as planned.
Although this is a change to how we support clients, we want to ensure that survivors, our team and colleagues can avoid travel during an amber warning, and stay safe. This is our priority.
For any questions or assistance, please get in touch with us via email: info@rsvporg.co.uk
Our Take On UK’s Violence Against Women and Girls (2025- 2030)
At RSVP, we welcome the Government’s recently published Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy. We are relieved it has finally been released, following several postponements, making it long overdue. We are relieved, because actions to reduce and respond to VAWG are needed now more than ever.
Growing numbers of children and adults require specialist support from organisations like RSVP. Yet, despite us being open 7 days a week, the need for support is growing faster than our service capacity, resulting in survivors facing more distress as they wait even longer for support. The need for an ambitious strategy is clear and urgent. However, long‑term ambitious goals must not ignore the rapidly widening gaps in specialist support that require attention and action now.
Key Concerns about the VAWG Strategy
- Education alone cannot counter the scale of pornography harms:
Expecting parents, carers and teachers to offset the influence of multi‑million‑pound porn platforms, designed to push violent, misogynistic content to children, is unrealistic. We need stronger action on the platforms themselves and a society that stops profiting from the sexualisation of women and girls. Young people also need ongoing, specialist‑led reflective spaces to explore and unpick what they’ve seen. Evidence‑based programmes, like Time to Talk delivered by Safer Together and other by the specialist sector, must be prioritised. - Teachers are not specialists, and cannot be expected to carry this work alone:
Improvements to Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RHSE) are welcome. However, disclosures, trauma and creating safety for young people to have complex conversations requires specialist skills and survivor‑informed practice. Properly funded specialist services must work alongside schools, supporting already overstretched teachers, who are not fully trained to respond to abuse and misogyny. - NHS referral expansion without resourcing specialist services will lead to increased distress for survivors:
Health already refers around a third of survivors into specialist organisations like RSVP. We are concerned that rolling out “Steps to Safety” nationally will increase referrals to our sector even further, with no additional resource provided to meet this rising demand. Without investment, survivors will simply face longer waits and experience greater distress. - Commitment to provide “holistic, tailored support” can only happen with long‑term funding:
The Strategy sets out a vision for a coordinated, responsive system over the next decade. Without secure, ring‑fenced funding though, these commitments will remain aspirational, and fail to become reality. Survivors need support now, they cannot wait years for a system that works. - Children under 16 are missing from the Strategy’s headline measure of VAWG:
The goal to halve VAWG relies on data that excludes children under 16, despite high numbers being subjected to sexual abuse in childhood. This omission risks masking the true scale of abuse, and leaves a significant group of children invisible in national targets. - Child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors are still waiting for the promised “standalone response”:
The Strategy acknowledges that CSA requires its own specialist approach, yet provides no timeline. After years of delays in implementing the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Our Final Thoughts:
Investment in the specialist sexual abuse sector is long overdue and essential. For decades, services like ours have been asked to do a lot with very little. Now, more than ever, we are being stretched beyond capacity. During Covid, additional funding recognised our work as vital and an emergency service. Now, we need the same level of prioritisation again if we are to avoid letting survivors down.
Proper funding means we can respond well, reduce distressing delays and ensure every survivor gets the support they need, when they need it, in order to rebuild their lives with hope and confidence after sexual abuse.
🎉New Grant Secured: Thanks to the Austin And Hope Pilkington Trust
RSVP would like to express our sincere thanks to the Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust for awarding us a grant of £5,000. This funding will contribute directly to maintaining one month of our specialist support service for refugee and asylum-seeking women who are survivors of sexual violence, abuse, trafficking or exploitation.
The Trust’s investment ensures continuity of counselling, advocacy and safe women-only groups at a crucial time, where refugee and asylum-seekers in the UK are faced with a lack of safety and legal rights. They endure profound hardships and uncertainties, including insecure housing, limited access to healthcare, and prolonged legal processes. For those who are rape survivors, these challenges are compounded by trauma, stigma, and barriers to specialist support, leaving them vulnerable to isolation and retraumatization.
Our teams are still working to secure longer-term funding for our specialist service for refugee and asylum-seeker survivors, but this grant is still a win! We are extremely grateful to the Austin Hope Pilkington Trust for your support and for your commitment to improving the lives of RSVP survivors.
Office Closed on Nov 6, 2025
Since the wellbeing of both the children and adults we support, and our team are at the centre of all we do, our Birmingham City Centre premises will be closed all day on Thursday 6th November.
This due to there being a risk of unrest, trouble and protests in the city centre, before the evening’s football match. This is a very cautious approach, but clearly centres everyone’s wellbeing, for the whole day and evening.
Counselling and ISVA support will still continue, with city centre appointments changing to on the phone or online. Our schools and our outreach counselling locations will go ahead as normal and are unaffected.
Thank you for your patience and sorry for any inconvenience causes.
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.
Garfield Weston Foundation Supports RSVP
Birmingham and Solihull sexual abuse charity was awarded £30,000 in February 2025 by the Garfield Weston Foundation towards core costs.
Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) is delighted to announce that the Garfield Weston Foundation have awarded £30,000 towards the core running costs of the charity. Core costs are vital to charities as the charity can decided where to spend the money, in RSVP’s case the funds will support our wellbeing services.
Lisa Thompson, Chief Executive of RSVP, said: ‘We are now in our 47th year of supporting survivors of rape and sexual violence, we cannot do this essential service without donations and grants from individuals and organisations like the Garfield Weston Foundation. We hope that this is the start of a long-standing relationship with the foundation.”
About Garfield Weston Foundation:
Established in 1958, the Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded grant-maker that gives money to support a wide variety of charities across the UK. The Foundation’s funding comes from an endowment of shares in the Weston family business – a successful model that still exists today. The Weston family have a consistent aim. The more successful the family businesses, the more money the Foundation can donate.
Each year the foundation gives away its income and donations have continued to grow. Since it was established it has donated over £1.5 billion, of which over half has been given away in the past ten years. In the most recent financial year the Foundation gave away over £100 million to just under 1,800 charities across the UK.
11/03/2025
