Month: December 2024

As we approach the end of another exciting and successful year, LimeCulture would like to take a moment to express our  gratitude to our partners, clients, colleagues, and friends. Together, we’ve made 2024 a year of growth, innovation, and impact.

2024 has been a milestone year for LimeCulture, filled with opportunities to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and continue delivering exceptional training and consultancy services across sectors. From launching innovative initiatives to strengthening existing partnerships, this year’s achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to safeguarding and supporting those impacted by sexual violence and misconduct.

While it’s impossible to capture everything, here are some highlights that made 2024 exceptional:

• Partnering with Avon & Somerset Constabulary: Assisted in launching their specialist internal support service to provide specialist workplace support for officers and staff experiencing sexual misconduct or witnessing inappropriate behaviours. This specialist service was the first of its kind in policing and has since been adopted by Cheshire Constabulary. We will be working with other forces in 2025 to expand this internal model of specialist support.
• Supporting Pinsent Masons: Helped launch a unique safer culture, safeguarding, and child protection service for their clients.
• University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust: Leveraged our Safer Cultures Framework to support the implementation of the NHS Sexual Safety Charter. This project includes developing a tailored prevention and response approach and establishing a new support model for staff facing sexual misconduct or inappropriate behaviour.
• Trauma-Informed Training Initiatives: Introduced new training programmes to help employers meet their duties under the Worker Protection Act 2023 (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010). Our training equips employers to prevent sexual harassment and respond to cases with fairness, sensitivity, and efficiency. This includes training for Sexual Misconduct Discipline Panel Members and Investigators
• Best Practice Guide for British Gymnastics: Developed and launched a Best Practice Guide in response to the Whyte Review, an independent investigation into abuse allegations in gymnastics.

• ISVA Development Milestone: Reached over 1,000 new ISVAs trained on our ISVA accredited Development Programme and introduced new courses, including the ISVA Refresher Programme and ISVA’s Role in Family and Court Proceedings.
• Safeguarding in Sports: Expanded our training to Premier League academies, first teams, and women’s teams, along with collaborations with the England and Wales Cricket Board and other sports.
• Supporting Schools and Universities: Hosted a seminar for schools on addressing sexual misconduct, increased the number of schools and colleges adopting a whole-school approach to preventing and responding to sexual misconduct. Continued supporting universities with a range of training initiatives including our accredited training for Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs)
• ISVA Quality Standards: Expanded the number of ISVA Services receiving LimeCulture’s Quality Mark for achieving the Quality Standards for ISVA Services.
• Bespoke Risk & Needs Assessment for the Catholic Church: Commissioned by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Authority to develop and implement a consistent approach to sexual misconduct risk identification, management and escalation across Catholic Church in England and Wales.
• Consultancy Projects: Delivered independent reviews and improvement initiatives for sexual violence services in areas including Durham, Northumbria, Norfolk, and in St. Lucia.
• Professional Networks: Continued driving innovation through our Professional Networks.

• Independent Safeguarding Reviews: Conducted reviews for a range of National Governing Bodies in sports. These reviews include desk based research and extensive stakeholder engagement to identify areas of good practice, areas for improvement and key recommendations to make sport safer.
• Collaborations in Sports: Partnered with 45 National Governing Bodies, Sport England, and Sport Resolutions to transform safeguarding case management practices.
• Lead Safeguarding Officer Development: Expanded our accredited Lead Safeguarding Officer Development Programme to further support safeguarding leaders.
• Safer Sport Knowledge & Network Conference: In July 2024, we hosted our inaugural Safer Sport Knowledge and Network Conference with delegates from more than 50 wide-ranging national, regional and local sporting organisations.

• Workforce Investment: Enhanced governance by strengthening our Board reporting to Non-Executive Directors, expanding the Senior Leadership Team, and prioritisng staff training, development, and leadership coaching.
• Operational Efficiency: Streamlined administration, digitised processes, and refined financial systems to help us to work smarter and more efficiently.
• Brand Evolution: Collaborated with Manifestive to redefine our vision, mission, and values, ensuring our brand reflects our dedication to safer cultures.

Reflecting on this year’s accomplishments, we’re incredibly proud of the strides we’ve made. However, it is important to recognise that behind these achievements are the talented individuals who make up the LimeCulture team. Their dedication, expertise, and passion are the driving forces behind everything we do. We are so very grateful to each and every member of the LimeCulture team for all that they do.

To all our partners, clients, and supporters – thank you for your unwavering commitment to LimeCulture’s mission. We’re excited about the opportunities that 2025 will bring and look forward to working with you to create safer, healthier, and more inclusive cultures.

From all of us at LimeCulture, we wish you a peaceful and joyful festive season. See you in the New Year!

At LimeCulture, we are passionate about fostering safer cultures where individuals and organisations can thrive. A safer culture is one where expectations for behaviour are clear, inappropriate and unwanted sexual behaviours, harassment, and abuse are not tolerated, and responses are swift, fair, and trauma informed. This is becoming a fundamental expectation of effective organisations.

We are delighted to be working in partnership with University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust, one of the first NHS trusts to sign the NHS Sexual Safety Charter. Their commitment to embedding a whole-organisation approach to preventing and responding to sexual misconduct is a testament to their dedication to creating a safe and supportive environment for their people.

Over the past three months, we have been working with UHNM using our Safer Cultures Framework to support the Trust in embedding the NHS Sexual Safety Charter.  We have also been supporting the organisation to meet its duties under the Worker Protection Act, which came into force in October 2024 and provides a new legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.

Our work with UHNM will inform the development of a tailored prevention and response approach for the organisation, which will include specialist trauma-informed training for key staff involved in investigations and disciplinary processes for sexual misconduct cases.

Establishing an internal model of support for NHS Staff

Recognising the importance of effective support, LimeCulture is working with UHNM  to establish a new model of support for any member of  staff who experiences any form of sexual misconduct or witness inappropriate behaviours

A cadre of Specialist Liaison Officers (SLO’s) will be trained by LimeCulture to provide end-to-end, trauma-informed support for colleagues, confidentially supporting those who have experienced sexual violence, harassment or abuse to consider their options, and navigate internal systems and misconduct proceedings.

Importantly, Specialist Liaison Officers will provide the specialism within the organisation to support victims/survivors, as they navigate the specific organisational context in which they operate, which external support services often find difficult to navigate.

Embedding the Specialist Liaison Officer model within an NHS Trust-wide approach to addressing sexual misconduct will enable the organisation to:

• appropriately respond to staff who have experienced sexual violence, harassment or abuse;
• allow staff to raise concerns about Inappropriate behaviours and attitudes of colleagues in a trusted space;
• be assured of the consistency of the response to sexual misconduct, ensuring effective identification, management and escalation of individual risks and needs, and the ability to retain clear oversight of levels of organisational risk and risk to the public;
• encourage reporting through the provision of confidential, trauma-informed support; and
• gather information around sexual misconduct, which may will enable early intervention where necessary to prevent escalation.

Reinforcing Zero Tolerance

UHNM continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering a safer culture by reinforcing its zero-tolerance approach. Most recently, the Trust utilised national media coverage around the Gregg Wallace scandal to amplify messages from its Sexual Safety Working Group, highlighting its proactive stance on sexual safety and prevention of sexual misconduct.

A Model for Change

The partnership between LimeCulture and UHNM exemplifies how organisations can lead the way in creating safer, more inclusive workplaces. By embedding robust prevention strategies, trauma-informed responses, and comprehensive support systems, UHNM is setting a powerful example for the NHS and other public sector organisations to follow.

If you’d like more information about creating safer cultures within your organisation, please contact LimeCulture’s Sexual Violence Consultancy Services Team by emailing info@limeculture.co.uk or calling +44 203 633 0018.

 

 

 

Recent headlines have brought the issue of workplace culture into sharp focus, with the Gregg Wallace scandal highlighting the critical need for employing organisations to prioritise safety, respect, and accountability. Wallace, a well-known TV personality, now faces multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour in a professional setting, sparking widespread discussion about the standards we should expect in our workplaces.

The Gregg Wallace scandal, once again, reveals the urgent need for change and for employers to be held to account for prioritising the reputations of powerful individuals over the safety and well-being of others.  It serves as a stark reminder that a safe workplace culture isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for the well-being of employees and those for whom the organisation is responsible, such as volunteers or  customers.

Thankfully the new employment legislation – the Worker Protection Act 2023 (Amendment of the Equality Act 2012 – which came into force just over a month ago (on 27 October 2024), marks a significant shift in the legal landscape regarding sexual harassment in the workplace, requiring employers to take reasonable steps to prevent employees from experiencing sexual harassment. Employment tribunals will have the authority to increase compensation for sexual harassment by up to 25% if an employer is found to have breached their duty.

This new legislation means it is more important than ever for organisations to take steps to ensure healthy and safer cultures in their workplaces, and give employees the confidence to come forward, in the knowledge they will be heard, supported and their concerns acted upon appropriately. The Gregg Wallace scandal also provides a powerful call to action for leaders across all sectors to rethink their approach to safer cultures in the workplace.

LimeCulture believe that now is exactly the right time for organisations to drive safer cultures within their workplaces – where expectations of behaviours are clear and inappropriate behaviours, misogynistic attitudes, harassment and abuse are not tolerated, and responses are swift, fair, and embedded in an understanding of trauma – allowing the organisation and all the individuals working within it to thrive.

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Through our specialist consultancy and training services, LimeCulture can support you to create and embed a safer culture in your organisation, prioritising the protection and wellbeing of your employees, volunteers, users, and stakeholders.

We can carry out a comprehensive, independent review of your organisation against our Safer Cultures Framework. We can also work with your leadership team to identify what is needed to model and embed safer cultures, creating bespoke action plans for your organisation. We can also provide ‘safer cultures’ training for your workforce to support the prevention of and response to sexual misconduct, harassment and abuse – including awareness training for all staff; specialist support provision; and trauma-informed training for investigators and discipline panel members involved in sexual misconduct case and provide advisory services to support effective reporting processes and support mechanisms in your organisation.

 

Contact us today
Email: info@limeculture.co.uk
Web: limeculture.co.uk
Office: +44 203 633 0018