Month: February 2025

At LimeCulture, we have always been committed to supporting the ISVA workforce and raising awareness of the essential role they play in the lives of those affected by sexual violence.

When I worked as an ISVA, the demands and expectations were already significant, but the ISVA landscape has shifted so dramatically over the last five years that ISVAs are now facing even greater challenges.

The pressures on services have increased—demand has surged, COVID-19 has added new layers of complexity, delays in the criminal justice process have compounded the issue, and the rise of digital evidence has presented both new opportunities and challenges for investigations. Meanwhile, we are aware that funding challenges are impacting services.

While services are doing their best to navigate these challenging times, implementing innovative ways of working, embracing online and digital advances, and refining processes to make support more efficient, we are still seeing the impact of these pressures. The increase of ISVA waiting lists being put in place and the strain on the ability to provide high-quality support highlight the ongoing challenges faced by both ISVA services and clients.

Each week, I hear from ISVAs and ISVA Managers in training, accreditation, and our networks about the challenges and pressures they are facing, including the toll it takes on their wellbeing and  job satisfaction. I also hear about the impact on clients—the individuals who rely on your expertise, support, and care during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

It’s clear: the ISVA workforce is facing mounting challenges that threaten to undermine the quality of service provided to victims/survivors of sexual violence.

However, we don’t yet know to what extent these challenges are impacting and we need to know more.  It’s so important for us to hear your voices,  capture the challenges you face, ensure that the ISVA role is protected, properly funded, and able to provide the quality support that clients deserve.

As part of our ongoing commitment to ISVAs, LimeCulture has launched a National ISVA Survey. This survey will gather insights from ISVAs across the country, enabling us to better understand the challenges you’re facing and use this data to advocate for meaningful improvements in services, policies, and funding.

By sharing your experiences through this survey, you’re helping us amplify your voice on a national scale. We know that change is only possible when we unite and make our voices heard.

ISVAs are the backbone of the support system for those impacted by sexual violence. It’s time to ensure the role is sustainable, well-supported, and fully recognised for the critical work that you do.

 

– Holli Waterson, Consultancy Manager, LimeCulture

If you are an ISVA, please take the time to complete our survey—your insights are invaluable.  We want to hear from all ISVAs, no matter where you’re based or what service you work in.

Together, we can help shape a brighter, better supported, and more sustainable future for ISVA services.

Click the link to have your say: NATIONAL ISVA SURVEY

The survey will close at 23.59 on Monday 31 March 2025.

Calling All Universities and Higher Education Institutes!

At LimeCulture, we believe creating and embedding safer cultures in universities and HEIs allows your communities of students and staff to thrive. Prioritising safer cultures – where expectations of behaviour are clear; inappropriate behaviours, misogynistic attitudes, harassment and abuse are not tolerated; and responses are swift, fair and embedded in an understanding of trauma, is increasingly an inherent expectation of any effective institution.

Why this is important?

We know that trust in the institution’s culture and, in turn, trust in it’s response when something happens, gives people the confidence to challenge and report inappropriate behaviours, and victims/survivors of harassment and sexual misconduct the confidence to seek support.

In order to support universities/HEIs to create safer cultures, we’re developing new, distinct online training for staff and students. This training will be underpinned by our extensive knowledge and expertise in preventing and responding to sexual misconduct and informed by our significant experiences of supporting a wide range of universities/HEIS to tackle sexual misconduct. But we need your insights to ensure the training fully meets the needs of universities/HEIs!

Join our 1.5-hour free workshop to help shape online training that:
✅ Delivers credible, meaningful content to large student and staff cohorts

✅ Engages and empowers participants with interactive content & materials developed by leading experts in tackling sexual                  misconduct
✅ Equips your community of students and staff to prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct.

✅ Can be easily incorporated into your institution’s initiatives to tackle sexual misconduct

✅ Fully complies with the new Office for Students (OfS) E6 regulations

Your views matter!

To support the development of the online training, we would like to invite university representatives to join us for a 1.5-hour free workshop to seek your views, experience and suggestions on the development of effective online training for staff and students on harassment and sexual misconduct.

Don’t miss this opportunity to shape a safer culture within your university!

📅 Wednesday 12 March at 1.30-3pm

📍 Online via Zoom

 Our Consultation Workshop is now fully booked! 

A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to help shape our new learning packages for universities and HEIs on harassment & sexual misconduct. Your insights are invaluable!

If you didn’t get a chance to contribute but your university is interested in purchasing e-learning packages, we’d love to hear from you. If there ‘s enough demand, we’ll run another workshop to provide the opportunity for more universities to shape the training that we are developing for students and staff.

Please get in touch to register your interest by emailing info@limeculture.co.uk

LimeCulture is pleased to announce that, following consultation with the members of the Male Survivors Partnership (MSP)—which has recently closed as a formal legal entity—we have been asked to take ownership of the Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims/Survivors of Sexual Violence.

Effective immediately, LimeCulture will continue to operate the accompanying Independent Accreditation Programme to ensure that services supporting male survivors meet the highest possible standards.

To ensure their continuous improvement, we are committed to refreshing  the standards and will work closely with members of the ongoing Male Survivors Partnership collaboration and other service providers to seek funding to develop the Quality Standards to ensure they remain up to date, effective, and reflective of best practices in supporting male survivors.

We look forward to leading the next phase of development and implementation, ensuring that all male survivors receive the high-quality support they deserve.

For more information on the accreditation programme and upcoming developments, please contact accreditation@limeculture.co.uk

 

 

At LimeCulture, we are committed to ensuring that the voices of those with lived experience help shape and improve safeguarding practices. That’s why we are proud to have been commissioned by the Cricket Regulator on behalf of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to support their Learning from Lived Experiences project.

This important initiative aims to strengthen safeguarding across cricket by understanding and learning from the experiences of those who have lived experience of harm and abuse and/engaged with safeguarding services and processes.

 

As part of this work, we are issuing a Call to Share Practices to identify existing engagement practices that effectively incorporate lived experience into safeguarding and organisational learning.

Why This Matters

We recognise that those who have been directly affected by safeguarding issues have invaluable insights that can drive meaningful change. By capturing examples of good engagement practices, from within the sport sector and other sectors, so we can help shape a framework that ensures lived experiences are at the heart of safeguarding improvements within cricket and beyond.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking examples of:

• Current engagement practices that successfully involve individuals with lived experience in shaping safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Innovative approaches to listening and responding to the voices of those with lived experience.
• Challenges and solutions in embedding lived experience within organisational safeguarding strategies.
• Examples from within sport and other sectors that demonstrate best practice in this area.

How to Contribute

If you or your organisation have examples of effective engagement practices that ensure lived experiences inform safeguarding improvements, we want to hear from you! The timescales are quite tight for this project, so ideally we will aim to arrange a meeting with you during February if possible. However we will do out utmost to find a time to speak to you that is suitable to you!

To find out more, or to arrange a meeting to share your contributions, please contact info@limeculture.co.uk

The insights we gather will play a crucial role in shaping the ECB’s approach to safeguarding, ensuring that learning from lived experience is a fundamental part of its policies and practices.

LimeCulture is proud to have been invited by the prestigious rowing establishment, Leander Club, to deliver our Safer Culture Integrity Training for Athletes.

Leander Club recognise that a strong sporting culture is not solely defined by performance but by the values and behaviours that underpin it. Through delivery of our Integrity Training for Athletes, LimeCulture was able to raise awareness and equip the Leander Club athletes with the knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to inappropriate behaviours in their sport. This face-to-face, interactive training provided a vital opportunity to discuss key issues in a supportive and engaging environment.

About LimeCulture’s Safer Cultures Integrity Training for Athletes

Our ground-breaking training is suitable for sports organisations and teams of all sizes. The workshops are designed to empower athletes by promoting healthy relationships, mutual respect, and personal responsibility. Through scenario-based activities and discussions, participants explore:

• The importance of mutual respect and trust in all relationships.
• Consent, boundaries, and acceptable behaviours.
• The influence of power and popularity on relationships and team culture.
• The impact of unacceptable attitudes and behaviours on athletes, teams, and the wider community.

By engaging in these discussions, athletes learn to recognise and challenge inappropriate behaviour, effectively report concerns, and contribute to a culture of safety and respect.

What Sets LimeCulture’s Training Apart?

• Interactive and Small-Group Format – Delivered in small groups of up to 15 athletes, allows for meaningful discussions.
• Option of Single-Gender Sessions – Ensuring honest reflection and open dialogue in a safe environment.
• Engaging and Practical Approach – Using real-life scenarios to encourage active participation and practical application.
• Short, Impactful Sessions – Lasting 2 to 2.5 hours, making it accessible and effective.
• Expert Facilitators – LimeCulture trainers are subject-matter experts, with significant professional experience within the sexual violence sector.

Learning Outcomes for Athletes

By the end of the workshop, athletes will:

1. Recognise the key elements of healthy relationships within sport.
2. Understand how power dynamics shape team culture.
3. Identify and challenge inappropriate behaviours that could cause harm.
4. Contribute to a safer, more inclusive sporting environment.

The Benefits to the wider Sport/Team

Investing in this training is an investment in the well-being, cohesion, and integrity of the sport/team. By equipping athletes with the knowledge and confidence to recognise and challenge harmful behaviours, this will:

• Strengthen Team Culture – Establish clear expectations for respectful and professional behaviour.
• Strengthen Trust and Well-Being – Create a safe space where athletes feel valued, supported, and empowered.
• Reinforce Ethical Standards – Align with best practices in safeguarding and athlete welfare.
• Foster Long-Term Cultural Change – Ensure that respect and accountability become core values within the team and beyond.

Leading the Way for a Safer Sporting Future

Leader Club’s commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive sporting environment is commendable. By working with LimeCulture, they are taking a proactive approach in ensuring that all athletes understand the importance of mutual respect, consent, and accountability.

LimeCulture’s Safer Culture Integrity Training for Athletes/Participants is setting a new standard in athlete education, creating a future where every athlete can thrive in a positive, respectful, and harassment-free sporting environment.

For more information on how LimeCulture can support your team or organisation, get in touch today by emailing info@limeculture.co.uk