Month: April 2025

As we gear up for the 7th annual National ISVA Knowledge and Network Conference, we’re thrilled to unveil this year’s shortlisted nominees for the ISVA LimeLight Awards.

These awards honour the remarkable achievements of ISVAs, ISVA Managers, and ISVA Teams who go above and beyond in their unwavering support for victims and survivors of sexual violence. Their dedication, passion, and professionalism are at the heart of ISVA services across the country.

The number of nominations we received speaks volumes about the strength and impact of ISVA work nationwide. Nominations reflected powerful stories of compassion and advocacy — making the shortlisting process incredibly tough, but also incredibly inspiring.

We’re proud to announce the shortlisted nominees for the 2025 LimeLight Awards:

Award for Outstanding Achievement by an ISVA Supporting Adults

• Maria Hutchinson – Serenity SARC
• Louise Zulberg – Jewish Women’s Aid
• Sara Mann – New Pathways

The Vicky Bardsley Prize: Award for Outstanding Achievement by an ISVA Supporting Children and Young People

• Claire Johnson – Victim Support Lincolnshire’s Castle Service
• Marcia Brabbs  – Survivors UK
• Janet Chapman – Victim Support Cumbria

Inspirational ISVA Manager Award

• Becca Beresford – RASA Merseyside
• Raeesa Shaikh – Rape Crisis South London
• Gayna Williams- We Are Survivors

ISVA Service Innovation Award 

• Victim Support Lincolnshire Castle Service
• RSACC Darlington & County Durham
• The Lighthouse, London

Winners will be announced on Thursday 8th May during a special celebration at our ISVA Conference in Leamington Spa.

A huge congratulations to all the individuals, teams, and managers who have made the shortlist — and a big thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

*There are only a few places remaining for the conference — so book now to avoid disappointment

Book your place here.

In every organisation, culture begins at the top. The way senior leaders act, communicate, and make decisions has a profound impact on the values and behaviours embedded throughout the workplace. That’s why we’ve developed the Senior Leaders Workshop: Creating a Safer Culture—an interactive, three-hour session designed specifically to empower senior leadership to lead meaningful culture change.

Why a Safer Culture Matters

A safer workplace culture isn’t just a ‘nice to have’—it’s essential. When people feel safe, respected and valued, they’re more engaged, motivated, and productive. A culture that prioritises safety builds trust, professionalism, and inclusivity. It actively prevents harm, abuse, and misconduct—and ultimately helps organisations thrive.

About the Workshop

This strategic, scenario-based workshop explores the critical role senior leaders play in creating safer cultures within workplaces. Through real-life examples and collaborative discussion, leaders will examine how to embed values-led principles at a strategic level and create a culture of accountability, safety, and respect.

By focusing on leadership, governance, and accountability, this workshop supports a whole-organisation approach to culture change—helping senior leaders take meaningful steps toward long-term impact.

Workshop Objectives

Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of how to:

• Influence factors that contribute to a safe workplace culture
• Recognise and model proactive behaviours that promote safety
• Embed safer practices at the strategic level
• Develop strategic goals to drive long-term change
• Identify risks and priority areas where unsafe culture may exist
• Approach policy development collaboratively and inclusively
• Use communications to promote a culture of respect
• Challenge inappropriate behaviours and lead by example

Organisational Outcomes

By participating in this workshop, senior leaders will:

• Strengthen workplace culture through strategic goal-setting
• Build trust and confidence that harmful behaviours will not be tolerated
• Recognise the risks of inaction and the benefits of culture change
• Create a tailored action plan to embed a safe and inclusive culture
• Lay the foundation for organisation-wide workforce training

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for senior leaders with strategic oversight and the ability to influence organisational direction. It provides a vital cornerstone for broader workforce development and culture transformation.

Delivery & Booking

This training is delivered in-house, ensuring content is tailored to your organisation’s specific needs and goals.

For more information on bespoke pricing and availability, please contact us at info@limeculture.co.uk.

LimeCulture is proud to announce the creation of the Safeguarding Leaders in Sport Network, a new initiative designed to respond to a clear and growing need within the sporting sector: a dedicated, peer-led space for safeguarding professionals to connect, collaborate, and lead change.

About this Network

Over the past decade, the role of safeguarding professionals in sport has become increasingly complex. Those tasked with leadership roles involving safeguarding often operate in isolation, managing high-stakes responsibilities with limited peer support and few opportunities to reflect with others facing similar challenges.

Despite the growing recognition about the importance of safeguarding in sport, there has been a noticeable gap in structured, strategic networks that support those in leadership positions. Until now, there has not been a UK-wide community focused specifically on supporting safeguarding leaders—those responsible for shaping and delivering safeguarding strategy at an organisational or system level.

LimeCulture has worked closely with safeguarding professionals across the country and has been the exclusive training provider of the accredited Safeguarding Leaders Development Programme, delivering the innovative course to more than 130 safeguarding leaders since 2021and has consistently heard the same message – the need for a space where they can share experiences, seek advice, and strengthen their practice through collaboration.

The Safeguarding Leaders in Sport Network is our response to that need.

What Makes This Network Different?

This initiative is more than just a professional forum. It’s a strategic and supportive community built by and for safeguarding leaders. The aim is to:

• Create protected time and space for safeguarding professionals to connect with peers, away from the pressures of day-to-day work.
• Encourage the exchange of ideas, lessons learned, and emerging best practices across different parts of the sporting sector.
• Support innovation by enabling collaborative problem-solving around new and persistent safeguarding challenges.
• Promote wellbeing for safeguarding leaders, who often carry significant emotional and organisational responsibilities.

Looking Ahead

By bringing together professionals working at national or professional level with shared responsibilities and values, the Safeguarding Leaders in Sport Network is set to become a powerful driver of change and improvement across the safeguarding landscape.

We believe this network fills a long-standing gap in the sector. It recognises that safeguarding leaders are critical to creating safe, inclusive, and resilient sporting environments—and that they deserve the same level of support, connection, and development as the people they protect.

If you’d like to learn more about the Safeguarding Leaders in Sport Network or discuss how it might align with your organisation’s work, please get in touch at sport@limeculture.co.uk.

LimeCulture is delighted to announce the appointment of Kerrie Best as the Director of Sexual Violence Services at LimeCulture. Kerrie joined the LimeCulture team on 31 March 2025 and will lead and oversee our Sexual Violence Services division. In this role, she will spearhead a comprehensive range of consultancy and bespoke training initiatives aimed at preventing and responding to sexual violence. She will also oversee our Independent Accreditation Programmes.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Kerrie join LimeCulture as a Director. She has 17 years of dedicated experience in the sexual violence sector, so brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Kerrie is joining us at an exciting time for LimeCulture and I know she will be a fantastic addition to our team’ – Stephanie Reardon, CEO of LimeCulture.

Prior to joining LimeCulture, Kerrie was employed as the Head of Service Delivery at West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, where she was responsible for overseeing services provided by a multidisciplinary team comprising Therapists, Educators, Independent Sexual Violence Advocates, and Social Workers.​

Kerrie is a qualified counsellor and trainer who has held various leadership, consultancy, and learning and development roles across corporate, regulatory, academic, and third sector organisations. Her accomplishments include developing accredited qualifications and bespoke development programmes, such as Sexual Violence Practitioner qualifications and a Leadership Development Programme for ISVA Managers. Additionally, she has contributed to academia by creating undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Domestic Abuse, Human Rights, and Sexual Violence at the University of Worcester.​

Combining her therapeutic and change management skills with her specialised experience in supporting individuals affected by sexual harassment and abuse, Kerrie is committed to empowering both individuals and organisations to implement meaningful change.​

Kerrie’s academic credentials include a Postgraduate Certificate in Adult Learning and a Master’s in Education. She is also a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, reflecting her dedication to excellence in education and training.​

“I am delighted to join LimeCulture at such an exciting time in their journey. The work they are doing on enabling safer cultures across multiple sectors is critical in preventing sexual abuse and harassment in all its forms and I am looking forward to playing my part in that change” – Kerrie Best, Newly-appointed Director of Sexual Violence Services, LimeCulture

We are extremely happy to welcome Kerrie to LimeCulture and look forward to the significant contribution she will make in supporting our mission to build more inclusive, safer cultures.

Kerrie can be contacted at LimeCulture via her email kerrie.best@limeculture.co.uk or info@limeculture.co.uk