The Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims/Survivors of Sexual Violence were initially developed by LimeCulture in 2016/17 through extensive consultation with male victims/survivxors and professionals in the field.
Officially launched by the Male Survivors Partnership (MSP) in January 2018, at an event at the House of Lords hosted by Baroness Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales. The Quality Standards were recognised as being groundbreaking, serving as a crucial framework for enhancing the quality and consistency of support services for male victims/survivors.
To reinforce these Quality standards, LimeCulture established an accompanying Independent Accreditation Programme (IAP) designed to assess and recognise services that demonstrate adherence to the Quality Standards. This comprehensive quality assurance process includes workshops, a review of documentary evidence including feedback from those accessing services, action planning to address gaps, and group interviews with service leaders and staff to ensure policies are made practice.
Accredited services are awarded a Quality Mark by LimeCulture and are subject to continuous monitoring to maintain high standards. Crucially, as LimeCulture is not a membership organisation, our independence from the services seeking to gain accreditation has been seen as a key factor in ensuring objectivity and standards compliance throughout the accreditation process.
The closure of the Male Survivors Partnership as a formal legal entity in February 2025 raised questions about the future of the Quality Standards and the Independent Accreditation Programme. After consulting with the MSP’s membership organisations (who continue to collaborate and work in partnership), LimeCulture was asked to assume ownership of the Quality Standards, a decision formally approved by the LimeCulture Board on 11 February 2025
With the transfer of ownership of the Quality Standards to LimeCulture, we are committed to reinvigorating their relevance and assuring their effectiveness. Our goal is to ensure that the Quality Standards continue to reflect the latest best practices in supporting male victims/survivors, providing a robust framework that evolves with emerging insights and needs.
LimeCulture is also committed to continuing the Independent Accreditation Programme to ensure that services supporting male survivors consistently meet the highest standards and are rewarded with an objective, independent Quality Mark to reflect this achievement. 
LimeCulture hopes the rebranding of the Quality Standards demonstrates our commitment to maintaining high standards and supporting services in delivering consistent, high-quality services to support male victims/survivors.
However, we are not prepared to allow the Quality Standards to remain static. They must develop over time to reflect emerging research, societal changes, and the evolving needs of male victims/survivors. Crucially, the Quality Standards must never stifle innovation or progress, but instead must adapt to remain relevant and effective, and aligned with the latest evidence-based approaches.
Download the Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims/Survivors of Sexual Violence (2025)
As such, by maintaining a focus on continuous improvement and sector collaboration, LimeCulture is committed to upholding the integrity and impact of the Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims/Survivors of Sexual Violence. We are, therefore, committed to a comprehensive review to evolve these Quality Standards.
Go to Frequently Asked Question_- Male Quality Standards February 2022
“Pursuing independently accredited best practice quality standards is a strategic priority for Safeline. We are an inclusive organisation and want to ensure any survivor accessing our services gets the support they want and need. The Male Quality Standards (MQS) are critical to delivering that goal.
“Comparing our service against best practice standards immediately identified numerous opportunities to improve our support for male survivors. External verification that our support for male survivors meets the MQS has led to an increase in males accessing our services: they are confident that the support they will receive is high quality.
Having external experts assess your services as meeting best practice standards has created a real sense of professional pride within the charity and has helped us retain and recruit staff. Commissioners are increasingly aware of how important the MQS are in supporting male survivors and more are making it a condition of any bid for funds. Meeting the standards has helped us secure additional funds to support more male survivors.”
Neil Henderson, Chief Executive of Safeline and Founding Member of the Male Survivors Partnership
Accredited Services
The following organisations and services have successfully received accreditation through the LimeCulture Independent Accreditation Programme for the Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims / Survivors of Sexual Violence
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Accreditation due for renewal | |
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Adult Counselling Service Adult ISVA Service |
November 2025 |
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Adult Counselling Service | November 2025 |
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Sexual Assault Referral Centre | February 2026 |
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CDVT Service PARS Service |
November 2025 |
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Ask MARC Adult ISVA Service | March 2025 |
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Adult Counselling Service | March 2025 |
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First Light Swindon & Wiltshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre | May 2025 |
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Adult Counselling Service | August 2025 |
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Practical and Emotional Support Services and Counselling Services | April 2026 |
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Therapeutic Support Services | October 2026 |
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Adult Counselling Service | March 2025 |
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ASA Support Services | May 2026 |
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Adult ISVA Service | April 2026 |
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Adult Counselling Service | June 2026 |
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Adult Counselling service Adult Helpline service Adult ISVA service |
April 2025 |
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Adult ISVA service | June 2026 |
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Adult ISVA Service | November 2025 |
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Adult Counselling Service | May 2026 |
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Adult Counselling Service | June 2026 |
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Adult Counselling service | April 2025 |
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Adult Counselling Service | April 2025 |
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Adult ISVA Service Adult Therapy Service |
April 2026 |
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Adult Sexual Assault Referral Centre | February 2026 |
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STAR Counselling Service PARAGON Counselling Service |
November 2025 |
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Sexual Violence Liaison Service | May 2025 |
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Cumbria Adult ISVA service | March 2025 |
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West Yorkshire Adult ISVA service | April 2025 |
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Adult Counselling service Adult ISVA service |
April 2025 |
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