The recent release of the new national Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) Statutory Guidance marks a significant step forward in formalising and strengthening the ISVA role across England and Wales. Replacing the Home Office’s 2017 The role of the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor: Essential Elements document, this updated guidance reflects a deeper understanding of the diversity, complexity, and importance of the ISVA role in delivering sustainable, specialist support for victims and survivors of sexual violence.

As the UK’s leading ISVA training provider since 2011, LimeCulture welcomes this updated guidance and the continued clarity it provides for the sector. We were particularly pleased to see the emphasis placed on the professionalism of the ISVA role and the importance of robust training, which aligns closely with LimeCulture’s approach to supporting a skilled, sustainable workforce.

On the launch of the guidance Alex Davies-Jones, Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, said: “Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and Independent Sexual Violence Advisers are vital in supporting victims of domestic and sexual abuse – from helping to navigate the court process to advising on services they can access in their community….Today’s guidance will help to improve the consistency of that support.”  A message she reiterated, speaking at our most recent National Conference for ISVAs, which was held on 8  May 2025.

Over the past 13 years, we have trained more than 1000 new ISVAs and worked alongside ISVAs and ISVA managers from across the UK through our national ISVA Network, ISVA Managers Network, and Sexual Violence Commissioners Network, enabling us to stay close to the evolving challenges and realities of delivering ISVA support.

Setting the Standard: ISVA Quality Standards & Accreditation

In 2017 LimeCulture launched the Quality Standards for ISVA Services, offering a clear, practical framework for delivering high-quality, survivor-centred support. These Quality Standards were updated in 2022 to strengthen the provision for children and young people, ensuring their relevance to all aspects of the ISVA role.

The publication of the Statutory Guidance has provided a timely opportunity to reflect on how our Quality Standards—and the independent accreditation programme that accompanies them—interact with the statutory framework. Whil

e the Statutory Guidance for ISVAs establishes a baseline, it is naturally limited in what it can mandate. The Quality Standards for ISVA Services goes further: setting out what best practice looks like and enabling services to evidence their excellence and effectiveness.

What ISVAs Told Us: Survey Findings in Context

Most recently, LimeCulture undertook a national ISVA Insights Survey with responses from ISVAs and ISVA Managers across the country. Preliminary findings have been shared with ISVAs, ISVA Managers, and Commissioners for feedback ahead of the full report’s publication, ensuring the final analysis reflects the lived experiences and expert views from across the sector. While full results will be published shortly, several key themes clearly align with the priorities outlined in the Statutory Guidance

Training Gaps

LimeCulture welcomes the clear articulation within the Statutory Guidance of expectations around core ISVA training, which aligns with the structure and content of LimeCulture’s ISVA Development Programme. Our ISVA Development Programme continues to evolve in line with sector learning and emerging best practice, ensuring that ISVAs are equipped to meet the demands of this challenging and critical role.

The Statutory Guidance rightly promotes accessible, inclusive, and trauma-informed services. However, many of the respondents to our National Survey cited challenges accessing specialist Continued Professional Development (CPD) training, particularly around supporting key groups such as children and young people, male survivors, LGBTQ+ survivors, and clients with multiple or complex needs. These training gaps directly impact a service’s ability to deliver on the equity and inclusion principles outlined in the Statutory Guidance — an area LimeCulture will continue to support through our comprehensive training portfolio.

Emotional Support and Professional Boundaries

While ISVAs are not therapists, providing ‘emotional support’ is a core part of the ISVA role. While the Statutory Guidance acknowledges this complexity, it does not define what is meant by ‘emotional support’ or provide clarity on what this aspect of support should entail. Furthermore, our survey revealed ongoing tensions:

• ISVAs struggle with time pressures that make it difficult to provide effective emotional support
• Many feel unsure how to maintain boundaries when the emotional needs of clients are high
• A lack of structured space for reflection leaves practitioners vulnerable to burnout

These are not just personal well-being concerns; they affect the quality and safety of ISVA service delivery, underscoring the need for clear definitions and focused training around delivering ‘emotional support’. This will be an area that LimeCulture will be exploring in the coming months to ensure the ISVA workforce is better supported to practice safely, consistently and within the professional boundaries that underpin their role.

Caseloads and Complexity

The Statutory Guidance avoids setting maximum caseloads, instead emphasising that capacity should reflect the intensity and complexity of clients’ needs. This aligns with LimeCulture’s long-held position. In 2017, we developed the Safety and Support Assessment: a risk and needs assessment tool to help ISVAs assess the complexity of each case and put in place support plans more effectively. We will be revisiting this tool in the coming year to explore how it can better support services to balance demand with capacity.

Supervision and Self-Care

The Statutory Guidance’s recommendations around clinical supervision were strongly echoed by our survey respondents, who described:

• A need for supervision tailored to the emotional and practical demands of the ISVA role
• A lack of formalised management supervision
• Insufficient time or organisational focus on self-care and wellbeing

At LimeCulture, we believe that clinical supervision must be specific to the ISVA role and should sit alongside structured management oversight.

Crucially, this must be underpinned by an organisational culture that protects staff time for self-care, reflection, and resilience.  To support this, we have developed a specialist course for ISVAs “Self Care Essentials: Wellbeing, Resilience & Self-Care for ISVAs”  is launching shortly –  an expression of interest can be completed here.

Looking ahead, LimeCulture will be seeking to collaborate further with ISVA services to define what high-quality, role-specific clinical supervision should look like. We aim to better understand how services are currently responding to this need and how we can best support them in implementing effective, sustainable supervision models.

Multi-Agency Understanding

ISVAs consistently told us that strong connections with other professionals are essential – both for ensuring coordinated, safe support for victims and survivors, and for helping ISVAs maintain clear boundaries in their own role.

One of the most valuable aspects of the Statutory Guidance is that it provides a clear, shared reference point for other agencies—such as the police, social workers, healthcare staff and educators—to understand what an ISVA is, and what they are not. When the ISVA role is misunderstood, it can:

• Undermine the quality of multi-agency working
• Place unrealistic expectations on ISVAs
• Blur professional boundaries and create risks for staff and survivors

The Statutory Guidance offers an important opportunity to strengthen multi-agency collaboration and promote a shared understanding that supports victims, survivors, and practitioners alike.

A Note on Outcomes and Data

One area missing from the Statutory Guidance, but central to our Quality Standards, is how data and outcomes are collected and used to inform ISVA service delivery. Currently, there is no consistent dataset or outcome monitoring framework for ISVA services. Through our work with ISVA Managers and Commissioners, this has been identified as a key challenge.

LimeCulture is committed to exploring how outcome measurement and data collection can better support assurance, improvement, and accountability across ISVA services

Looking Ahead

The publication of the new ISVA Statutory Guidance is a critical moment for the sector —we believe it must be seen not as the endpoint, but as the foundation for future progress.

At LimeCulture, we will continue to:

• Provide accredited training to ISVAs, including professional development and wellbeing support
• Support excellence through our ISVA Quality Standards and independent accreditation programme
• Convene ISVAs, managers, and commissioners through our national professional networks
• Offer practical tools and research-informed guidance that reflect the reality of frontline delivery

The Statutory Guidance sets the direction. LimeCulture remains committed to providing the support, structure, and community needed to help ISVAs — and the services they work in — thrive.

Held on 8th May 2025 in Leamington Spa, the 7th National ISVA Conference brought together ISVAs from across England and Wales for another fantastic event. The day provided a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, explore key topics affecting practice, and connect with peers from across the sector.

A highlight of the conference is always the LimeLight Awards, introduced by LimeCulture in 2016 to celebrate the outstanding contributions and achievements of individual ISVAs, ISVA Teams, and ISVA Managers. These awards recognise excellence, dedication, and commitment in supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence. This year, the LimeCulture team was truly blown away by the calibre of nominations for the 2025 awards. Submissions poured in from services across the country, underscoring just how deeply excellence is valued within the ISVA profession.

Congratulations to all the winners, shortlisted nominees, and everyone who was nominated.

Your work continues to set the standard for excellence, compassion, and professionalism in supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence. Each nomination reflects the incredible impact ISVAs make every day, and we are proud to celebrate the achievements of ISVAs through the LimeLight Awards 2025. Thank you to all who took the time to nominate, and to every ISVA who continues to make a difference.

Awards were presented by Kerrie Best – LimeCulture’s new Director of Sexual Violence Services, herself a former manager of an  ISVA service. Kerrie warmly congratulated each of the shortlisted nominees … ”to be recognised in this way is a huge professional achievement. You should be incredibly proud.”

Winners of the 2025 Limelight Awards

The Award for Outstanding Achievement by an ISVA Supporting Adults 2025 went to  Sara Mann – New Pathways

Pictured Above: Amy Williams collecting the LimeLight Award on behalf of Sara Mann  – New Pathways

This Award celebrates excellent practice carried out by individual ISVAs working with adults, who have demonstrated commitment, passion and exceptional support for their adult clients.

Sara was described by the client who nominated her as “the only professional who has ever seen me as a person beyond the label as the deaf girl,” transforming this client’s experience of services from one of alienation to one of dignity and safety. Her trauma-informed support has allowed the survivor, who shared in her nomination that she was once labelled ‘problematic’ to envision a future, pursue education, and reclaim autonomy. “Being supported by her is like coming up for air, she has shown me what safe looks like and she has both saved and changed my life” wrote the nominator — a powerful testament to her life-changing work.

Congratulations to the shortlisted nominees, who were:

• Maria Hutchinson – Serenity SARC (not pictured)
• Louise Zulberg – Jewish Women’s Aid (pictured )

The recipient of the Vicky Bardsley Prize was Marcia K. Brabbs of  Survivors UK

The Vicky Bardsley Prize celebrates the achievements of an individual ISVA supporting children and young people who has demonstrated commitment, passion, and exceptional support for their young clients. This LimeLight Award is dedicated to Vicky Bardsley, an accredited ISVA who supported children and young people  in Birmingham and Solihull through the Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP). Vicky sadly passed away in 2015 following a battle with cancer, leaving behind her family, friends, dedicated colleagues, and a lasting legacy through the lives she touched.

Marcia received multiple heartfelt submissions recognising exceptional compassion, professionalism, and impact. Described as ‘second to none‘, this ISVA is admired not only by colleagues within her own service but also by professionals across the wider sector.  She is praised by her clients for making them feel ‘seen, heard, and truly valued‘.  One client wrote, ‘…you are the reason I got through this and my own court case and why I am now on track and living a much better, happier life’. Marcia is a professional whose compassion, commitment, and extraordinary ability to connect with others  leaves a profound and lasting impression on the lives of the survivors she supports. 

Congratulations to the shortlisted nominees, who were:

• Claire Johnson – Victim Support Lincolnshire- The Castle Service (left)
• Janet Chapman  – Victim Support Cumbria (right)

The award for inspirational ISVA Manager 2025 went to Gayna Williams – We Are Survivors

This LimeLight Award seeks to recognise and reward an ISVA Manager who has taken a fresh approach to leading, developing and managing an ISVA Service or Team.

Gayna exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose and compassion. She is recognised for empowering her team and fostering a culture of trust, growth, and resilience. Through relentless advocacy and hands-on support in complex cases, she sets a remarkable standard for leadership in the ISVA field. Under her care, the team has achieved measurable success in supporting male survivors, while her investment in staff and strong community partnerships ensures both clients and colleagues receive the gold-standard support they deserve.

Congratulations to the shortlisted nominees, who were:

• Becca Beresford – RASA Merseyside (pictured)
• Rebecca Shaikh – Rape Crisis South London (not pictured)

The 2025 Service Innovation Award went to Victim Support –  Lincolnshire, The Castle Service

This LimeLight Award seeks to recognise ISVA services that have made a significant contribution to supporting their clients by developing new or innovative practice, irrespective of whether the service is new and emerging or established and recognised.

This year’s winning service – Victim Support Lincolnshire – The Castle Service –  has demonstrated impressive growth, creativity, and client-led innovation. From developing self-care initiatives like seasonal care bags, to setting up a hygiene products bank, the team takes a truly individualised approach to support finding thoughtful, practical ways to meet clients’ diverse needs. Their collaborative, responsive approach reflects a deep understanding of their clients and a commitment to continuous improvement — all delivered with compassion, resourcefulness, heart and team spirit.

Congratulations to the shortlisted nominees, who were:

• Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (RSACC) and The Victim Care and Advice Service (Durham)  (pictured left)
• The Lighthouse, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (pictured right)

LimeCulture is delighted to announce that we have been successful in winning the contract to design and develop a package of eLearning resources for the staff and student community at  Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) 

We are currently working closely with LJMU to design bespoke training packages, created specifically for both students and staff, supporting LJMU in its commitment to create and maintain a safe, inclusive, and supportive campus environment, where harassment and sexual misconduct is not tolerated.

The eLearning content focuses on key areas such as prevention of harassment and sexual misconduct, responding to disclosures, and creating a culture of respect—aligned with the university’s values and regulatory requirements.

Importantly, this eLearning package is designed to support the university in meeting the Office for Students’ Condition of Registration E6, which will require institutions to take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct (from August 2025).

LimeCulture will be making the elearning packages available for use by other universities and higher education providers from July onwards. The content can be tailored to reflect local policies and reporting pathways, ensuring relevance and impact across different institutional settings.

“At LimeCulture, we’re extremely proud of the work we’ve undertaken with over 85 universities to address sexual misconduct and strengthen institutional responses. We are absolutely delighted to be working closely with LJMU to develop eLearning tailored for their student and staff communities. This collaboration offers a fantastic opportunity to apply our specialist expertise in sexual misconduct to create high-quality, impactful training designed to engage large numbers of students and staff. We’re excited that our work with LJMU can act as a catalyst to support other universities in delivering consistent, meaningful messages that help create safer, more respectful campus cultures.”

Next Steps

If your institution is interested in purchasing our eLearning packages, we’d love to hear from you! Interested Universities and HEIs are invited to express an interest by completing this form  https://forms.gle/aSrPjA9rqx4yMKEp9 or emailing info@limeculture.co.uk. Once an expression of interest has been received, we will make contact with you to explore next steps.

#UniversityTraining #SaferCultures #OfSCompliance  #SexualHarassmentPrevention #HigherEd #ConditionE6 #SexualMisconduct 

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

Since their inception, the Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims/Survivors of Sexual Violence have been a cornerstone in ensuring high-quality, consistent, and effective support for male victims/survivors. Initially developed by LimeCulture in 2016/17 through extensive consultation with male victims/survivors and professionals in the field, these standards have played a vital role in shaping service provision across the sector.

A Legacy of Innovation and Excellence

In January 2018, the Male Survivors Partnership (MSP) officially launched the Quality Standards at an event at the House of Lords, hosted by Baroness Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales. Recognised as groundbreaking, these standards provided a crucial framework for services dedicated to supporting male victims/survivors. To further reinforce these Quality Standards, LimeCulture developed the Independent Accreditation Programme (IAP), ensuring that services adhering to these standards receive thorough assessment and recognition.

Through workshops, evidence reviews, feedback analysis, action planning, and group interviews with service leaders and staff, the IAP has maintained an objective and rigorous accreditation process. Accredited services are awarded a Quality Mark by LimeCulture, ensuring ongoing compliance with the highest standards of care and support. LimeCulture’s independence from the services it accredits has been instrumental in preserving the credibility and objectivity of this programme.

A New Chapter:  Ownership of the Quality Standards Transfers to LimeCulture

With the closure of the Male Survivors Partnership as a formal legal entity in February 2025, questions emerged about the future of the Quality Standards and the Independent Accreditation Programme. Following consultation with MSP’s member organisations, the ownership of the Quality Standards moved to LimeCulture—a transition formally approved by the LimeCulture Board on 11 February 2025.

With the transfer of the ownership of the Quality Standard to us, LimeCulture is delighted to be continuing this journey. It is with a great sense of purpose that we present the newly rebranded Quality Standards and reaffirm our dedication to ensuring the availability of highquality support, where male victims/survivors feel supported, respected, and empowered to heal.

This transition marks a renewed commitment to ensuring that the Quality Standards remain relevant, effective, and reflective of best practices in supporting male victims/survivors. LimeCulture will continue to lead the Independent Accreditation Programme, reinforcing its mission to uphold excellence in service provision and awarding the Quality Mark to services that meet these rigorous criteria.

Our Vision for the Future

To mark this transition, we invite you to download the newly rebranded Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims/Survivors of Sexual Violence (2025). This updated version reinforces our dedication to continuous improvement, sector collaboration, and maintaining the highest standards of care for male victims/survivors.

These rebranded Quality Standards continue to reflect the voices of male victims/survivors, the expertise of practitioners, and the services who contributed to their initial development by recognising that male victims/survivors face unique barriers to disclosure and recovery.

However, as our understanding grows, and our practices evolve, so too must the Quality Standards that guide the services committed to supporting males. As we move forward, we invite service providers, policymakers, and commissioners to join us in championing these Quality Standards and together we must ensure that they continue to reflect the latest best practices in supporting male victims/survivors.

 

For more information about the Quality Standards or to enquire about joining the Independent Accreditation Programme, please do not hesitate to contact us

Web: www.limeculture.co.uk

Email: accreditation@limeculture.co.uk

Office: +44 203 633 0018

 

At LimeCulture, we believe that embedding safer cultures within universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is essential for creating environments where students and staff can thrive. A culture where expectations of behaviour are clear, inappropriate conduct is not tolerated, and responses to misconduct are swift, fair, and trauma-informed is no longer optional—it’s an expectation of any responsible institution. Most recently requirements have been explicit in the Office for Students (OfS) registration Condition E6: Harassment and Sexual Misconduct and in the Worker Protection Act  (2023) which places the responsibility on all employers to prevent sexual harassment of all employees including by third parties.

Expression of Interest Now Open

Following a fantastic consultation workshop with representatives from more than 20 institutions, we are now inviting universities and HEIs to express their interest in purchasing our new online training designed specifically for university staff and/or students.

Our eLearning training packages, set to launch in July 2025, will provide essential knowledge and tools to support universities/HEI  to more effectively prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct.

Why This Matters

Trust in an institution’s culture—and its response when incidents occur—directly influences whether people feel safe to challenge inappropriate behaviours, report misconduct, and seek support. Institutions that prioritise safer cultures will create trust and accountability across their communities.

What the eLearning Offers

LimeCulture’s new online training will be informed by our extensive experience in preventing and responding to sexual misconduct and supporting HEIs in tackling these issues.

LimeCulture’s online training has been designed to:

✅ Deliver credible, meaningful content tailored for large student and staff cohorts
✅ Engage and empower participants with interactive materials designed by leading experts in tackling sexual misconduct
✅ Equip your community to prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct effectively
✅ Align with your institution’s wider initiatives to create a safer culture including steps to address employers responsibility under the new Worker Protection Act (2023) duty
✅ Fully comply with the new Office for Students (OfS) E6 regulations

Next Steps

If your institution is interested in purchasing our eLearning packages, we’d love to hear from you! Interested Universities and HEIs are invited to express an interest by completing this form  https://forms.gle/aSrPjA9rqx4yMKEp9 or emailing info@limeculture.co.uk. Once an expression of interest has been received, we will make contact with you to explore next steps.

#UniversityTraining #SaferCultures #OfSCompliance  #SexualHarassmentPrevention #HigherEdLeadership

At LimeCulture, we are committed to improving responses to sexual misconduct and ensuring that organisations are equipped to handle these sensitive cases with care, fairness, and confidence. Following our recent work with a range of organisations to create safer cultures, we have identified a critical gap in HR professionals’ confidence when managing sexual misconduct cases. In response, and through direct consultation with HR advisers, we have developed a new, dedicated training course: Trauma-Informed Training for HR Advisers Handling Sexual Misconduct Cases.

Why This Course?

Through our work, it has become evident that HR professionals often feel uncertain and underprepared when dealing with sexual misconduct cases. Staff reported challenges in:

✅ Understanding the impact of trauma on reporting behaviours and memory recall
✅ Recognising and responding to trauma in both the reporting and reported party
✅ Managing cases fairly while ensuring sensitivity and minimising re-traumatisation
✅ Navigating unconscious bias and misconceptions around sexual misconduct
✅ Balancing transparency, safeguarding, and legal considerations

In response, LimeCulture worked closely with HR professionals to design a course that directly addresses these challenges.

What Does the Training Cover?

This one-day training course is designed to enhance the competence and confidence of HR professionals, providing practical strategies for handling sexual misconduct cases in a trauma-informed manner. Participants will learn how to:

✅  Apply trauma-informed principles in HR investigations and workplace proceedings
✅  Recognise the impact of trauma on behaviour, memory, and emotional responses
✅  Reduce re-traumatisation and create a safer reporting environment
✅  Identify unconscious bias and ensure fair decision-making
✅  Manage the emotional impact of handling sexual misconduct cases while promoting staff well-being

Who Is This Course For?

This training is designed for HR professionals, employee relations teams, and managers responsible for handling workplace sexual misconduct cases. No formal investigative training is required, but participants should have a foundational understanding of HR procedures and workplace conduct policies.

Delivery of Training 

This course is exclusively offered as in-house delivery, providing your organisations with a tailored learning experience

Join Us to Create Safer Cultures within your Workplaces

Sexual misconduct cases are some of the most complex and sensitive that HR professionals face. A trauma-informed approach is essential to ensuring a fair, supportive, and robust response—not just for those who report misconduct but for all parties involved.

At LimeCulture, we believe that organisations must be equipped to handle these cases with confidence and care. This course is a step towards ensuring that HR professionals have the tools and knowledge they need to respond appropriately to sexual misconduct.

Contact us

If your organisation is looking to improve its response to sexual misconduct cases, get in touch to learn more about our training options.

📩 For bespoke costs and available dates please contact us at info@limeculture.co.uk.