At LimeCulture, we are delighted to be working in partnership with Operation Beaconport to design and deliver specialist accredited training for Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) supporting victims/survivors of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation (GBCSAE).
As part of Operation Beaconport’s commitment to ensuring victims/survivors receive appropriate support throughout the investigation process, the training is being developed to strengthen the knowledge, confidence and capability of ISVAs in this highly specialised and complex area of practice.
We are currently working at pace, with training delivery planned for 100 ISVAs throughout November.
Understanding Operation Beaconport
Operation Beaconport is a national policing operation that will review previously closed investigations into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Operation Beaconport will review cases across England and Wales where police forces or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) previously decided to take ‘no further action.’ It focuses on investigations between January 2010 and March 2025 involving two or more living suspects and at least one contact offence.
Operation Beaconport was established following evidence that, in some cases, opportunities to investigate had been missed. Initial reviews identified situations where cases had been closed prematurely, critical lines of enquiry had not been pursued, suspects had not been interviewed, or victim accounts had not been fully recorded.
A victim-centred approach
A particularly important aspect of Operation Beaconport is its commitment to a trauma-informed and consent-based approach, ensuring victims/survivors remain at the centre of decision-making.
For many victims/survivors, making decisions about engaging with a police investigation may involve navigating complex emotions, memories, risks and uncertainties. Some may be revisiting experiences they had never expected to discuss again, while others may have previously lost confidence in systems they felt had failed them.
This highlights the critical importance of specialist support.
The role of the ISVA
It is now well understood that ISVAs play a vital role in helping victims/survivors understand their options, navigate complex systems and make informed decisions about the support and pathways available to them.
However, we know from speaking to ISVAs that supporting victims/survivors of group base child sexual exploitation can present unique challenges. For example, victims/survivors may have experienced abuse over extended periods, involving multiple perpetrators or locations, alongside complex safeguarding histories, family considerations, community dynamics and significant trauma impacts. As awareness of these complexities has increased, so too has recognition of the need for specialist training to provide ISVAs with additional knowledge and skills to support victims/survivors of group-based child sexual exploitation.
For some victims/survivors, Operation Beaconport will provide the opportunity for previous cases where there has been a no further action decision to be re-investigated. It’s only right, that the victims/survivors in these cases are supported to understand what this could mean for them and what options they might have available to them.
As Stephanie Reardon, CEO of LimeCulture, explains:
Developing training that reflects practice
This morning, we discussed the training opportunity with ISVA Service Commissioners, outlining the purpose of the national training programme and the importance of ensuring the ISVA workforce is equipped to support victims/survivors of group-based child sexual exploitation.
This afternoon, we are bringing together ISVAs from across the sector for a dedicated session to directly inform the development of the training programme.
The session will explore:
- Approaches and interventions that have been effective in supporting victims/survivors of GBCSAE
- The challenges and complexities associated with this area of practice
- The knowledge, skills and confidence that are particularly important for ISVAs undertaking this work
- What practitioners believe would be most valuable to include within specialist training
The discussion will play an important role in shaping the training programme and ensuring it reflects both current practice and the lived realities of supporting victims/survivors affected by group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Grounded in real world expertise
At LimeCulture, we strongly believe that the most effective professional development programmes for ISVAs are developed with ISVAs, not simply for ISVAs.
ISVAs who have experience of working directly alongside victims/survivors bring invaluable insight into the realities of practice — including what works well, where challenges arise and where additional support, guidance and learning would be most valuable.
Listening to ISVAs helps ensure that training is relevant, practical and immediately applicable to frontline work. Just as importantly, it helps keep ISVA workforce development connected to the needs and experiences of the victims/survivors at the heart of this work.
That is why we are proud to be working alongside The Reign Collective to develop this important training for ISVAs. Their lived experience expertise will bring an essential perspective to the training programme, helping to ensure that the voice and experiences of victims and survivors remain central to the content, approach and learning.
Together, we are bringing professional expertise and lived experience into the development of training that is grounded in the realities of ISVA practice — and, ultimately, focused on improving the experience and support provided to victims and survivors.
Looking ahead
We are delighted to be working alongside Operation Beaconport on this important initiative and grateful to the commissioners, ISVAs and expert partners contributing to its development.
Ultimately, this work is about ensuring that victims and survivors of group-based child sexual exploitation receive support from ISVAs who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to respond effectively to their individual circumstances and needs.
As the programme develops and delivery begins throughout November, we look forward to sharing further updates on this important piece of work.
If you would like to find out more about our specialist training programmes for ISVAs and professionals supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence, please get in touch.
0203 633 0018
info@limeculture.co.uk
www.limeculture.co.uk
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