General

LimeCulture is delighted to announce the Independent Accreditation Programme is now accepting applications for the 12^th wave of services seeking accreditation against the Male Survivors Partnership (MSP) Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims/Survivors of Sexual Violence.

The Wave 12 application window will close on Wednesday 4^th October 2023

The Quality Standards were developed in collaboration with commissioners, service providers and male victims/survivors, who shared their personal experiences of support and what they want and need from the services they access. Since 2018, 50 services have successfully achieved the Quality Mark through completing the independent accreditation process.

The Independent Accreditation Programme allows organisations to benchmark the quality of their provision for male victims/survivors of sexual violence against nationally recognised Quality Standards, giving themselves, their clients and commissioners confidence in the services they deliver.

Imran Manzoor, Head of Service at Breaking the Silence said:

 “In achieving the Quality Standards our service saw a thorough and wholesale improvement in the management and delivery of our service. We have received legitimacy from mainstream bodies and a surge in referrals since achieving the Quality Mark.

Our systems, procedures, and our practice, are now better serving the needs of service users, with greater transparency and a sense of ownership for the black and Asian male survivors who benefit from our programme. Our policies are significantly improved and better able to remain cognisant of legislation.

Working with LimeCulture was a joy, and although the endeavour was a challenge, they remained supportive throughout.”

Zoe Kukan, Accreditation Manager at LimeCulture said:

“It’s a real privilege to work alongside services as they seek to achieve their Quality Mark, and to explore the different approaches they adopt to meeting the Quality Standards in a
way that is most meaningful for them. I am constantly impressed by services’ motivation and dedication to providing the best possible support for their male clients; it is always lovely to
deliver the news that a service has been accredited, and to see their pride upon receiving this news”.

Gary Pleece, CEO of the Male Survivors Partnership, said:

“The vision for Male Survivors Partnership when it set out to develop the Quality Standards is the same now as it was then: so that commissioners and front-line service providers can deliver the best possible support to male victims/survivors.

We know that males face immense barriers to disclosing sexual violence and accessing support, not least due to embedded gender narratives and a lack of specialist services for male victims/survivors across England and Wales.

The Quality Standards are there for reassurance for male survivors that they will receive the best possible quality assured support and we are delighted to work in partnership with LimeCulture to deliver this. We are pleased that a new wave has now opened for the Standards and we urge front line service providers working with male victims/survivors to apply.”

To apply

E-mail us at accreditation@limeculture.co.uk by 4 October 2023  to express your interest in Wave 12 or to request a tailored quotation. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can find more information about the Accreditation Programme, costs, and our Terms and Conditions here. Please note, services enrolling will need to be available for an online, half-day Accreditation Workshop on Wednesday 18 October 2023.

 

We are looking for an exceptional individual to join our busy team at LimeCulture.

The key responsibility of the Administrator will be to provide support to the various divisions of Safeguarding Services, Sexual Violence Services and Operations.

Due to expansion, we are looking to recruit a part-time Administrator to work 25 to 30 hours per week between Monday to Friday. The working pattern is flexible to accommodate individual and business needs.The Administrator role is home-based with very occasional travel.

To apply, please send a covering letter and CV to info@limeculture.co.uk with the subject line “Administrator”, by 23.59 on Monday 28 August 2023. Interviews will be scheduled to take place in the week commencing 11 September 2023.If you would like an informal chat with us before applying, please get in touch with our Business Manager, Emma Cox by emailing emma.cox@limeculture.co.uk

Studies have shown that people from underrepresented backgrounds are less likely to apply for roles where they don’t match the job description criteria exactly. If you are excited about this role and think that you have what it takes, but your experience doesn’t align 100%, we still want to hear from you and would encourage you to apply.

We value diverse perspectives and the contribution every one of our people makes to our culture. Put simply – you can be yourself here!

Please see our  Administrator Job Description and Person Specification PDF 

LimeCulture in 2023 is not the same organisation that was launched back in 2011. We have grown significantly; the demand for our training and consultancy services has increased year-on-year, and we’ve expanded into new sectors.

Back in 2011, when LimeCulture was launched, there was not the focus on our area work that there is today. There was not the same level of scrutiny on organisations and their duty to safeguard or protect people from violence and abuse as there is now. Thankfully, things have begun to change, and more organisations and other sectors are beginning to recognise they too need to do more to safeguard, protect and respond more appropriately to victims and survivors.

For LimeCulture, this step change has meant that our client base is bigger and more diverse. Along with the specialist sexual violence support sector – who we’ve always worked alongside and continue to champion – we now also work extensively to support universities, schools and colleges, as well as sporting organisations, police forces and other organisations who realise they must to do more in this importance space.

In order to respond to the needs of a more diverse client base, we have expanded our work force; we’ve recruited new talent as well as developing and promoting our people so that LimeCulture can do more.

We’ve always known that LimeCulture’s success comes through our people and their passion, focus and dedication to supporting our clients’ needs. We have been lucky enough to build and grow a truly dedicated and talented team, who work incredibly hard to deliver our work to the highest possible standards. But we have also been aware that organisational growth can come at a cost, with people becoming tired and quality overlooked.

So, as we grow, we’ve been determined to make sure that our people continue to be at the heart of our organisation. As LimeCulture continues to evolve, we want to ensure that we all have a shared vision for LimeCulture and a common understanding of where we’re going as an organisation. We want to make sure that all our people are committed to our goals and indeed, that they are central to setting those goals for our organisation.

To help us do this, we have commissioned Manifestive, a management consultancy and strategy catalyst, to reinject passion and inspiration into our strategy and bring clarity to the role we’ll all play in our continued success – something that’s good for us and for our clients and our partners.

Stephanie Reardon, LimeCulture’s CEO said:

“It’s been absolutely brilliant to work closely with Manifestive, who’ve been astonishingly skilful in engaging our staff to think more creatively about LimeCulture’s future and what we want to achieve as an organisation.  Through a co-creation approach, Manifestive has inspired us to be confident and bold, breathing new life into our strategy, and ensuring that every member of the LimeCulture team has a shared vision for the future and a clear plan of how to achieve our ambitions”.

 

Marcus Iles, Manifestive’s CEO said:

“There are precious few opportunities to partner with an organisation with a mission like LimeCulture’s. It has been humbling to get to know the team, to experience their dedication and commitment first hand, and to help them galvanise their passion and purpose into a strategy that will continue to impact their client’s organisations – and our entire society.”

 

 

 

 

marcus@manifestive.works

www.manifestive.works

 

LimeCulture is delighted to announce that the 3rd UK-wide national SVLO Conference for those working around sexual violence in universities, Knowledge and Network, will take place on Thursday 9 November 2023 in Birmingham.

Join Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs) and Sexual Violence and Misconduct Liaison Officers (in Scotland, SVMLOs) from across the UK to share best practice in supporting students affected by sexual violence and misconduct, and discuss the challenges facing policy and practice in Higher Education.

With an ever-present and increasing focus on the responsibilities of the Higher Education sector in relation to student health, well-being and safety, this timely conference is a vital opportunity for practitioners and managers to stay up-to-date with current developments and connect with their peers.

Conversations will no doubt revolve around the incoming Office for Student’s condition of registration proposals on harassment and sexual misconduct, new regulation around freedom of speech in Higher Education and what this means in the context of sexual misconduct, and ongoing debates around the extent of universities’ duty of care to their communities of students and staff.

Our packed agenda – to be published shortly – will be informed by SVLOs and other sexual violence practitioners across the Higher Education sector, and will include sessions designed to support policy and practice in the area of sexual misconduct at university.

We’re also excited to be presenting once again our coveted LimeLight Awards, recognising the exceptional and outstanding achievements of SVLOs and SVLO services across the university sector (more below!).

Have your say

To ensure the programme is as exciting and relevant as possible, please do tell us what topics you’d like to see covered here – the survey will close at 5pm on Friday 23 June.

Secure your place

Visit our SVLO Conference page to book your place or find out more.

The conference will be relevant for trained SVLOs/SVMLOs, and any university/Higher Education professional interested or involved in the prevention of and response to sexual misconduct affecting students and staff, such as student services and wellbeing staff, those responsible for relevant conduct processes, Students’ Union officers and staff, and others.

 

 

LimeLight Award Nominations Now Open!

The LimeLight Awards offer an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the exceptional practice being delivered by professionals across the Higher Education sector in relation to sexual misconduct.

If you work with or have been supported by an inspirational SVLO/SVMLO, or are part of a great team, why not make a nomination?

There are three Award categories:

• The Saskia Jones Award for Outstanding Achievement by a SVLO/SVMLO
• The Award for Outstanding SVLO/SVMLO Team/Service
• The Award for Inspirational SVLO/SVMLO Manager/Lead

Anyone can nominate an individual or a team for a LimeLight Award – all you have to do is complete the nomination form.

Nominations must be received by 5pm on Friday 1 September 2023.

Find out more and download the LimeLight Awards nominations guidance here

 

 

 

 

LimeCulture was thrilled to host the 6^th National ISVA Conference in Leamington Spa last Thursday (11 May 2023), bringing together ISVAs from across England and Wales to share knowledge, ideas and good practice. 120 delegates were in attendance for the National Conference and included ISVAs, Managers and Commissioners from more than 35 different ISVA services. The ‘Knowledge & Network’ event was intended to provide ISVAs with the space to network with their peers, forge new relationships and reconnect with colleagues at an event dedicated to the ISVA workforce.

 

The conference was split into 5 sessions; each with a different focus relating to the work of ISVAs. In Session 1 (Knowledge Exchange), we about the programme of work completed by LimeCulture’s Holli Waterson, National ISVA Service Coordinator, as part of a project funded by the Hydrant Programme. Delegates were also able to hear from a brilliant array of speakers from 4 different ISVA Services – New Pathways, IDAS, Survivors Network and Safe Link –  who each showcased the work they are doing to meet the needs of different and diverse communities.  It is clear that ISVA services can – and are – being adapted to reach different community groups and provide flexible and innovative support solutions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Session 2, we heard about the pioneering work being done by Avon and Somerset Constabulary, CPS and Safe Link, the local ISVA Service to create new ways of working together to improve the experiences of – and outcomes for – victims/survivors. The speakers, Detective Superintendent Lisa Simpson and CEO of Safe Link, Sarah O’Leary spoke openly and honestly about the challenges they were forced to overcome in order to build professional trust and respect that now allows them to work as equal partners.

 

 

At Session 3, delegates had the privilege to hear from Lawrence Jordan, Director of Services at Marie Collins Foundation about the fast-moving landscape of technology-assisted sexual abuse, and what this might mean for ISVA services now and going forward.  This session also included input from LimeCulture’s Head of Safeguarding in Education, Maria Putz, who was able to share the learning from LimeCulture’s growing work with Schools and Colleges and how ISVA services can create and sustain strong partnerships with schools to better support children and young people.

 

 

Session 4 provided the opportunity for delegates to discuss and reflect on the changes they’ve seen in their services in recent years and share their insights and responses to emerging trends. This session focused on how ISVA services can maintain safe practice and high-quality support provision in a time of unprecedented demand.

To round off the day, we were delighted to be joined by the Rt. Hon Edward Argar, Minister of State for Victims and Sentencing to announce the winners of the LimeLight Awards  for outstanding achievements and innovation from ISVAs and ISVA services. In his keynote address, the Minister re-emphasised his commitment to the ISVA workforce and recognised how central ISVAs are to supporting victims/survivors and enabling them, if they choose, to engage in the criminal justice system.

 

 

Stephanie Reardon, LimeCulture CEO, said

‘It is always an immense privilege to spend time with ISVAs and ISVA managers and to hear about the incredible work they are doing day in, day out to support their clients. LimeCulture has always been a strong advocate for the impact of ISVAs and we are thrilled to see that this is now being increasingly recognised both locally and nationally.

At a time when the national spotlight is, rightly, firmly on how well we, as a society, support victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse, it is an important reminder of the depth of professionalism, expertise and commitment of ISVAs and the critical role they play in ensuring victims and survivors have the information and support they need. Thank you to all our speakers and delegates for making it such an exceptional day!”

 

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Download the National ISVA Conference Programme 

Explore the training available for ISVAs from LimeCulture

“This year’s award goes to someone who has demonstrated the dedication and creativity needed to ensure children and young people are supported, not just in the criminal justice process, but in relation to safety and safeguarding. This ISVA is described as regularly ‘going above and beyond the call of duty for her young clients’ and she should be celebrated as such’.

“This year’s award goes to a manager who works tirelessly to improve the ISVA service and survivors’ experiences of the criminal justice system. This manager has worked determinedly to ensure the ISVA service is inclusive and accessible to all victims and survivors of sexual violence, developing new partnerships and pathways while remaining a supportive and approachable leader to her ISVA team. This manager has been described as a great mentor who leads by example, and is always on hand to offer a ‘listening ear’ and prioritise the team’s self-care“.

 

 

LimeCulture is delighted to launch the fourth and final resource from the National ISVA Co-ordinator (NISVAC) ISVA Resources series: The Service Justice System and working with victims and survivors of sexual violence in the Armed Forces.

The resource aims to:

• Support ISVAs to understand and navigate the Service Justice System
• Provide information on internal support services and structures
• Highlight the barriers to support and reporting for victims and survivors within the Armed Forces
• Provide good practice points and additional resources to support ISVAs in their practice.

The resource has been created in collaboration with the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Lead for the newly established Defence Serious Crime Unit and Aurora New Dawn, a service specifically commissioned to provide ISVA support to victims and survivors in the Armed Forces.

Download the resource here: The Service Justice System and working with victims and survivors of sexual violence in the Armed Forces

Holli Waterson, the National ISVA Co-ordinator, said:

“From our consultation with charity professionals, support organisations, ISVA services, and academics, we know that victims and survivors within the Armed Forces often find it difficult to access external specialist sexual violence support, including support from an ISVA. With so few referrals into local ISVA services, ISVAs told us they felt unfamiliar with the Service Justice System (SJS) and lacked confidence in supporting clients from the Forces through these processes.

It is imperative that in addition to internal support options, victims and survivors of sexual violence serving in the Armed Forces can access local, independent and specialist support, and that ISVA feel skilled and confident in meeting their needs and navigating the SJS.

Our new resource aims to support ISVAs to increase their knowledge and understanding of the SJS and the additional barriers to support for service personnel to ensure ISVA support is accessible to all victims/survivors, including those who are currently serving, or have previously served in the Armed Forces.

We hope that this resource will support ISVAs in their practice and look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Serious Crime Unit to improve the response to victims and survivors of sexual violence”.

LimeCulture would like to extend a very special thank you to all who generously gave up their time to share their knowledge and experiences and contribute to the development of this resource.

About the National ISVA Co-ordinator (NISVAC) Service

The NISVAC Service was commissioned by the Hydrant Programme between September 2020 and March 2023 to support victims/survivors of sexual abuse from identified hard-to-reach, or seldom heard, groups with a pathway into support from an ISVA service and/or access to the criminal justice system, in recognition of the additional barriers they face.

NISVAC@limeculture.co.uk