LimeCulture was excited to host the third national conference for Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs) in Birmingham on 9 November 2023, bringing together SVLOs from across the country to discuss emerging trends and challenges, share innovation and good practice, and celebrate their successes.
Stephanie Reardon, LimeCulture’s Chief Executive, said of the event, “We were absolutely delighted to welcome so many SVLOs from across the UK to our 3rd national SVLO conference and to hear from so many delegates about the incredible work they are doing to support students and staff.
“The focus we are currently seeing across the Higher Education sector to prevent and respond to cases of sexual misconduct is hugely important and we’re thrilled that the SVLO workforce is increasing in size and recognition. LimeCulture will continue to support and champion the SVLO workforce in transforming the response to sexual misconduct within universities.”
At the conference
The conference was superbly chaired by Professor Susan Lea, who opened the event with her own reflections on the evolution of the response in the UK’s Higher Education sector over the last decade, and the transformative work undertaken by SVLOs in more than 80 universities to prevent and respond to sexual violence.
During Session 1, delegates heard from Sarah Bevan from Universities UK and Jill Stevenson, Chair of AMOSSHE – The Student Services Organisation about the growing expectations of universities to respond to sexual violence and what this means for SVLO services.
In Session 2, Stephanie Reardon, LimeCulture’s Chief Executive, launched new guidance to support Higher Education Institutions to successfully develop and embed Sexual Violence Liaison Officer models. The guidance brings together the essential foundations of the role with learnings and insights from LimeCulture’s work with more than 80 HEIs, and has been developed in partnership with SVLOs, SVLO co-ordinators, and senior university leaders.
In Session 3, LimeCulture’s Head of Training, Maria Putz, considered the interaction between university sport and SVLOs within HEIs, and the very real risks posed both to individuals and to the HEIs response to sexual violence where these are not effectively integrated, and inappropriate cultures may be allowed to flourish. Maria took delegates through some of LimeCulture’s recent work in this area to safeguard and promote the wellbeing of students, volunteers and staff in university sport.
Roundtable discussions in Session 4 gave delegates the opportunity to explore with their peers the emerging trends and challenges for their institutions. Delegates shared and discussed insights and innovations from their own professional practice in tackling some of the issues relating to sexual misconduct cases.
After lunch, the focus of the conference shifted to celebrating good practice and innovation.
Speakers from the SVLO services at the University of Manchester, University of Greenwich, and University of Law showcased the work they are doing within each of their SVLO services to support both reporting and reported students and enable the wider university response to sexual violence.
PAPYRUS, the national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide, spoke to delegates about effective strategies to prevent, intervene and respond to suicide in universities as part of a wider mental health strategy.
The LimeLight Awards 2023
To close the day, Professor Susan Lea presented this year’s LimeLight Awards, established in 2016 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions and achievements of SVLOs. The nominations received this year for the LimeLight Awards were testament to the depth, breadth and quality of work going on across Higher Education to prevent and respond to sexual violence.
Professor Lea was joined by Philip Jones, the uncle of Saskia Jones, to present The Saskia Jones Award for Outstanding Achievement by an SVLO. This award is dedicated in memory of Saskia, who tragically lost her life in a terrorist attack at Fishmongers Hall in London in 2019. Saskia wanted passionately to see an improvement in the way that victims of sexual violence are treated. We were honoured to have Saskia’s mother, Michelle, join us for the conference.
The winners are:
The 2023 Saskia Jones Award for Outstanding Achievement by an SVLO
Laura Brown, University of Bristol
Laura has, alongside offering excellent support to many students, been instrumental in helping to develop the role of the SVLO across her university. She has taken responsibility for updating the university’s SVLO guidance, worked tirelessly to improve the service, deliver training to university staff, and to support her SVLO colleagues.
The 2023 LimeLight Award for Inspirational SVLO Manager
Louise Collins from the University of Chester
Louise has been the driving force behind the creation and development of the SVLO Team at Chester, working collaboratively with colleagues across the university community to create a truly integrated service offer for students.
The 2023 LimeLight Award for Outstanding SVLO Team or Service
Aberystwyth University
The SVLO Team at Aberystwyth have, together, quickly developed an exceptional service and shown incredible commitment to fostering a culture of empathy, compassion and understanding to address the needs of the survivors they support.
See all the fantastic shortlisted nominees here
Find out more about LimeCulture’s Universities work