Today, LimeCulture is delighted to launch a second resource for Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) as part of the National ISVA Co-ordinator (NISVAC) Service pilot.
The NISVAC Service has been in working in partnership with people from Gypsy, Roma and Travelling communities, professionals working with these communities, academics and ISVA services to develop a new resource to support ISVAs to better understand the unique barriers Gypsy, Roma or Traveller people may face in engaging with support, and to consider how ISVA services can be adapted to support these clients.
This resource:
- Provides a brief background of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities including issues such as discrimination, marginalisation, and hate.
- Highlights specific barriers for people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in accessing ISVA support.
- Equips ISVAs with accurate information to inform practice and provides practical suggestions to support ISVA services to become more accessible for people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
Download the resource Working with victims and survivors from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities
Holli Waterson, the National ISVA Co-ordinator, said:
“Engaging with sexual violence victims and survivors from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities can be particularly challenging due to a long history of genocide, discrimination and hate which has resulted in their exclusion from mainstream support services. Sadly, low rates of engagement with people from Travelling communities has become an unacceptable norm for many services. Given how critical specialist support is following sexual violence, access to an ISVA is vital to ensure the needs of sexual violence victims/survivors from these communities are met.
We had a fantastic response from Gypsy, Roma and Travelling communities, academics and professionals in the development of this resource, which is a testament to the shared commitment to improving support access and life outcomes for survivors of sexual violence. I would like to extend a very special thank you to all who engaged with us and shared their knowledge and experiences.
Being aware of the barriers these communities face and demonstrating sensitivity to their unique cultures and traditions is key to enabling victims/survivors of sexual violence from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to engage with ISVA services. We hope this resource supports ISVA services to do just that.”
LimeCulture will be hosting a free lunchtime briefing on Tuesday 5th April 2022 at 12noon for ISVAs to discuss the resource, hear directly from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, academics, and professionals working with Travelling communities, and share ideas on how to make ISVA services more accessible to victims/survivors.
To access the lunchtime briefing, please email holli.waterson@limeculture.co.uk. A calendar invite and zoom meeting link will follow.
About NISVAC
The NISVAC Service pilot was commissioned by Operation Hydrant in 2020 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.
The National ISVA Advice Line is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm – 0800 246 5260 or by email NISVAC@limeculture.co.uk