LimeLight ISVA Award Winners 2025

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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)

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