We are setting up a new group called VOICES, and if you are a survivor of sexual violence or abuse, or represent a group that involves survivors, we would like to invite you to take part and contribute to this group.
Who are VOICES?
VOICES stands for Valuing Our Individual Communities Experience and Skills. This group involves a group of survivors (or a representative of a group) of sexual violence and abuse who live in the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland area. It was set up in 2022 to support the work of a partnership of agencies called Response to Sexual Violence (R2SV), which includes the Police, Crown Prosecution Service, and community agencies who support survivors.
What do VOICES do?
VOICES aims to hear from survivors and to represent their views in shaping the services that are delivered in the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland area. Sexual violence can be experienced by anyone, and this means that our experiences can be different from one another. VOICES seeks to highlight these different views and opinions to help shape and strengthen the way in which the R2SV partnership work to support survivors. Bi-annually, VOICES will also examine decision-making in reported cases of sexual violence and abuse to see if any lessons can be learned and identify what worked well.
What would involvement mean?
Being involved in the VOICES group would involve attending meetings, usually about four meetings each year. You may also be asked to comment on some aspect of the R2SV work in between meetings. All involvement is subject to your own availability so if you cannot attend a meeting, it is not an issue.
Where can I learn more?
If you think you might want to be involved, please email VOICES@victimfirst.org and let us know your contact details. A person from the R2SV partnership will contact you to talk further about being in the group and you can ask any questions that you might have.
