Celebrating Pride: Standing with LGBTQIA+ Victim-Survivors
At SARSAS, we are committed to supporting LGBTQIA+ people throughout the year.
Here are a few things we do here at SARSAS to show that Pride is every day:
- Attending Pride events: SARSAS is proud to participate in Pride events. This year, we will have a stall at Bristol and Taunton Pride. Make sure to come and say hi! By attending these events, we show that we listen, support, and believe all LGBTQIA+ people, providing specialist support services to anyone aged 13+ at any time in their life.
- Practitioner events: we bring practitioners across the sector together to discuss how best to support everyone. One of our events is a quarterly Trans Inclusion Best Practice sharing event covering different themes.
“A safe inclusive space where people felt able to ask questions about some challenging situations and share ideas and practice. I learnt so much and cannot wait for the next one!”
Participant from the inclusion event
You can find out more about these events here.
- Our LGBTQIA+ champion: Sid is our LGBTQIA+ champion. They ensure that SARSAS LGBTQIA+ employees, volunteers, and clients feel safe and supported. Sid has a strong understanding of how being LGBTQIA+ intersects with experiencing sexual violence and a passion for learning together about LGBTQIA+ issues.
You can read A note from our LGBTQIA+ Champion | SARSAS to learn more.
- Upcoming online support group: stay on the lookout for the relaunch of our Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex (TNBI) support group, organised by Sid, our amazing LGBTQIA+ champion. This group is for TNBI people who have experienced sexual assault or abuse at any time in their lives.
“I’m not usually someone to take part in groups, I tried group therapy, and this didn’t work. This was my last attempt – it has reinspired me. I am proud of my experiences and of being a survivor, I don’t feel shame and I want to help other people.”
TNBI group participant
- EDI (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) committee: LGBTQIA+ is a key focus identified by our EDI committee (along with anti-racism). We have been adapting policies and procedures, developing services, reviewing resources, and are already working on implementing our plan around these areas. We see equity, diversity and inclusion as an ongoing process and are always looking for ways to make our services as accessible and inclusive as possible.
You can find out more about our commitment to EDI here
We are always working to improve our service and make it as inclusive as possible, with survivor voice at the heart of everything we do.
*The TNBI group is not a replacement for our other groups which are also trans-inclusive, but an addition to these.
For more information, please contact: info@sarsas.org.uk
The latest from our news and blogs
Online Safety Act 2023: what might happen in practice? (Part 3)
In the third and final of our series of blogs looking at the Act, SARSAS comms volunteer, Toby, gives an overview of the positive impacts the Act may hopefully have, as well as some of its potential problems.
Frank’s Inspiring Art Auction for SARSAS
At SARAS, we are incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by people who go above and beyond to help us listen, believe, and support victim-survivors of sexual violence. One such person is the wonderful Frank, whose recent fundraising initiative not only surpassed expectations but also showcased the power of creativity and community spirit.
