Celebrating Pride: standing with LGBTQIA+ victim-survivors

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, as well as 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 one of our key focuses 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 putting our plan around these areas into action. We see equity and diversity, 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

“Equity, diversity and inclusion is really important to us at SARSAS, and I am incredibly proud of the work we have done and will continue to do. Our commitment is to ensure a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of their background or identity. We strive to create an inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued and supported.”

Lorri Weaving, SARSAS CEO

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