Independent sexual violence advocates (ISVAs) from Birmingham took home a national award for excellence and commitment at the first LimeLight awards to acknowledge excellent practice.

The Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) ISVA team took the award in the "Exceptional ISVA Team" category, for high quality service provided through difficult circumstances and immense change. 

The team experienced the loss of a much loved colleague, Vicky Bardsley, to cancer. The ISVA service also doubled in size and greatly broadened the scope of support they provide for children, women and men who have survived sexual violence. They work closely with the Umbrella sexual health service for Birmingham and Solihull, which is run by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB).

Team member Margaretta Vauls was also nominated in the "Children and Young People’s ISVA" category (named the Vicky Bardsley Award after their colleague) for her outstanding commitment and contribution to her field of work.

The LimeLight awards are run by LimeCulture, the UK’s leading sexual violence training and development organisation. This year marks LimeCulture’s first LimeLight awards, which aim to "acknowledge the outstanding contributions and achievements of individual ISVAs, ISVA teams and ISVA managers who have demonstrated excellence, dedication and commitment to supporting victims of sexual violence through their work".

Further information on the work of RSVP, and the ISVA team can be found on the RSVP website.

For more information about Umbrella’s sexual health services, please see the Umbrella website.