Safenet Sexual Violence SERVICES Research
SAFENET
Research into the care and support for sexual assualt survivors in the West Midlands
SAFENET is the working tiltle for a comprehensive assessment of mental health needs related to sexual assault and abuse (SAA) to support multi-agency partners in the West Midlands.
Commissioned by The Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner the results will be used to step-up care and support for survivors in the region.
The multi-disciplinary team is led by Dr Grace Carter at the Centre for Healthcare and Communities, Coventry University in collaboration with Warwick University, Little Ro, and Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre. This project aims to gather valuable insights from organisations that provide SAA services in the West Midlands.
The Importance of This Research
Understanding the complex mental health challenges faced by survivors of sexual violence is crucial. This research is vital as it:
- Informs service providers of the nuanced needs of survivors, enabling tailored support.
- Facilitates a survivor-centred approach, ensuring that services are responsive and sensitive to individual experiences.
- Contributes to the body of knowledge on sexual violence and its psychological impact, which is essential for developing best practices in care.
- Empowers survivors by involving them in the creation of services that directly affect their recovery and well-being.
- Strengthens community and institutional responses to sexual violence, promoting a culture of support and recognition of the long-term effects of such traumas.
By participating in SAFENET, stakeholders and survivors alike contribute to a more informed and compassionate system of care, one that truly reflects the lived experiences of those it serves.
An Invitation To Join Us
Lived Experience Call Out
Join Our Advisory Group, VOICE and help steer our research into the services for people who have experienced sexual assault and abuse. For more information click here and jump to the VOICE section and meet the team.
Meet The Team
Eleanor Lutman-White
Researcher
I am passionate about social justice and health equity which have featured substantially across my 20-year research career. I have a particular research interest in violence and abuse across the lifespan, with considerable experience of undertaking social work research into child maltreatment and child protection.
Grace Carter
Researcher
Hi, I’m Grace and I am a researcher at Coventry University. Over the last 10 years I have been researching trauma, violence and abuse, exploring the impacts of abuse across the lifespan and understanding what is important to survivors in their healing journey. Working alongside survivors of abuse and co-producing research together is a real privilege and joy. I’m excited to see the ways in which this research project brings about change with survivors’ voices at its heart.
Lorna O'Doherty
Researcher
My name is Lorna. I am a researcher at Coventry University working across abuse, trauma and health-related research. Playing a part in bettering society’s responses to sexual violence and abuse gives my professional life great meaning. Some of the most inspiring moments on my own journey have been co-producing work with survivors of abuse and building allyship. The SAFENET project is part of our team’s commitment to responsible research – that which is conducted safely, with intention, fully engages survivor communities and generates change.
Roz Etwaria
Seeker
How do we progress to a better place in society where sexual violence remains a silent epidemic? I’m Roz, and this question haunts me. Being part of research that promotes social justice by highlighting the needs of marginalised groups and advocating for their rights makes me feel like an integral part of the necessary change towards a more equitable society. It’s all part of developing more effective, tailored support services for those with lived experience, addressing specific needs and challenges. It’s also a part of my healing journey. I am best described as a Seeker, a Pirate, a Hood Feminist, but even that can change.
Geraldine Galvaing
Advisor
Hi, my name is Geraldine and I work on participatory governance and research in the non-for-profit sector. Being passionate about social justice I have for the past 6 years been working in an advisory capacity with the Havens, a sexual assault referral centre in London, and with research funded by the NHS, the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), committed to improving services for trauma survivors by making sure their voices are heard. I’m excited for this research and its ambitions to bring about change in practices.
Isaac Ouro-Gnao
Somatic Trauma Therapist
Isaac Ouro-Gnao is a Togolese-British multidisciplinary artist, somatic trauma therapist, mental health scholar-activist, and freelance journalist. His work across dance, theatre, film, essays, and poetry, is rooted in magical realism, Africanfuturism, and indigenous African Spirituality around themes of childhood, trauma, memory, and mental health. Collaborations include Alesandra Seutin’s Vocab Dance, BFI Doc Society, Traumascapes, The Stage, The Lancet Psychiatry, and Punchdrunk.Motivations:
Survivor-centred work is vital in shifting service models from being reactive to being proactive. We can’t wait for the worse before engaging in providing care. The voices of survivors who have experienced services ranging from harmful to helpful is key in understanding our needs, and prioritising ways to address these needs for safer, sensitive, and empathetic care giving. I’m excited for this research and its ambitions to change the landscape of SAA and trauma survivorship in research.
Lorraine Harris
Survivor Activist
As a survivor’s activist, I know how crucial it is to access the right help at the right time.
For the past 10 years, I have been dedicated to supporting survivor research projects. Using my five year NHS Commissioning background, and three years spent as a Trustee for a specialist counselling service, to help shape new survivors services.
There is a whole army of survivors out here, striving to make a difference and smooth the path of recovery for those that come after them.
I feel truly empowered and privileged to be part of this incredible talented and sometimes unseen community.
VOICE
Valued Opinions and Insights in Care Evaluation
Experts By Experience
In summary, VOICE will enhance the research project’s quality, relevance, and ethical considerations, ultimately benefiting sexual assault and abuse survivors everywhere.
Authentic Insights
VOICE brings authentic insights that cannot be fully captured by researchers alone. Their personal experiences provide a unique perspective on the challenges faced by survivors of sexual assault.
Ethical Considerations
VOICE will help us identify and address ethical considerations related to the research. They understand the sensitivities involved and can guide the project to ensure survivor well-being and privacy.
Validating Research Findings
Having people with real-life lived experience as part of the project helps to ensure that the research results are held with a higher degree of validity. The input of VOICE ensures that the findings resonate with the actual experiences of survivors.
Holistic Approach
Lived experience experts contribute to a holistic approach. They can provide feedback on various aspects, including study design, data collection, analysis, and recommendations. Their involvement ensures a more comprehensive and relevant research process.
Improved Recommendations
By involving survivors, the research project can generate recommendations that are more practical and effective. Lived experience experts can highlight gaps in existing services and suggest improvements based on their firsthand knowledge.
2
3
Get Social
News & Resources
Guest House – Rumi
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
Meet them at the door laughing,
And invite them in.
Black Women Under Siege: Finding Strength Amidst Tragedy
In recent weeks, we have witnessed an overwhelming series of tragedies impacting Black women. From the horrific murder of Takayo Nembhard at Notting Hill Carnival to the brutal killings of Hillary Gardee and Zanele Hlatshwayoin South Africa, who were tragically fed to...
Silent Echoes of the Polling Booth
My election plea please feel free to shareElection’s eve draws nigh, and whilst you ponder tax,A darker truth emerges, stark and grim, a brutal fact:Sexual violence, childhood’s scars, they haunt our land,A plague upon our sisters, hearts and minds unmanned.The...
Let’s Learn Together!