Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales @ciarabergman.bsky.social · Aug 15

Exactly this - thank you Purna

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Purna @purnasen.bsky.social · Aug 15

There’s no chance of measuring or addressing #vawg properly this way.
Narrowing the scope of the #strategy may make it easier for government but it won’t deliver on the pledge to #women to halve VAWG.
🙏🏽 to @ciarabergman.bsky.social
Andrea @evawuk.bsky.social
& #survivor -advocates for speaking

1 1 2

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Welsh Women's Aid @welshwomensaid.org.uk · Jul 17

The UK Government has today announced that £53 million will be allocated over the next 4 years towards addressing domestic abuse perpetrators that ‘pose the highest risk’.

welshwomensaid.org.uk/news/stateme...

Statement on UK Government Funding Announcement : Welsh Women's Aid

The UK Government has today announced that £53 million will be allocated over the next 4 years towards addressing domestic abuse perpetrators that ‘pose the highest risk’. Welsh Women’s Aid are concer...

welshwomensaid.org.uk

1 3 1

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland @rapecrisistn.bsky.social · Jul 8

We support and feel that it is important to share Rape Crisis England and Wales
position on self-swab kits.

Survivors deserve specialist, safe, and trauma-informed care, not kits that risk offering false hope.

Read our full statement rctn.org.uk/self-swab-ki...
#SupportSurvivors

1 3

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

The Eddystone Trust @theeddystonetrust.bsky.social · Jul 1

Last week, we saw a statement from Rape Crisis England & Wales about the growing use of self-swab rape kits, alongside further information from our colleagues at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Devon Sexual Health.

eddystone.org.uk/blogs/news-f...

When Support Matters Most: Why Self-Swab ‘Rape Kits’ Aren’t the Answer

At The Eddystone Trust, we work with people across the South West who are affected by sexual health inequalities and trauma, and we want to say this loud and clear: if you’ve experienced rape or sexua...

eddystone.org.uk

1 2 1

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

The Bristol Cable @thebristolcable.bsky.social · Feb 1

📰 Have a read of our report on Bristol's new self-administered rape test kits.

Are self-swab kits ‘the start of the end of sexual violence’, or could they cause more harm than good?

Article by @laurabutler.bsky.social.

Laura Butler @laurabutler.bsky.social · Jan 31

Big day for me - my first article with @thebristolcable.bsky.social on self swab rape kits at Bristol uni from a company called Enough. I’m hoping it will help to quell the misinformation and show users the limitations, ultimately helping survivors of rape.

thebristolcable.org/2025/01/self...

Self-swab test kits: do they help rape & sexual violence survivors?

Thousands of self-swab rape test kits have been distributed across Bristol. Are they helping survivors of sexual violence get justice?

thebristolcable.org

2 5

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Carceral Abolition @carceralabolition.bsky.social · Feb 13

UK - Self-swab DNA testing could put rape survivors "at risk", experts say, w a lawyer adding he is "horrified" kits are being given out to students.

The kits allow ppl to take a swab at home & get it tested for the DNA of an alleged perpetrator & have the results stored www.bbc.com/news/article...

DIY testing could put rape survivors 'at risk', experts say

Forensic and legal experts say self-swab DNA kits are unlikely to be allowed as evidence in court.

www.bbc.com

2 2

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

News Feed @news-feed.bsky.social · Jun 21

@Independent: Self-swab ‘rape kits’ being marketed at students a ‘serious concern’ https://t.co/lu53wzYzYO

Main link in OG tweet

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/self-swab-kits-students-university-b2773086.html?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1750494606

www.independent.co.uk

1 1

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Sonia Sodha @sonia-sodha.bsky.social · Jan 5

Argh just realised wrong link attached to that- here it is

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Observer view on calls for a national inquiry into child sexual abuse

The government’s most urgent priority is not to launch another review but to develop a societal strategy to tackle the crime

www.theguardian.com

1 5 8

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Katie Kempen @katiekempenvs.bsky.social · Dec 23

Proud to stand with sector colleagues today to stand up for victims and funding of services. Full letter here: rapecrisis.org.uk/news/joint-l...

Letter to Prime Minister outlining impact of national insurance increases and cut in funding on victims.

4 7

Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales @ciarabergman.bsky.social · Dec 23

Rape Crisis England & Wales, Victim Support, Welsh Women’s Aid, Imkaan and Women’s Aid Federation England have jointly written to the Prime Minister - the survival of victim and survivor services is essential:

Katie Kempen @katiekempenvs.bsky.social · Dec 23

Proud to stand with sector colleagues today to stand up for victims and funding of services. Full letter here: rapecrisis.org.uk/news/joint-l...

3 3

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Katie Kempen @katiekempenvs.bsky.social · Dec 16

Such an important article - thanks so much to the Victims’ Commissioner.

tomcrackers @tomcrackers.bsky.social · Dec 16

Victim services are the backbone of our justice system, but the latest funding cuts risks pushing them to breaking point.

Organisations tell the Victims' Commissioner they’ll be forced to cut staff and frontline support. This will harm victims and undermine justice—when we can least afford it 👇

A newspaper article with the headline: "Victim groups ‘being pushed to staff cuts’." Baroness Helen Newlove warns that frozen budgets and rising caseloads are forcing victim support services to do more with less, risking staff cuts. She highlights the lack of funding for critical services, while charities face increased costs. The article notes Baroness Newlove’s advocacy following her husband Garry’s murder in 2007. A photo of her is included with the caption: "DISAPPOINTED."

1 2

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Polly Neate @pollyneate.bsky.social · Dec 19

Absolutely get idea that exemptions can’t be made piecemeal for everyone who asks. But this is a major issue for us so I dread to think what small charities face. And it may show the sector wasn’t considered at policy stage - which would be sadly typical www.thirdsector.co.uk/mps-vote-aga...

MPs vote against charity exemptions from employer National Insurance increase

A number of amendments were tabled that would have reduced the burden of the increase on the voluntary sector but they were rejected by the House of Commons

www.thirdsector.co.uk

1 4 2

Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales @ciarabergman.bsky.social · Dec 21

How beautiful

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Katie Kempen @katiekempenvs.bsky.social · Dec 5

I spent yesterday campaigning against cuts to victims’ services. Court backlogs are longer than ever. Cutting victims’ services is not the right way to get the criminal justice system back on its feet. This decision is devastating and must be reversed.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

1 4 8

Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales @ciarabergman.bsky.social · Dec 21

We’ve seen a groundswell of support for ending rape culture & holding perps to account thx to #GiselePelicot but w/out services to support them, survivors won’t have the support they need to make disclosures in the first place & pursue criminal justice @rapecrisis.bsky.social
t.co/1VBoG3AFdR

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/women-and-girls-are-the-hidden-victims-of-starmers-broken-promises-3444215

t.co

5

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Maxime Rowson @maxirow.bsky.social · Dec 19

‘All the women on earth feel you, thank you Gisèle’ 💜

Shame must change sides.

1 2

Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales @ciarabergman.bsky.social · Dec 11

This really is a step in the right direction.

1

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Jade Blue @jadeblueldn.bsky.social · Dec 8

How many rape cases are derailed by ‘sexsomnia’ claims? The CPS doesn’t know. Despite pledge to challenge claims, they are not tracking how many cases it has dropped. Grateful to Shanti for continuing to shine a light on this topic and for the chance to contribute.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.th...

How many rape cases are derailed by ‘sexsomnia’ claims? The CPS doesn’t know

Despite pledge to challenge claims, the prosecutions agency is not tracking how many cases it has dropped

www.google.com

2 5

Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales @ciarabergman.bsky.social · Dec 5

So heartened by this solidarity, @katiekempenvs.bsky.social - together we will continue to ensure that victims voices are heard and push for them to be able to access the services they need

1 1

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Katie Kempen @katiekempenvs.bsky.social · Dec 5

Continuing our calls for the reversal of cuts to victims’ funding today. Our colleague @ciarabergman.bsky.social CEO of @rapecrisis.bsky.social has written eloquently about her worries and how victims will suffer: rapecrisis.org.uk/news/our-ceo...

1 2 6

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Katrin Hohl OBE @katrinhohl.bsky.social · Dec 5

Today, @rapecrisis.bsky.social CEO @ciarabergman.bsky.social has publicly and directly criticised the total absence of the sexual violence reduction - or any VAWG mission related mention - in the PMs milestones speech & the real term cut in victim services funding. rapecrisis.org.uk/news/our-ceo...

rapecrisis.org.uk

1 11 18

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Leigh Brimicombe @leighbrimicombe.bsky.social · Nov 29

Our estimate on the cost of employer national insurance contribution increases has made its way to the commons floor.

While increases won’t come into force until next year, charities are already having to make big decisions to prepare. Ultimately that means less services for communities in need.

Civil Society @civilsociety.bsky.social · Nov 29

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has been criticised by former civil society minister Stuart Andrew over the government’s hike in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) in a debate in parliament yesterday.

Lisa Nandy criticised by ex-charities minister over sector’s £1.4bn NICs hike

www.civilsociety.co.uk

2 3

Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales @ciarabergman.bsky.social · Dec 4

So good to see this; @samsmethers.bsky.social was fantastic on Woman’s Hour about economic abuse faced by survivors esp through banking

1

Reposted by Ciara CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales

Lloyds Bank Foundation @lbfew.bsky.social · Dec 4

We continue to support @rapecrisis.bsky.social and their wider work to influence change.

Their recent report with #SmallButVital Imkaan seeks to give voice to asylum-seeking women who have endured sexual violence and abuse.

rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed...

#16DaysOfActivism

2 2