Events, Campaigns and Training
Northwest Sexual Violence Awareness
Monday 25th – Friday 29th November 2024 marks Northwest Sexual Violence Awareness Week.
Organisations across the Northwest have come together to raise awareness of sexual violence and the support services available to all of those impacted by this issue.
Throughout November, the University of Chester will be hosting several events, both online and in person. Take a look at our calendar of events below – the pink calendar is for in person events and the blue calendar is for online events.
If the title of an event is underlined, it’s hyperlinked, so you can click on the link and it will take you to the events details. Alternatively, scroll down to for further details of the events.
See in-person events below
Banner Making
Join us on Friday November 8th from 12:30 PM at Radiate Arts. Alongside CSASS (Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service), Radiate Arts will be hosting two workshops creating a group banner which will light up and feature in the Reclaim the Night March in the city. Participants will have the opportunity to contribute their own piece of the banner, with support and advice available. This is a safe and inclusive space where you can come and express yourself through sewing. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced sewer, everyone is welcome to join.
What to expect:
- Free hot & cold drinks, access to free materials and guidance
- We will guide you through all aspects of how to operate the sewing machines and don't worry if you've never done it before. We're here to help!
- A friendly, inclusive LGBTQ+ group of all ages
Want to come along but need more information? You can get in touch either through our social channels @RadiateArts on Facebook & Instagram, call us on 01244 267806, or email us at: alex@radiatearts.co.uk - whichever way is best for you.
Where: Radiate Arts
When: 12:30pm – 15:00pm
March to End HBA and Harmful Practices
Almost 3,000 ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) related offences are recorded each year by the police in England and Wales. Join Savera UK as we march from Williamson Square to Derby Square, rallied along by drummers, singers and speeches. Help Savera UK raise awareness and put an end to these practices for good.
Where: Liverpool City Centre, Williamson Square
When: 12:00pm – 14:00pm
Booking details: No need to book! Just turn up on the day and join in.
White Ribbon Day
Details to come…
Craft & Chat with the SVLO Service
Join the University of Chester's Sexual Violence Liaison Officer (SVLO) Service for a creative and meaningful event in support of North West Sexual Violence Awareness Week! This event offers students the chance to participate in a variety of fun and relaxing activities including:
- Mini plant pot painting
- Mug painting
- Drinking glass painting
- Badge making
- Sticker making
Alongside these activities, you'll have the opportunity to learn about sexual violence support services from specialist sexual violence professionals. Whether you're interested in raising awareness, learning about available resources or simply unwinding in a supportive environment, this event offers a welcoming space for all students and staff at the University of Chester.
Where: Chester Student’s Union
When: 10:00am – 16:00pm
Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls Tomorrow’s Women
Join Tomorrow’s Women at their Elimination of VAWG event. Hear from guest speakers and take part in workshops.
Where: Tomorrow’s Women
When: 12:00pm – 14:00pm
Booking: please email admin@tomorrowswomen.org.uk or call 0124 906494
Reclaim the Night Banner Making
Banner/Flag/Badge Making Drop-in Workshop – hosted by CSASS. Come and make your voice heard for this year’s Reclaim the Night in Chester. Empowering Women to feel safe at night in Chester.
Where: Storyhouse
When: 15:00pm – 17:00pm
Bracelet Making with the SVLO Service
Join the University of Chester's Sexual Violence Liaison Officer (SVLO) Service for a creative and meaningful event in support of Northwest Sexual Violence Awareness Week!
This event offers students a safe space to unwind, have fun and engage in meaningful conversations about sexual violence (but only if they want to). Hosted by trained professionals who specialise in supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence, the workshop provides an opportunity to connect, raise awareness and learn more about available support services in a safe environment.
The session runs all afternoon, but please feel to drop in for however long you want.
Where: Chester Students Union
When: 12:00pm – 16:00pm
Reclaim the Night March Banner Making
Come and join the University of Chester's Sexual Violence Liaison Officer (SVLO) Service to create powerful banners for the Reclaim the Night March and Vigil in support of North West Sexual Violence Awareness Week!
The original UK Reclaim the Night marches date back to 1977, when English cities marched to protest the police's response to the murder of several females. Police encouraged women not to go out at night, contributing to the victim blaming narratives society promotes.
Women organised these marches to assert their right to walk freely and safely at night without fear of violence or harassment. The event has since become a symbol of resistance against sexual violence, rape culture and inequality.
Reclaim the Night marches fight for everyone to have the right to be safe from sexual violence and harassment, without the need to hide from the dark in their own homes.
At 6:45pm we will make our way into Chester City centre to join the Reclaim the Night March, all attendees are welcome to join.
Where: Chester Students Union
When: 17:00pm– 18:45pm
Reclaim the Night March & Vigil
Join us on 29th November for our RECLAIM THE NIGHT MARCH. If you’d like to make banners beforehand in Storyhouse please gather in the Garret Bar upstairs from 3pm till 5pm (accessible by lift).
Everyone is then welcome to bring their banner and join us at 7pm to march with us to Reclaim the Night! The Reclaim the Night march will begin and end at The Cross, Watergate Street.
If, for any reason, you can’t march, someone will stay back at the cross where at 7:30pm we’ll gather back for a vigil remembering anyone who has been affected by sexual assault, especially when they were just ‘walking home’.
Where: The Cross, Watergate Street
When: 7pm
See online events below
Domestic Homicide Review Recommendations for Children's Services
Manchester Metropolitan University
In England and Wales Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) are conducted when the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by an intimate partner, ex-partner, family member or member of the same household (DVCVA, 2004). However, despite the focus on victims aged 16 or over, children under 16 can also be impacted. This can be as victims of homicide as part of their parents’ abusive relationship, or as victims from their own intimate partners. In rare cases children may also perpetrate domestic homicide. Surviving children may have witnessed homicides, ongoing abuse, or have been abused directly (Stanley et al., 2019).
Drawing on data from the HALT Study (domestichomicide-halt.co.uk) this project aimed to better understand the types of recommendations made in DHRs pertaining to children, with a specific focus on children’s services in England and Wales. This seminar will present the findings from our mixed methods analysis of 33 DHRs published between 2017 and 2019, with a specific focus on examples of good practice, areas for development and learning, and an analysis of the recommendations made in relation to children’s services.
Where: Online
When: 16:00pm – 17:00pm
Q&A with local specialist sexual violence support organisation, RASASC
Watch our Q&A session with Kirsty from RASASC, an organisation committed to supporting people who have been affected by rape or sexual abuse. Learn more about what services RASASC provide and how to access them.
RASASC services are available for anyone living in the Cheshire and Merseyside areas. If you live outside of these areas, please contact report@chester.ac.uk who can support you in finding an equivalent service in your local area.
The Q&A is available to watch now and can be viewed here.
Please note – as this video is available on YouTube, it may show in your browser history. If you believe this could put you in danger, but still wish to view the video, you can contact report@chester.ac.uk for support.
The Student Experience Podcast with CSASS and the SVLO Service
Join Shaunagh (Head of Student Experience, UoC), Kathryn (Outreach Manager, CSASS) and Katie (Sexual Violence Liaison Officer, UoC) to learn more about Northwest Sexual Violence Awareness Week and Reclaim the Night. Find out about the different events planned throughout the week, the importance of raising awareness and what support services exist for victims and survivors of sexual abuse and violence.
To listen, just search “The Student Experience Podcast” on Spotify.
Police Responses to Rape & Sexual Assault: Op. Soteria Survivor Survey
Manchester Metropolitan University
Much has been written about ways in which the police might improve the quality of investigations and engagement with victims of rape and sexual assault. This talk presents the latest findings of the largest survey of rape and sexual assault survivors experiences of police forces in England and Wales (with a total of over 5,000 survey responses in 2023-24): how survivors experienced the police investigation and interactions with the police, whether this has improved in recent years, survivors’ views on what matters to them in the way police go about their case and their communications with them, and what for them personally would be (or have been) a good outcome of the police/criminal justice process, and their perspectives on how the criminal justice system might be improved.
This talk reflects on the findings of the survey and outlines how they might be used to improve the police response to rape and other sexual offences
Where: Online
When: 16:00pm – 17:00pm
Q&A with Restitute, an organisation providing support to friends, family members, partners and loved ones of victims and survivors of sexual violence.
Watch our Q&A session with Cath from Restitute, an organisation committed to supporting the people who care for survivors of sexual or violent crime. Learn more about what services Restitute provide and how to access them.
Restitute is a UK wide organisation, so you can access their services regardless of your location.
The Q&A is available to watch now and can be viewed here.
Please note – as this video is available on YouTube, it may show in your browser history. If you believe this could put you in danger, but still wish to view the video, you can contact report@chester.ac.uk for support.
Domestic Homicide Review Recommendations for Adult Safeguarding
Manchester Metropolitan University
This seminar analyses recommendations made in domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) in England relating to adult safeguarding, focussing on those aged 66+. Focussing on older adults is crucial as recent research (Benbow et al., 2019; Bows, 2019; Bows et al., 2024; Chantler et al, 2020) illustrates the importance of domestic homicide in older age groups. The unhelpful division of terms between elder abuse and DA works to make older adults’ experiences of domestic abuse invisible (Benbow et al., 2019; Bows et al. 2024). Older adults experience both intimate-partner homicide and adult family homicide, and adult family abuse is poorly understood by professionals (Bracewell et al, 2022). The focus on older adults adds to the existing literature on domestic abuse in older victim-survivor, an often-neglected area within domestic abuse studies.
A mixed methods approach was utilised to analyse 24 DHRs spanning 2015-2018. In addition, we draw on data from the HALT Study (domestichomicide-halt.co.uk) to contextualise findings. New analysis is provided on the different types and contexts of domestic homicides involving older adults, the need for strengthened guidance regarding DA and adult safeguarding, tailored DA training and challenging ‘blind spots’ relating to ageist assumptions, the invisibility of familial abuse, a lack of service oversight where care is self-funded and limited consideration of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion issues in DHRs.
Where: Online
When: 16:00pm – 17:00pm
The Collective Safeguarding Responsibility Model: 12Cs
Manchester Metropolitan University
Domestic abuse is a complex and multi-layered issue and as such, requires a holistic, systemic multi-agency safeguarding response. The Child Safeguarding Review Panel (2022) highlighted that from their sample of reviews which they analysed they found “there was no evidence of a coordinated multi-agency response to domestic abuse”. Moreover, despite a consensus for multi-agency approach in responding to domestic abuse, Davies, Barlow and Fish (2023 p162) observe that regarding various strands of muti-agency work regarding domestic abuse, “what constitutes success/failure is often poorly defined” and that “hard rather than soft measure outcomes are often taken as more robust evidence, yet what they are evidence of is often unclear”. Domestic abuse often intersects with wider safeguarding and welfare concerns and as such, understanding the effectiveness of our multi-agency safeguarding is crucial to ensuring that our response is as robust as it can be.
The 12Cs Collective responsibility Model provides a unique, evidence-based, holistic framework that can demonstrate how safeguarding arrangements are working strategically and operationally, across and within organisations. The framework focuses on the role of practitioners and agencies in responding to safeguarding concerns but crucially, the framework incorporates understanding the perspectives of those with lived experiences of receiving safeguarding support. The 12Cs can provide both a local and national understanding of what we have in place regarding multi-agency safeguarding, how this works, whether it is effective and what action is required to improve responses going forwards.
Where: Online
When: 16:00 – 17:00
Please check this page regularly for updates. If you would like further information or help please email report@chester.ac.uk