Birmingham Rape And Sexual Violence Project
Charity 508669
Overview
Summary
RSVP appears to function as a specialist, survivor-centred support hub for sexual violence across Birmingham and Solihull, combining therapeutic, practical and community-based support rather than treating counselling as a standalone intervention. Its model seems designed to reduce barriers to help for people at different stages of disclosure, including those who have not reported abuse and people facing additional displacement or language barriers. It also positions itself as a sector-capacity organisation through training and support for other voluntary bodies.
Operational geography
Coverage: Citywide
Operational areas:
- City Centre
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
City Centre
Confidence: high
RSVP's Adult Advocacy leaflet states that services are offered from Birmingham City Centre. Its 2024-25 impact report also distinguishes its city-centre site from outreach provision.
- RSVP Contact Us page
RSVP distinguishes its PO Box from its service location. - RSVP Adult Advocacy leaflet (updated November 2024)
The leaflet states that RSVP services are offered from Birmingham City Centre and a few other locations around Birmingham and Solihull. - RSVP Impact Report 2024-2025
The report records counselling delivered at RSVP premises and at outreach sites, and refers separately to waiting times at its city-centre site.
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence supports a Birmingham-and-Solihull-wide service offer, rather than a neighbourhood or single-district model: RSVP says its free services are for children and adults living in Birmingham and Solihull, and its impact report records outreach counselling, CYP counsellors placed in more Birmingham schools, telephone/webchat provision, and city-centre delivery.
- Citywide is a reasonable interpretation of RSVP's Birmingham operational identity, because it provides support across Birmingham through a mix of city-centre, outreach, school-based, telephone, webchat and online services. The evidence does not establish that every Birmingham ward hosts an RSVP service site.
- RSVP's 2024-25 report confirms active outreach delivery and school-based CYP counselling in Birmingham, but does not name the current outreach venues, schools or wards. These should not be inferred or disclosed, particularly given the safeguarding-sensitive nature of the services.
- RSVP materially works with Umbrella Sexual Health Services: its ISVAs attend Umbrella's Abuse Survivors Clinic twice monthly. The available evidence confirms the partnership supports access in Birmingham and Solihull, but does not identify a current Birmingham venue that can safely and confidently be mapped to a supplied area.
- The West Midlands Children and Young Persons Sexual Assault Service is described on RSVP's website as regional, but the available material does not demonstrate that RSVP itself delivers that regional service. It is therefore not used to classify RSVP's own footprint as regional.
Additional evidence needed
- A current RSVP service-location list, with safeguarding-appropriate confirmation of its active operational areas.
- Current partnership documentation from RSVP and Umbrella identifying the geographic area or areas served by the Abuse Survivors Clinic, if suitable to record.
- A current contract, service specification or impact report identifying the geographic catchment and delivery locations for RSVP's adult advocacy, CYP counselling and outreach services.
Areas of work
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- Other Defined Groups
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A whole-pathway rather than single-service model
The available evidence suggests RSVP’s role extends beyond therapy: it may help survivors navigate disclosure, recovery, practical advocacy and social connection through a connected support pathway.
Why it matters
This distinguishes RSVP from a counselling-only provider. Its value may lie in reducing the fragmentation survivors can experience when emotional support, reporting decisions and everyday recovery needs are handled separately.
Show evidence
“RSVP offers advocacy support whether a person has reported or not, counselling, group support, social groups, a telephone helpline and written self-help information.”
Source:Organisation“Its services are described as free, confidential, available seven days a week and open to adults and children of all genders across Birmingham and Solihull.”
Source:Organisation
Deliberate attention to uneven access to specialist support
RSVP appears to recognise that survivors’ access needs differ substantially, and may be adapting its model for groups likely to face additional barriers, including asylum seekers, refugees, children, men and people who need women-only spaces.
Why it matters
This suggests inclusion is embedded in service design rather than being limited to a general eligibility statement. It may make RSVP an important bridge where mainstream support is inaccessible or feels unsafe.
Show evidence
“The charity reports specialised counselling and group support for abused asylum seekers and refugees, outreach counselling, women-only social groups and information in community languages.”
Source:Charity Commission“RSVP supports children, adults and people of all genders, while also providing dedicated women-only spaces.”
Source:Organisation“RSVP holds a quality mark for services supporting male victims and survivors of sexual violence.”
Source:Organisation
An organisation working both with survivors and the wider support ecosystem
Training and stated support for other charities suggest RSVP may influence how sexual violence is understood and responded to beyond its direct client work.
Why it matters
Its local contribution may therefore include strengthening referral routes, survivor awareness and practice in other organisations, not only delivering its own services.
Show evidence
“The charity lists training among its activities and identifies other charities or voluntary bodies among those it helps.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its charitable purposes include education and training.”
Source:Charity Commission
- How demand, waiting times and service capacity differ across counselling, advocacy, helpline and group support.
- Which organisations refer into RSVP, receive its training or collaborate with it.
- How its sister organisation GINA relates operationally to RSVP and whether this changes access for different survivors.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or impact data showing service volumes, demographics, outcomes, waiting times and unmet demand.
- Information on referral partnerships, outreach locations, training recipients and local service coordination.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
We support children and adults of all genders affected by sexual violence/abuse. We offer: -Advocacy support whether you have reported or not -Counselling-including at outreach sites -Specialised counselling and group support for abused asylum seekers/refugees -Social groups-inc.women only ones -Telephone helpline -Written self-help info-inc. in Community languages -Training
Charity objects
TO RELIEVE THE SICKNESS AND DISTRESS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED SEXUAL ASSAULT