Safeguarding – UK

SEXUAL ASSAULT: MYTHS, FACTS & HELP

Wednesday 30th March 2022 – Zoom

6pm London
12pm Cayman
1pm New York

Brought to you by the Cayman Islands Government Office in the UK

Sexual Assault: Myths, Facts & Help is a Community & Connectivity Virtual Yard event presented by the Cayman Islands Government Office in the UK, which is designed to educate, empower, and connect our community with resources relating to rape or sexual assault in the UK.

The CIGO-UK will host a virtual safeguarding event on Wednesday 20 March at 12pm EST, 6pm BST in partnership with Cayman Connection as part of the Virtual Yard Meeting series.

The topic of Safeguarding will focus specifically on potential risks and dangers related to sexual assault and will include providing the Cayman Islands community overseas in the UK with resources relating to rape or sexual assault.

Dr. Tasha Ebanks Garcia of the CIGO-UK will host this meeting, with guest speakers from the UK; Sam Beckett from Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), Stephanie Reardon of Lime Culture, Joanne Beilby, Safeguarding Manager for the North Yorkshire Police, and Emelia Spencer, National SARC and Secure Estate Director for Mountain Healthcare.

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Post Event Update

Dr Ebanks Garcia commented: “This event is very important to the Cayman Islands Government Office in the UK as we wish to inform young people about how to find information, resources and help in the event of sexual abuse, also what signs to look out for in their daily lives at university and when out with fellow students. We feel it is not only important for our students to protect themselves, and to know where to get help, but also to be able to know what to do in the event of a situation affecting their peers. I am pleased and grateful to be working with the Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) and other UK agencies to deliver this important session.”

Safeguarding areas of focus for the event will include sexual assault myths, facts, and statistics for the UK; utilising the support services of a SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre); and getting help in the UK.

Cayman Connection’s Executive Director Kate Kandiah added: “This is such an important topic for Caymanian students who are living and studying at university far from home. The Cayman Connection Virtual Yard Meetings are held twice a month and are an opportunity for Caymanians overseas to come together to discuss topics of interest. Once a month we collaborate with partners and sponsors to delve deeper into important topics that can help the network, and we are so pleased to be offering this session with the CIGO-UK. These events are free with a pre-registration, and we encourage all interested in this topic, those studying overseas and parents of those living overseas to please register for the event and join us to learn more.”

This meeting includes adult content and is open is for all members (parental advisory). University students in particular are encouraged to attend.

Sam Beckett

Project Lead at Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS)

Sam joined IDAS over 11 years ago working in the Women’s Refuge within North Yorkshire. She was then successful in an opportunity to become and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA), working with and supporting people who have experienced sexual violence. Sam is passionate about supporting people who have experienced sexual violence. Sam has dedicated her career to helping people to heal, and supporting them to find their voice in order to move forward in their own way.

During her role as an ISVA, Sam assisted with the development and successful implementation of the SARC service in North Yorkshire. Sam works across different agencies including the Police, Sexual Health services and Social Care in order to safeguard and protect individuals. Sam works to support victims in the criminal justice system and provides specialist support at court.

Dr Tasha Ebanks Garcia

Cayman Islands Representative to the UK

The Cayman Islands Government Office UK (CIGO-UK) is based in London and serves numerous functions to advance the interests of the Government and people of the Cayman Islands. These include representational duties such as facilitating interactions with elected leaders via Cayman’s All Party Parliamentary Group, and representing the Cayman Islands within the UK Overseas Territories Association; promoting investment in the Cayman Islands; fostering understanding of Cayman’s unique economy, heritage and culture; aiding CIG Ministries with external affairs in the UK, and providing services to Caymanians overseas (primarily students).

Joanne Beilby

Safeguarding Manager – North Yorkshire Police

Joanne joins us from the North Yorkshire Police to talk about her role as Safeguarding Manager, and to outline Police procedures when a sexual assault is reported to the Police in the UK. Joanne will be on hand to answer questions about police procedures and reporting sexual violence in the UK.

Stephanie Reardon

Chief Executive, LimeCulture

Stephanie Reardon is the Chief Executive of LimeCulture, a national sexual violence and safeguarding organisation based in the UK. Stephanie is responsible for overseeing the full range of training and consultancy services delivered by the organisation. LimeCulture works with a range of organisations across multiple sectors, including the specialist sexual violence sector, universities, schools and colleges, sports, police forces.

Emelia Spencer

National SARC & Secure Estate Director – Mountain Healthcare

Emelia Spencer is Mountain Healthcare’s National SARC and Secure Estate Director, with a passion for making a difference to patient care and experiences, along with a passion for being a great role model for Nurses and promoting the role.

After qualifying in 2003 as a Community Staff Nurse, with the drive to move forward, Emelia decided to push forward by undertaking in further education. Working in roles that utilised new skills and during that time advanced them again, by taking the opportunities given to experience specialist roles, then management.

In more recent years Emelia has further developed her leadership and management ability to enhance her skill set and focus on a career in senior management. Business development, business tendering, contract management and senior leadership responsibilities are now part of her day to day role with a focus on patient quality and gold standard service delivery, partnered with staff engagement, career development and looking after staff to ensure they can deliver the best services they can.

Safeguarding is for everyone

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted or know someone who has, no matter who you are…. There is support out there for you. Or if you simply want to find out more then why not join our next virtual yard event to find out what options and support there is.

If someone gets really drunk, it’s their own fault if they end up getting raped…

This is a MYTH. People have the right to drink alcohol if they want to. If you are incapacitated through alcohol or drugs, this affects your ability to give consent.

Fact

More than 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men have experienced rape or sexual assault as adults in England and Wales. That means there are nearly 5 million women in England and Wales who have experienced at least one of these offences in adulthood alone.