Kim and Stephanie had worked together since 2009 as part of the Department of Health’s National Support Team for Response to Sexual Violence (NST). The aim of this elite team was to provide bespoke support to local areas to help them to improve their response to victims of sexual violence, focussing on the development and improvement of the network of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) across England. A significant part of this work involved supporting local partnerships to work together more effectively. In two years, the team visited and supported all thirty-eight police force areas across England and worked with local police and CPS, NHS organisations, specialist sexual violence voluntary and community organisations and local authorities.
By the end of the NST’s programme of work, Kim and Stephanie felt they had been given a unique insight into the local responses provided to victims of sexual violence across the country. They were keen to bring together skills and expertise in order to continue to support frontline professionals and raise the standards of support services for victims. So in 2011, they established LimeCulture Community Interest Company as a means of providing support to professionals.
Kim became involved in training and development in 1996 and regularly provides training to lawyers, forensic physicians, medics, social workers, police officers and forensic services in child and adult protection both nationally and internationally. Kim also works in Multi‐Agency settings facilitating the development of joint working protocols and arrangements in child protection, with a specific focus on child sexual harm.
Kim was one of the authors of ‘Without Consent’; a thematic review of the investigation and prosecution of rape published in 2007. In 2008 Kim was appointed as a ‘Children and Young Person’s Expert as part of a small team of experts commissioned by the Department of Health in the UK to advise upon the response to sexual violence by key agencies. During this time, Kim reviewed the paediatric and partnership response to children and young people affected by sexual violence, both acutely and historically. This included a review of commissioning structures, joint working arrangements, risk management procedures, forensic and after-care pathways.
Kim is one of the lead trainers for LimeCulture training and development initiatives. She frequently provides in-house and bespoke training to frontline professionals and their organisations, as well as teaching on our professional courses. Through her professional knowledge and expertise, Kim is able to support commissioners and service providers alike in ensuring delivery of high-quality services to meet the needs of victims of sexual violence.
Until March 2011, Stephanie was the Delivery Manager for the Department of Health’s National Support Team for Response to Sexual Violence where she supported all Police Force Areas and their partner Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) across England as part of the NST work stream to improve the provision of Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services. This gives Stephanie a unique perspective to her work and makes her ideally qualified to support the commissioning of sexual assault services. As part of that role, Stephanie commissioned, edited and published the Revised National Service Guide: A resource for developing Sexual Assault Referral Centres on behalf of the Department of Health and Home Office (2009) and Response to Sexual Violence Needs Assessment Toolkit (2011) on behalf of the Department of Health (DH) and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
The LimeCulture core team are key to the success of the organisation, and the delivery of excellent services to our customers. As a business, we take our obligations and commitment to our employees seriously and value each and every member of our team. The core team at LimeCulture is supported by a range of associates working as trainers or consultants who help us to deliver our organisational objectives.
LimeCulture Community Interest Company (CIC)
LimeCulture offers consultancy to a range of organisations including, Police and Crime Commissioners, Local Authorities, NHS organisations, Government Departments, Universities and Higher Education Institutions, private and public organisations and local service providers who want to improve the response to victims of sexual violence.
Presented by Baroness Helen Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales at the 3rd National ISVA Conference ‘Knowledge & Network' at Manchester on 28th September 2017
LimeCulture Community Interest Company (CIC) is a national sexual violence and safeguarding organisation based in the UK.
To this end, we are committed to working with professionals and services to ensure they have the tools, knowledge, skills, competence and confidence to respond effectively, professionally and safely guard the welfare of children and adults affected by sexual violence.