Galop has launched a new certificate course to transform how sexual violence professionals support LGBT+ victims and survivors, marking a significant step toward improving LGBT+ inclusive, specialist, and trauma-informed care across the sector.

LGBT+ people who experience sexual violence and abuse often face multiple barriers when accessing support, including not knowing whether their identity, relationships, or experiences will be understood and respected. LGBT+ victims and survivors often have to navigate services that are not designed with their experiences in mind; they can face gaps in specialist understanding, fears of not being believed, and even discrimination from professionals.

We want to build a future where every LGBT+ victim and survivor of sexual violence has somewhere inclusive and safe to turn to for meaningful support. That’s why we’ve developed the LGBT+ Sexual Violence Certificate course to equip sexual violence professionals with the necessary skills and specialist knowledge to fully support LGBT+ victims and survivors.

As an LGBT+ survivor of sexual violence shared:

"Being an LGBT+ survivor immediately 'others' me.  I'm not just a victim of sexual violence, I'm an LGBT+ version of that. So I feel extra defensive -will this person be ignorant, prejudiced, or judgemental? Will I first have to educate this person who is supposed to be helping me? Will they question whether I am even a 'victim' at all?"

Galop’s 2023 research into LGBT+ experiences of sexual violence found that 53% of survey respondents felt their LGBT+ identity was linked to, or the reason for, at least one instance of sexual violence they were subjected to.

An LGBT+ Specialist Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) shared:

"To deliver truly survivor-centred support requires ISVAs to have specialist LGBT+ knowledge, as LGBT+ individuals often encounter unique challenges, barriers, forms of abuse and marginalisation beyond the scope of mainstream approaches. Understanding these helps foster trust and meaningful engagement between the survivor, the ISVA, and the service."

The UK’s first LGBT+ Sexual Violence Certificate is setting a higher standard of support for LGBT+ victims and survivors. This course is designed for ISVAs and will benefit professionals working across anti-violence services, including SVLO Officers, SARC teams, SOIT officers, specialist therapeutic professionals, and IDVAs. The 4-week course combines expert-led learning with real survivor perspectives and practical tools, which learners can immediately apply to their daily work.

Jasmine O’Connor OBE, Galop’s Co-CEO, said:

“Far too many LGBT+ victims and survivors of sexual violence have felt unseen, misunderstood, or excluded from the support they need. This course will help raise standards across the sector and ensure LGBT+ victims and survivors are met with understanding, dignity, and specialist-informed care. We hope it will help organisations build safer, more inclusive services where every survivor feels believed and supported.”

The course is now open for enrolment, with sessions available for both individuals and organisations.

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