Swindon and Wiltshire SARC

04/09/2025

📢 Important Alert for Domestic Abuse Survivors

The UK Government will test its Emergency Alert System on Sunday, 7th September at 3:00 PM. This will trigger a loud sound and vibration on all mobile phones, even if they’re on silent.

⚠️ If you have a concealed phone for safety, this alert could reveal its presence.

You can opt out of these alerts.

Find out how here: https://www.gov.uk/alerts/opting-out

Please help share to help keep others safe.

03/09/2025

Want to work in a supportive team and help to change the lives of people affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence?

First Light have a range of amazing opportunities waiting for you.

Take a moment to explore all our latest vacancies and find the perfect fit for you.

👉 Check out our vacancies https://www.firstlight.org.uk/job-vacancies/

02/09/2025

Knowing someone is there can make all the difference.

If someone you care about is experiencing domestic abuse or has been impacted by sexual violence, your support can mean more than you know. They may not be ready to talk about it or share their experience with anyone.

Share this to let them know you're there, whenever they need you.

Here’s how you can support them:
👉 Let them know you’re there, no matter what they decide.
👉Offer options, not instructions. Try saying, “Would you like me to help you find a support service?” instead of “You need to report this.”
👉Be a consistent presence. Sometimes, just knowing someone is there can make all the difference.

When someone is experiencing abuse, it’s natural to want to help or encourage action.

But remember:
👉Survivors need to feel in control of their choices.
👉Pressuring them to leave, report, or confront the abuser can be dangerous.
👉Avoid ultimatums or deadlines , healing takes time.
👉Respect their pace. They may not be ready to talk, act, or even acknowledge what’s happening.

Your support matters. Just being there can be a lifeline.

28/08/2025

📢 Important Alert for Domestic Abuse Survivors

The UK Government will test its Emergency Alert System on Sunday, 7th September at 3:00 PM. This will trigger a loud sound and vibration on all mobile phones, even if they’re on silent.

⚠️ If you have a concealed phone for safety, this alert could reveal its presence.

You can opt out of these alerts.

Find out how here: https://www.gov.uk/alerts/opting-out

Please help share to help keep others safe.

📢 Important Alert for Domestic Abuse Survivors

The UK Government will test its Emergency Alert System on Sunday, 7th September at 3:00 PM. This will trigger a loud sound and vibration on all mobile phones, even if they’re on silent.

⚠️ If you have a concealed phone for safety, this alert could reveal its presence.

You can opt out of these alerts.

Find out how here: https://www.gov.uk/alerts/opting-out

Please help share to help keep others safe.

26/08/2025

Zara, alongside her sister Maia, is taking part in the Torbay Half Marathon and they’ve chosen to raise money for First Light.

“We chose to run the Torbay Half Marathon to raise money for First Light because it is an amazing charity that gives the best support to people in need.

The wonderful people that work for First Light have made such a tangable difference in so many people's lives, and we want to help them to help others in their time of need.”

Please join us in wishing Zara and Maia the best of luck.
Fundraisers like this allow us to provide the additional support needed by those affected by abuse.
A huge thank you to Zara and Maia for choosing First Light.

If you’d like to support their run, you can sponsor them here: https://sportsgiving.co.uk/sponsorship/entry/1533644

Run for change.
Show your support.
Help those affected by abuse.

Torbay Half Marathon & 10k
Sunday 21st September 2025

22/08/2025

13/08/2025

Standing Together for Survivors of Sexual Violence and Abuse

We have joined over 70 organisations in signing a powerful open letter to the Home Secretary, urging the UK Government to take urgent action to protect and invest in specialist sexual violence and abuse services.

These frontline services are life-saving and life-changing, supporting tens of thousands of survivors every year, many of whom never report to the police or access statutory services.
But right now, many of these services are at risk of disappearing.

This open letter is calling for:
• Long-term, inflation-adjusted funding for the R**e and Sexual Abuse Support Fund
• Urgent investment in the voluntary sector
• Recognition of the distinct needs of survivors in policy and spending decisions

Research shows the lifetime cost of sexual violence and abuse exceeds £400 billion annually. Investing in specialist support not only improves lives, it reduces long-term costs to health, justice, and social care systems.

But the human cost is even greater. People who have experienced sexual violence and abuse face barriers to education, employment, relationships, and mental health. Without support, many never get the chance to heal.

Survivors deserve more than survival. They deserve care, justice, and dignity.

If you believe in a future where every survivor is seen, heard, and supported.

Read the full letter: https://www.firstlight.org.uk/standing-together-for-survivors-of-sexual-violence-and-abuse/

Please read, like and share to show your support.

R**eCrisis England & Wales We Are Survivors. The Survivors Trust

30/07/2025

Take your first step along the stunning English Riviera and help someone take theirs toward support.

Run for change.
Show your support.
Help those affected by abuse.

The First Step Can Change Everything
🏃‍➡️ Torbay Half Marathon & 10K
📅Sunday 21st September 2025

Sign up today and help create change.
https://www.torbayhalfmarathon.co.uk/

Already taking part? Let us know in the comments or send us a message.

We’d love to hear from you.

Torbay Half Marathon & 10k

29/07/2025

At First Light, we support people of all ages and genders affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.   We welcome public discourse that highlights the prevalence of abuse, but we are deeply concerned by the framing of the recent Guardian article linking domestic abuse reports to those arrested...