Becoming an ISVA: From volunteering to smashing it

What's an ISVA?

An Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) provides free support for victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse, who want to report – or are thinking about reporting – to the police. Sometimes ISVAs are also referred to as Independent Sexual Violence Advisers. Read more

How did you become an ISVA?

I became an ISVA by accident, truly.

When I was a kid, I knew I wanted to help people but beyond that I had no idea what that would look like.

I started as a volunteer on the Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre helpline for about 9 months, and I got to know one of the ISVAs. She’d chat about her day, and I found it so interesting. I’d ask her a million questions, wanting to know more about how she came into the ISVA role, and learn more about the work she did day-to-day in the criminal justice system.

Before this, I hadn’t even heard of the ISVA role, but I was curious. As my confidence on the helpline grew, I began to wonder if I could become an ISVA too. I’d ask myself, ‘Could I do it?’

If I hadn’t been a volunteer first, I’m not sure I’d have ever applied for it. I would have assumed it was far too intense or people-centred, and it would be too much for me. But after learning so much from the ISVA, it really made me envision myself doing it. And when a role finally came up, I applied for it and got the job.

What existing skills did you have?

“Are you listening or are you just waiting for your moment to speak?” Someone said this to me recently and it’s stuck with me. Being an active listener is one of the most important skills to have as an ISVA.

As a kid, I was always nervous, anxious and shy. I hardly spoke. But I was always a good listener, because despite being shy I was always taking everything in. So, the induction to being a helpline volunteer really helped with that, and I took my newfound confidence to my ISVA role.

I’m also a very organised person. I love a list, I’m good at time management, diary management, knowing what’s happening. I use a daily planner alongside my to-do list, and these are practical skills that help me in this role. ISVA manage heavy caseloads and have so many things happening at once, so you need to be able to organise and prioritise your work. Already having this skill has helped me do that part of my role well

I’m also naturally an empathetic person, I feel my own emotions deeply, and I can also feel other people’s emotions too.

What has this role taught you?

One of the biggest learning curves for me has been generally the criminal justice system.

It's so complex, there's so many acronyms and jargon, legal and law changes, operations and research projects, a constant source of activity to keep up with and understand. And once you feel confident with what you know, there’ll be another change to get your head round – but it’s part of the process.

This role has been so good for my confidence too, especially in working with survivors.

I remember starting 8 years ago, feeling nervous in my first meeting with a client, or even when I got my first caseload, I’d go into a separate room to call them because I didn't want people in the office listening to me calling them. I'd sit there for 10 minutes and go through like what I was going to say, because I wanted to get it right the first time.

Now, I don't even think about it. I feel like I've really come into my own as an ISVA. I feel lucky that all my colleagues are so, so supportive. I also started my role on the same day as another ISVA, so we were both supporting each other while we were both learning, and that really helped.

I was already so passionate about this work, and grateful to be given the opportunity to train to become an ISVA. I said to myself “I’m going to go out there and do it and smash it!”

And, not to blow my own trumpet, I feel like I am smashing it.