our story.
​GINA was established after our Founder, Lisa Thompson, discovered that her much loved grandmother, Nana Gina, was raped as a teenager & had kept this secret for nearly 70 years, only disclosing shortly before she died. Lisa named GINA after her Nana to leave a positive legacy for her & for other individuals like her. Lisa vowed that GINA would create opportunities for individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse to Grow, Inspire, Nurture and Achieve, to encourage people to believe in themselves, their resourcefulness & their potential.
There is no equivalent private specialist rape crisis organisation. GINA is the only private specialist support provider in the UK offering services to individuals who have been subjected to sexual trauma.
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Just as Lisa’s Nana Gina inspired her to do more for individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse, she hopes that you too will be inspired by GINA’s work & commit to creating a world where no one feels unable to speak out.
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how we work.
1
Our values & stance.
Explore our values & stances that guide our approach & inform our work in offering support to individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse.
3
Keeping counselling confidential.
We actively challenge requests to share counselling notes to protect the interests of the individuals we support. In accordance with Rape Crisis England & Wales' Keep Counselling Confidential Campaign, we do not routinely share counselling notes with police/CPS. Most people agree to share information as they wish to cooperate with the investigation & believe that these notes will support their case. In some instances, it does. But, in most, we know that it's used against them. We believe individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse need safe spaces to heal from trauma without fear that their private information will be shared. We will continue to be led by the wishes & best interests of the individuals we support.
2
Use of language.
No matter what anyone tells you, YOU get to choose the language you want to describe you & what you have been subjected to. Don't like the word 'survivor'? Does 'victim' feel more appropriate? Or do you not want to identify at all as any of these terms? That's okay. It can be an empowering experience choosing the language you use for yourself & it can be empowering to change that language whenever you want to.
4
Mission possible
Our vision:
A world revolving with hope & compassion to hold individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse in their truth & embrace individuals in living into their power.
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Our mission:
To step into shared power, in celebration of individuality, compassion & connection to support all subjected to sexual violence & abuse in living hopeful futures; while challenging beliefs, attitudes & systems that facilitate sexual violence & abuse.
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Our social mission:
Uniting in lived experience to enhance a compassionate, curious & tailored approach to support for individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse everywhere.
our impact.
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meet our sis: RSVP
Any surplus raised through GINA is donated to our sister charity, the Rape & Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) - Birmingham's rape crisis charity that has been supporting individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse across Birmingham & Solihull since 1978. Every penny you spend through GINA helps to fund our GINA support provision & simultaneously fund free specialist sexual violence & abuse services for individuals in our community; creating positive legacies for individuals subjected to sexual violence & abuse across throughout our community.