Who we are

Find out more about how we are run.

Hello and welcome. We are so pleased that you have found us and that you are interested in who we are as an organisation and how we are run.

Survivors’ Network is a feminist organisation and we operate within an empowerment ethos. Part of this empowerment ethos is that we treat people as the experts in their own lives, and we also treat our staff as experts in their work. We support our staff to have autonomy over their work load and we trust them to do a good job (with the necessary checks and balances in place!). We work hard to ensure that our staff are listened to and have a say in how the organisation is run. I know all of the staff personally and I am always available for a chat.

Photo of Jay, the CEO. She is a white woman, has short cropped hair, and is wearing a blue top and a cardigan. She smiles at the camera.

We work within a feminist analysis of sexual violence, meaning that we see structural inequalities within society as both a cause and a consequence of sexual violence. Women and children form the vast majority of people who experience sexual violence. We acknowledge and believe male victims of sexual violence, and see their experiences and lack of reporting as being caused by the patriarchal society in which we live.

The team consists of the board of Trustees, the CEO, a team of Service Co-ordinators who manage their respective projects, a range of front line workers who support clients within the organisation, an Office Manager, a Communications, Engagement and Fundraising Officer and a wonderful team of dedicated committed volunteers (listen to our volunteers talking about being a volunteer here). You can see our strategy and five-year vision below.

We deliver services funded by Brighton and Hove and East Sussex local authorities, Children in Need, The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Brighton and Hove Third Sector Investment Partnership, NHS, Ministry of Justice, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Sussex Community Foundation, The National Lottery and Diocese of Chichester and we thank them all for recognising the enormous impact of our work and for working with us to deliver high quality services to survivors.

I have been working at Survivors’ Network since 2014 as the co-ordinator of the ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) service and I was delighted to be appointed as CEO in 2018. I am proud to call myself a trans-inclusive feminist, I am proud to lead a team of strong, fabulous women, and I am proud to lead Survivors’ Network in the next stage of our development and delivery.

If you would like to share any compliments or concerns with me, or to share any suggestions for improved service delivery, please email me at jay@survivorsnetwork.org.uk. I would love to hear from you.

Jay Breslaw, CEO (pictured first)

co-signed, Sophie Gibson, Chair of Trustees (pictured second)

Our Trustees

Our Board of Trustees meets regularly, and is responsible for our strategic development, financial operations, and for ensuring we operate legally and meet Charity Commission requirements. The members of the board are: