First Light

Exciting New Vacancies at First Light!!! 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. 👉 Visit .uk/job-vacancies/ or click the link in our bio #vacancies #Recruitment #wiltshire #Swindon #Devon #Plymouth #Cornwall #Truro #Gloucester #Gloucestershire #domesticviolence #domesticabuse #sexualviolence #jobs #recruiting #careers #supportiveteam #changeLives #FirstLight #jobopportunities #joinus #workwithus #helpothers #makeadifference #nonprofitjobs

Change happens when organisations stand together. Blow the Whistle is a national campaign led by First Light, using one of sport’s most recognisable symbols to stand up for people’s safety and dignity. It harnesses the shared language and power of sport to challenge domestic abuse and sexual violence, encourage people to recognise abuse, and remind communities that support is always available. You don’t need specialist knowledge to take part, just the willingness to notice, care and respond. What does “blowing the whistle” mean? 📣 Noticing when something doesn’t feel right 📣 Calling out abuse safely and responsibly 📣 Checking in and showing care 📣 Signposting support instead of staying silent As the World Cup approaches, visibility matters. This campaign is growing, with more organisations joining all the time. Thank you to the partners already involved: @dc_police , @ahimsa_southwest , The Integrated Domestic Abuse Service Plymouth, @marjonuni , The WISH Centre, @plymouthcommunityhomes , and @mancultureplym for standing with us and supporting this campaign. Together, we’re using the power of sport to challenge abuse and remind communities that no one faces it alone. Want to join them? 👉 Get involved or find out more: .uk/news_and_stories/blow-the-whistle-a-national-campaign-to-challenge-abuse-through-sport Together, we send a clear message: abuse is not ignored, no one faces it alone, and support is always available. 🔁 Share this post 🏷️ Tag organisations ✊Let’s stand together and #BlowTheWhistle

Abuse from Online Dating: The Invisible Issue Online dating has become part of everyday life, but for many people, it can also be a gateway to abuse that is hidden, minimised, or misunderstood. Our research, Abuse from Online Dating: The Invisible Issue, shows that abuse linked to dating apps is common, normalised, and under reported. Many participants were unsure whether what they experienced counted as abuse, or where they could go for help. This work forms part of First Light’s wider focus on Digital Non Contact Abuse, abuse that happens in online and digital spaces, even when there is no physical contact. 🔗 Read the full report here: .uk/go/abuse-from-online-dating We thank everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. Your voices have helped make visible an issue that is too often overlooked, and this research will inform future policy, commissioning, and service responses. This research was funded by the Office of the @glos_opcc , recognising the urgent need to address harm in digital spaces. #onlinedating #DigitalAbuse

A huge thank you to the @glos_opcc for their kind words in this article, celebrating our upcoming first year of delivering the Gloucestershire ISVA Service. It’s been an incredible year working within the community, attending local events, campaigning, undertaking research, and most importantly ensuring that anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence is heard, believed, and supported. The partnership between First Light and Barnardo’s means support is available for everyone, children, young people, and adults. We are here for you. Thank you again to the OPCC for your continued support and for enabling us to research emerging areas of abuse, including harms linked to online dating. Together, we are working to ensure every voice is heard. 👉 Read the full article here: /keeping-updated/latest-news-and-pccs-blog/pccs-blog/2026/april/a-year-of-first-light/ 📰 Also featured in: Gazette Series: /news/26068058.column-gloucestershires-police-crime-commissioner/ Wiltshire & Gloucestershire Standard: /news/26068058.column-gloucestershires-police-crime-commissioner/ Stroud News & Journal: /news/26068058.column-gloucestershires-police-crime-commissioner/

**Please note, some of our service will be closed during the Bank Holiday. (Monday 4th May 2026) Swindon and Wiltshire SARC will continue to operate 24/7 as usual over the Bank Holiday. If you need support, reach out to them at 01793 781917. Your safety and well-being are our top priority, and we want to ensure that you have the support you need at all times. If you require urgent assistance during this Bank Holiday weekend, please reach out to the following 24/7 helplines: 📞 National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 📞 National Rape Crisis Helpline: 0808 802 9999 Remember, if you are in immediate danger, please do not hesitate to call 999. All services will return to regular operating hours from Tuesday 5th May.

For 8 transformative years, First Light has been proud to launch and deliver Safer Futures, an integrated Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence service supporting individuals and families across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. At its heart, Safer Futures brought partners together to create a coordinated, trauma informed response, ensuring that every voice is heard, believed and supported. Since launching in 2018, Safer Futures has supported tens of thousands of survivors and families, answered over 100,000 helpline calls, and delivered specialist advocacy, recovery support and whole family interventions, including through the unprecedented challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic. More than a service, Safer Futures was a commitment: that everyone affected by abuse deserves to be heard, supported and able to rebuild their life. As this chapter comes to a close, we celebrate the survivors, staff, partners and communities whose courage and collaboration created lasting change and a legacy that continues to shape safer futures for all. Read more by clicking news and updates in our Bio #SaferFutures #FirstLight #DomesticAbuseSupport #ThankYou #Cornwall #IslesofScilly

Our Safe Spaces Team are in Tamworth today attending the Religious Life Safeguarding Conference. We’re here to raise awareness of our Church-related abuse service, share information, and answer any questions. Thank you to the Religious Life Safeguarding Conference for inviting us and providing a stand for us to raise awareness.

Online dating has become one of the most common ways people meet. But alongside the opportunities, a growing and often hidden landscape of harm is emerging. Our new research, Abuse from Online Dating, highlights widespread experiences including harassment, unsolicited sexual content, coercion, stalking, identity deception, and cases that escalate into offline abuse, including sexual and physical violence. In this free professional webinar, we’ll share key findings from the research, drawing on insights from: 👉Dating app users 👉Frontline professionals across policing 👉Domestic abuse and sexual violence services 👉Youth work and safeguarding We’ll also explore how abuse that begins in digital spaces is recognised, understood, and recorded by professionals and how emerging patterns linked to online initiated relationships challenge traditional reporting frameworks. This session offers space for practitioners to reflect on how we identify these experiences and how we can ensure consistent, appropriate support for victims when harm starts online but continues offline. This research forms part of First Light’s wider work on digital non contact abuse, recognising the shifting nature of coercion and harm in a digital world. It was generously funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire (OPCC), enabling us to explore what needs to change across systems and services. 📅 Thursday 30 April 🕘 9:00–10:30am (online) 👉 Register here: We’d be delighted if you could join us and share with colleagues and networks who may find this relevant.

Change happens when organisations stand together. This World Cup, we’re inviting organisations across sport, health, community, hospitality and the voluntary sector to become visible partners in the Blow the Whistle campaign, and we need your help to spread the word. PLEASE SHARE this post and TAG any organisation you’d like to see involved. Blow the Whistle is a national campaign led by First Light, using one of sport’s most recognisable symbols to stand up for people’s safety and dignity. It uses the shared language and power of sport to challenge domestic abuse and sexual violence, encourage people to recognise abuse, and remind communities that support is always available. You don’t need specialist knowledge to take part, just the willingness to notice, care, and respond. What does “blowing the whistle” mean? ✔ Noticing when something doesn’t feel right ✔ Calling out abuse safely and responsibly ✔ Checking in and showing care ✔ Signposting support instead of staying silent By getting involved, partners will: 👉 Access easy-to-use campaign posters and visuals 👉 Receive practical guides on recognising abuse and signposting support 👉 Be part of a joint national social media post at the start of the World Cup 👉 Have your logo featured on our campaign page Get involved or find out more: .uk/blow-the-whistle-get-involved/ Are you a support service? Specialist services can also sign up to be part of the campaign’s support network and referral pathways. Together, we send a clear message: abuse is not ignored, no one faces it alone, and support is always available. Share this post. Tag organisations. Let’s stand together and #blowthewhistle #BlowTheWhistle #StandTogether #EndAbuse #ChallengeAbuse #SafetyAndDignity #SupportIsAvailable #NoticeCareRespond #WorldCup #WorldCup2026 #ThisWorldCup #SportForChange #SportAgainstAbuse #Sports #Health #Community #Hospitality #Voluntary #Charity #BusinessForGood #CommunityPartners #Devon #Cornwall #Plymouth #Torbay #Somerset #Dorset #Swindon #Wiltshire #Gloucester #Glocuestershire

We’re incredibly proud to be part of something that is already being shared across the city On 1 April, the Integrated Domestic Abuse Service Plymouth (IDASP) launched, bringing together First Light, Ahimsa, Barnardo's Plymouth and Bridges Outcomes Partnerships to create Plymouth’s first truly joined up response to domestic abuse. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed! IDASP has already been featured across local media, helping to spread the word so that anyone who needs support knows we are here, making it easier to get the right help, at the right time. 👉 Charities form Plymouth’s first domestic abuse partnership to tackle and prevent offending – as well as support victims and families (Greatest Hits Radio) /greatest-hits/devon/news/charities-form-plymouth-first-domestic-abuse-partnership-to-tackle-and-prevent-offending-as-well-as-support-victims-and-families 👉 No more ‘dead ends’: Plymouth’s new mission to support domestic abuse survivors (Plymouth Live) /news/plymouth-news/no-more-dead-ends-plymouths-10919908 Whether someone is in immediate danger, trying to understand what’s happening, or rebuilding their life after abuse, we are here for you – with expert, trauma informed support at every step of the journey. The Integrated Domestic Abuse Service Plymouth also works with people who cause harm, because tackling domestic abuse means addressing it at every level. 📞 Free, confidential support is available now Call: 01752 429 736 🌐 Visit: 🚨 In an emergency, always call 999 #IDASP #Plymouth #DomesticAbuseSupport #PlymouthSupport #FirstLight #Ahimsa

Stay Informed, Get Involved! Join our supportive community by signing up for our newsletter and learn about the important work we are doing to ensure every voice is heard, supported, and believed. Our newsletter is your go-to source for: • Campaigns: Stay updated on our latest initiatives. • Training: Access valuable resources and training sessions to empower yourself and others. • Webinars: Participate in insightful webinars led by experts in the field. • Fundraising: Learn about our fundraising initiatives and how you can get involved. • And More: Be the first to know about all our activities and events! 👉 Sign up now and together, we can create change. Click the link to sign up or visit our Bio. .uk/newsletter/ #CommunitySupport #GetInvolved #StayInformed #Empowerment #VoiceForChange #NewsletterSignUp #CampaignUpdates #TrainingResources #WebinarSeries #FundraisingInitiatives #CreateChange

Something important started in Plymouth on 1st April. IDASP - the Integrated Domestic Abuse Service Plymouth - is now live. One joined-up service for everyone affected by domestic abuse: Free, confidential support for adult survivors Specialist care for children and young people aged 11 to 18 Behaviour change work with those causing harm Because ending domestic abuse means addressing every part of it. Free, confidential support available now. Link in bio. Or call 01752 429 736. #IDASP #Plymouth #DomesticAbuseAwareness #DomesticAbuseSupport #PlymouthCharity #EndDomesticAbuse #TraumaInformed #PlymouthCommunity #SurvivorSupport #BehaviourChange