SAND - Surviving Abuse Northern Devon cic

08/06/2026

Please save the date and join us in celebrating the amazing work we are doing at SAND to support men and women who have experienced past or present sexual violence. Your support would mean the world to us 💜

Over the last 10 years, SAND has supported more than 1,000 adults across North Devon on their healing journeys.

Within that number are hundreds of women and men affected by sexual violence and abuse. We know that reaching out for support can take enormous courage. Many people face years of silence, shame, self blame, fear, stigma, or simply not knowing where to turn before taking that first step.

For many, SAND has been the place where they first felt able to speak about what had happened, the first time they were truly heard and believed, and the beginning of a journey towards healing and recovery.

As we celebrate 10 years of service, we want to thank every survivor who has trusted us with their story, every counsellor and volunteer who has walked alongside them, and every supporter who has helped make this work possible.

Together, we continue to help people move from surviving to thriving. 💚
Don’t forget to sign up to Friends of SAND please follow this link to our website.

https://www.survivingabuse.org.uk/

07/06/2026

Have you heard of EMDR....
SAND embraces a holistic approach to surviving abuse, and as such our counsellors specialise in techniques beyond traditional talking therapy.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a comprehensive psychotherapy that helps you process and recover from past experiences that are affecting your mental health and wellbeing. It involves using side-to-side eye movements combined with talk therapy in a specific and structured format.

Rewind Technique – a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTDS) and is a comfortable and effective treatment that can greatly reduce, and even remove, traumatic or phobic symptoms quickly through relaxation and guided imagery, all without even having to talk about the details of the traumatic incident(s) in question. The rewind technique originated from NLP and is also known as the visual/kinaesthetic dissociation technique.

We approach Trauma Stabilisation methodology and practice for all our clients entering SAND and work closely with Devon organisations to ensure our staff and team are working in a trauma-informed way.

Trauma informed Practice is a strengths-based approach, which seeks to understand and respond to the impact of trauma on people’s lives. The approach emphasises physical, psychological, and emotional safety for everyone and aims to empower individuals to re-establish control of their lives.

For further information please visit our website https://www.survivingabuse.org.uk/

You can also sign up to Friends of SAND by following the link on our website .

Please remember you do not have to face this alone SAND is here to support you💜

31/05/2026

Over the last 10 years, SAND has supported more than 1,000 adults across North Devon on their healing journeys.

Within that number are hundreds of women and men affected by sexual violence and abuse. We know that reaching out for support can take enormous courage. Many people face years of silence, shame, self blame, fear, stigma, or simply not knowing where to turn before taking that first step.

For many, SAND has been the place where they first felt able to speak about what had happened, the first time they were truly heard and believed, and the beginning of a journey towards healing and recovery.

As we celebrate 10 years of service, we want to thank every survivor who has trusted us with their story, every counsellor and volunteer who has walked alongside them, and every supporter who has helped make this work possible.

Together, we continue to help people move from surviving to thriving. 💚
Don’t forget to sign up to Friends of SAND please follow this link to our website.

https://www.survivingabuse.org.uk/

31/05/2026

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.

28/05/2026

💜💜

𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞.

As the world comes together to kick off the World Cup, we’re asking you to stand with us and share a powerful, united message.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲
𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲.

Together, we can raise awareness, spark conversations, and show that abuse will not be ignored.

A huge thank you to everyone who has already joined the campaign, including: Devon & Cornwall Police, Trevi Women, Blaby District, Ahimsa, The WISH Centre, Plymouth Marjon University, The Integrated Domestic Abuse Service Plymouth, Man Culture, and Plymouth Community Homes along with all the organisations supporting and sharing the campaign internally.

𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙.

Get involved 👇
🔗 https://www.firstlight.org.uk/get_involved/blowthewhistle/

25/05/2026

Did you know that SAND also offers support to men who have experienced sexual violence.
One of the reasons SAND was started was due to the lack of support available to men in the area and how hidden that suffering often is.
Male sexual abuse can often stem from early childhood and many men can carry this quietly with them for many years, even decades which impacts on their mental health, relationships, identity and self worth, often without speaking openly about it.
SAND is working closely with and bringing mens work to the forefront too.
We want men to know you are not alone. SAND is here to support and to listen to you.
Making that brave first step and asking for support is so important.
Please follow the guidelines on our website for a self referral and make that first step in your recovery💜
Please keep an eye out for further information on support available to men in the area.
https://www.survivingabuse.org.uk/

24/05/2026

We hope you are all enjoying this amazing sunny bank holiday weekend . It’s so important that we take time to appreciate our surroundings and take time for ourselves.
Please remember SAND is here to support men and women who have experienced sexual violence.
Please show your support by becoming a Friend of SAND .
Please follow this link https://www.survivingabuse.org.uk/ and scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up
We really appreciate your support 💜

22/05/2026

I just wanted to do a post as there is a lot on social media at the moment concerning sexual violence.
It is highlighting the failings in the justice system and the alarmingly low number of cases that end in prosecution.
Survivors often find themselves in a justice system where they have to fight to be believed , they have to wait for decisions to be made on their cases which can take many years.

In the UK, only around 1-3% of reported sexual assault and rape cases result in a suspect being charged and going to trial 💔

At the trial survivors of sexual violence often receive a decision of NFA - No Further Action as there is insufficient evidence to meet the strict legal test for prosecution
Survivors often feel like they are not believed and that the justice system has failed them and that is truly heartbreaking.
However, it is so important that sexual violence is still reported to the police so you can get the justice you deserve: SAND will support you during this time.

We know that survivors have to live with this trauma for the rest of their lives.

If what has been in the media recently has triggered your trauma please get in touch with us at SAND you do not have to face this alone 💜
If you have experienced past or present sexual violence and need support please get in touch with us. You
will be believed and we will listen to you - you do not have to face this alone 💜

https://www.survivingabuse.org.uk/

20/05/2026

# SAND - Surviving Abuse Northern Devon cic