A Powerful Evening with Survivor Space Oxfordshire

Last night, Mark and I spent a deeply powerful evening with Survivor Space Oxfordshire as they gathered supporters and friends for dinner at St Hilda’s College, Oxford. It was wonderful to see Sally Scott at the event, former High Sheriff and now championing the Lieutenancy's support for combating domestic violence.

Survivor Space Oxfordshire is the county’s only specialist organisation dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence. Each year, they walk alongside more than a thousand people, offering counselling, advocacy, and safe spaces where survivors can be heard, believed, and supported without judgement. Their Independent Sexual Violence Advisors help those navigating the criminal justice system, while their counsellors and support groups provide a lifeline for anyone carrying the weight of trauma, whether from recent experiences or events many years past.

We heard the raw, moving, and inspiring testimony of Natasha Saunders, (pictured above), who spoke with humour, grit, and absolute honesty about her journey as a survivor. Outside the harrowing nature of her story, Natasha showed the full spectrum of who she is: a woman of great warmth, devotion, and life. She’s not defined by her trauma. She chases joy in the everyday - caring for nine cats, four Icelandic horses, a spirited cocker spaniel and a Schweenie; mother to three children; married to her best friend; lover of fashion, books, and historical trivia - and almost never seen without a coffee in hand. Through all of this, she remains rooted in her mission: bringing light into darkness, helping others feel seen, understood, and most of all, not alone.

Annette, one of Survivor Space’s newest ambassadors, then shared her own experiences and the extraordinary support she has received from the charity; support that has helped her to regain her voice. Her courage in speaking out underlined how vital Survivor Space’s work is, and how life-changing it can be to know you are believed and supported.

What makes the charity's work so remarkable is not only the breadth of services, but also the spirit with which they are delivered: trauma-informed, survivor-led, and rooted in dignity and respect. From students and young people through to older survivors, including those with disabilities, Survivor Space offers care and advocacy that recognises every individual’s circumstances. In a society where stigma, silence, and shame still too often surround sexual violence, they give people their voices back and create the conditions for healing.

The evening closed with Emma Simpson, whose story and work felt like a balm. Emma is a wild (or cold-water) swimmer and author. Her debut memoir Breaking Waves: Discovery, Healing and Inspiration in the Open Water explores how grief, loss and disruption pushed her toward the open water — and how swimming in lakes, seas and wild places, meeting women doing the same, helped her reclaim voice, community and a sense of belonging. Emma spent many years working as an air traffic controller before her life shifted, and she rediscovered writing at the same time as embracing how transformational cold-water swimming could be for wellbeing, connection, and healing.

From 8–15 October, Survivor Space will be part of the Big Give’s Women & Girls Match Fund. During that week, every pound donated will be doubled, making your support go twice as far. If you’re moved by their work — and I cannot think of a better time — please consider giving then to help them reach even more survivors: biggive.org/women-girls-match-fund.

It was a night of courage, truth-telling, and hope — a reminder of the importance of standing alongside survivors, and of the life-changing work being done by Survivor Space Oxfordshire.