Last weekend, we took our commitment to ending sexual violence and abuse beyond Teams calls and the physical boundaries of our office. And stepped into the heart of the communities we support. As part of the global 16 Days of Activism, we wanted to build connections, show up for survivors and raise awareness.
We talked to local businesses in Rugby
On Friday morning (28th Nov), six of the TST team headed into Rugby town and the retail park to speak with local businesses about our Employer Against Abuse (EAA) training, a training we offer free in partnership with the Home Office to help employers create supportive, trauma-informed workplaces for staff affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. We had inspiring conversations with receptionists, staff and managers, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. We managed to visit over 50 businesses that morning.
One moment that stood out came from a business owner who shared a story about a young colleague. She told him that this was the first workplace where she felt truly comfortable and free from unwanted attention, flirty comments, and the pressure of being “latched onto.” It reinforced for us why this training matters: every person deserves a workplace where they feel safe and respected.
Another highlight came from a global car brand whose local branch we visited. Within ten minutes of returning to our office, we received an email from them expressing interest in exploring options to train more staff than just the Rugby branch. We were over the moon! It’s proof that when we get out there and start conversations, people do listen and real change can follow.
Volunteering at Leamington Spa parkrun
On Saturday (29th Nov), after celebrating at our office Christmas party, six of us volunteered at the Leamington Spa Parkrun, including British rain and all! We invited survivors, their friends and families, and specialist sexual violence and abuse services to join us. We were thrilled to see RSVP West Midlands take part, with their CEO Lisa running the 5K.
Read our run report from the event here
Our team helped with marshalling, tail walking, and barcode scanning, and we had some invested conversations about our work. Thank you to the parkrun community in Leamington for welcoming us so warmly.
Why does all this matter
Every conversation, every email, every shared mile in the rain is part of a bigger picture: we showed up to say ‘You are not alone’, and we want to create communities where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered.
Thank you to everyone who spoke with us, ran with us, and stood with us.
