Bethan is a university student, a future lawyer, an advocate for young people’s participation, and a survivor of sexual assault. She is a proud activist in the fight against violence that so many women and girls are survivors of.
Having worked tirelessly as a young person to help young people become more active within democratic or political processes, she is now also passionate about making the criminal justice system safer and more comfortable for women, having seen just how vulnerable and isolating the entire court process can be, from report to court.
She came to Solace after receiving very little support from the police and was able to get an ISVA to help her navigate the entire process. Having very little contact from the British Transport Police or the courts, Bethan credits her ISVA as a lifeline, taking some of the stress off of her and also helping her realise that asking for help is not weak or burdensome.
“Solace was vital in me getting the support I need and also just to realise that I was not alone. No one deserves to feel like that in an already traumatic system. Now I want to give back to try and make sure that women and girls are better protected in the future. I know longer see myself as a victim, I see myself as a survivor.”
After waiting almost three years for her case to come to court, Bethan hopes that her legal education and passion for advocacy will help her in sharing her experiences and feelings, in the hope that in the future, women and girls can face their perpetrators safely and without fear, knowing that they’re protected and their experiences believed.