€490 would fund one monthly Survivor Support Group in Dublin, Galway or Mayo, for up to 10 survivors. A discreet venue with no sign outside, the address shared only after a survivor meets a member of the Beyond Surviving team for an introductory call. Tea and biscuits ready for everyone. Two trained peer-facilitators, both survivors themselves, and a room that feels safe and welcoming, where survivors can connect with others who understand.

€265 would fund one month of weekly online Survivor Tea & Chats, held every Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 7:45pm for up to 10 survivors. Joined from home, anywhere in Ireland. A good option for survivors who live a distance from Dublin, Galway or Mayo, or who would rather take part from home. Led by a trained peer-facilitator with lived experience.

€1,052 would fund the training and development of one peer-facilitator. Peer-facilitators are survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse who take up leadership roles, facilitating our monthly Survivor Support Groups in Dublin, Galway and Mayo. Our programme prepares them to facilitate safely, responsibly and sustainably, including training, shadowing, facilitation practice, support and supervision so they can grow in their roles. Our latest cohort saw 9 peer-facilitators step into facilitation roles, supporting the healing of other survivors as well as their own.

€1,400 would fund an online creative and wellbeing workshop series for up to 10 survivors, held once a week for six weeks. Journaling, creative writing and more, guided by an experienced trauma-informed facilitator. No prior experience needed. A different way for survivors to explore healing, alongside people who understand.

€49 would fund one survivor’s place at an in-person Survivor Support Group. One evening a month, in a room with people who understand.

Yes. Our registered charity number is 20206738.

No. Survivors connect with Beyond Surviving through self-referral. They choose whether, when and how to reach in, guided by their own needs and pace. A professional can introduce our support to a survivor by sharing our information with them.

Beyond Surviving is not a frontline crisis service. If survivors need urgent help, contact the 24/7 National Rape Crisis Helpline on 1800 77 88 88, for emergency services call 999 or 112, or contact the 24hr Domestic Abuse National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900.

Yes. All our programmes and services are free of charge.

You can download our service information and e-leaflet directly from this webpage. For printed BYS Partner Packs and service leaflets to keep in your service, get in touch by emailing us at info@beyondsurviving.ie.

Email info@beyondsurviving.ie. We aim to respond within three working days.

Yes, for general questions about our survivor-led peer community and how it works. If you would like to help a survivor make contact, you can share our service information with them, or direct them to our website where they can reach in themselves.

We arrange a short introductory call, usually about 15 minutes, so survivors can hear more about Beyond Surviving and decide for themselves whether it is right for them. It’s a conversation about us, not an assessment of them.

Places in all our groups are offered in registration order, so there may be a wait for a group in their area.

By expressing your interest in either training as a peer-facilitator or a BYS Champion, you’ll hear from a member of the Beyond Surviving team within 7 working days. We’ll meet online for a short introductory call, get to know one another, and discuss the role in more detail. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have.

There’s no fixed answer, but our self-assessment can help you think it through. There are no right or wrong answers. You don’t need to share it with us. We can also go through any questions about the role before you decide if peer-facilitation is right for you now. You’ll never be handed a group before you’re ready, and you’ll always have a co-facilitator with you.

Take the self-assessment.

That’s alright. You can step back at any point once you’ve begun, and there’s no judgement if the timing doesn’t suit you.

For peer-facilitators, we ask you to aim for at least 1 year, and you can dip in and out when you need to. For BYS Champions, we ask for at least 6 months and 3 hours a month. Peer-facilitators also take part in a monthly online learning session and yearly refresher trainings, which are also a chance to get support in the role.

Our self-assessment can help you decide whether now is the right time.

It might, and that’s normal. That’s part of why training, support and check-ins are built into these roles, so you’re never carrying that alone. You are never obliged to stay. You can step back if you ever need to and we’ll support you with that.

No. Beyond Surviving provides the training for both roles, peer-facilitator and BYS Champion.

Yes. Peer-facilitators need to be at least 2 years on from their own experience of sexual violence or domestic abuse before starting training. If it has been less than that, you’re welcome in our groups, where you can find connection, belonging and understanding. See our groups here.

No. Healing is lifelong, and survivors’ needs continue to evolve. Survivors tell us that supporting others helps them too, which is why we offer survivor-led ways to take part, as a peer-facilitator or a BYS Champion.

Yes, and yes. Parking facilities are free of charge and all venues are within close proximity to public transport routes.

Adult women affected by domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

No, free of charge.

Yes. After you register, and if you’re a first-time participant, we’ll email you to arrange a short introductory call with a member of the Beyond Surviving team. This informal 15-minute conversation is so you can hear about us and decide for yourself whether it is right for you. It’s a conversation about us, not an assessment of you.

This is also an opportunity for us to get to know one another, explain a little more about Beyond Surviving and answer any questions you may have.

If you are a returning participant, you won’t have to do the introductory call again.

Places in all our groups are offered in registration order, so there may be a wait for a group in your area.

Our in-person Survivor Support Groups meet once a month, in Dublin, Galway and Mayo. Online support groups, Survivor Tea & Chats run every week on Wednesday from 7:00 – 7:45pm.

Our in-person Survivor Support Groups run for 90 minutes. Online support groups, Survivor Tea & Chats run 45 minutes, 7:00–7:45pm. Wellbeing workshops run anywhere from 60 – 120 minutes.

You along with up to 9 other survivors per group, as well as trained peer-facilitators with lived experience.

Our in-person Survivor Support Groups are led by two trained peer-facilitators with lived experience. Our online support groups, Survivor Tea & Chats are led by one trained peer-facilitator with lived experience. Wellbeing workshops are led by trauma-informed facilitators.

We’re a survivor-led peer community. We offer connection with other survivors.

There’s more than one way to be a part: you can join one of our support groups, either in-person or online, come to a wellbeing workshop, or get involved by supporting other survivors, shaping how Beyond Surviving works, or advocating for change.

No. Beyond Surviving doesn’t provide counselling or group therapy. It’s a survivor-led peer community of people who understand and ‘get it’.

No. You don’t have to share, and never in detail. In fact, many people choose to simply listen at their first group and still walk away having gained something from the group. Our groups work in headlines, not in the details of what happened to you.

Given the size of Ireland and the prevalence of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, yes, it is possible you will recognise someone you know. We can talk through any of these concerns together so you feel as comfortable as can be. Also note our groups are non-judgemental, confidential spaces.

Our in-person Survivor Support Groups run monthly in Dublin, Galway and Mayo. We also have weekly online Survivor Tea & Chats every Wednesday evening from 7pm – 7:45pm. Register here.

Places are limited and offered in registration order. If it’s your first time here, our online Survivor Tea & Chats can be a great initial first step, to get a feel for what it’s like.

No. Our venues are kept private and discreet. There’s no signage outside that would indicate to anyone what you’re going to.

It could be, yes. Survivors are welcome whatever other support they are using, whether their experience was recent or long ago. There is no cost, and they stay for as long as they find it useful. You are welcome here.

No. It’s normal to dip in and out, or step back entirely. There’s no minimum number of group sessions you have to register for. Come when, and if, you can.

There’s no test to pass. The introductory call after you register is an opportunity for you to ask questions and decide whether this is right for you.

Many survivors say they simply want to meet and connect with other survivors who understand without having to explain, or explore healing in different ways as part of a survivor-led peer community. If that sounds like you, you are welcome to come and see if this might be for you.

Healing is lifelong. Survivors are welcome for as long as they find it useful. There’s no timeframe.

You can dip in and out.

After you register, we’ll arrange a short introductory call. It’s for you to ask questions and decide whether this is right for you.