News & Latest Updates

BYS founder Ciara shortlisted for Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2026

Ciara honoured to be shortlisted for Social Entrepreneur of the Year – Community Impact at the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026.

This recognition, Ciara says, “reflects work that began from a simple, yet profound question in 2023: where to next? At Beyond Surviving, we are building that next step: a space for connection, community, growth and continuity of support that has long been missing in the sector.“

“To be recognised in a category centred on community impact feels especially meaningful, because this has always been survivor-led, shaped by lived experience, and grounded in the belief that survivors deserve to not just survive, but to reclaim, live and thrive.“

Beyond Surviving publishes Survey Insights Report

To seek insights on how the current practices in Ireland’s criminal justice system affect people, we launched a comprehensive survey, open to all survivors, and in one week, we received over 300 responses.

The results reflect the clear and consistent consensus among survivors that there is an urgent need for change to ensure a fairer criminal justice system. However, the disclosure of counselling records is a complex and sensitive issue, and a “one size fits all” legislative solution risks deepening harm to survivors by overlooking nuances, and failing to reflect the diversity of their lived experience.

You can read the full report through the link here.

Beyond Surviving survey finds issue in counselling notes used in court

Ciara, CEO of Beyond Surviving, and Sarah, Board member and fellow survivor joined Lunchtime Live with Andrea Gilligan to discuss our most recent comprehensive survey on the Use of Counselling Notes in Sexual Offence Trails.

Initial results highlight that many survivors of sexual assault did not remember consenting to the use of their counselling notes in court, the survey has found.

You can listen back to the interview through the link here.

Solicitor Sarah Grace has joined the board of Beyond Surviving

Ms Grace, a corporate lawyer and certified yoga teacher, has been appointed to the board as Legal Trustee.

She brings extensive legal expertise, combining her two passions of effective corporate governance and building a brighter future for all survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Grace said: “I am so honoured to have joined the board of Beyond Surviving, a survivor-led charity whose mission is to offer healing and wellbeing support to those affected by domestic, gender and sexual-based violence.“

Beyond Surviving warmly welcomes Sarah to the Board and looks forward to the impact her expertise and passion will bring to the organisation and the wider DSGBV landscape. We echo the response to Sarah’s appointment and are privileged to have her join us on this important journey.

Former Chief Financial Officer Andrew Mussett has joined the board of Beyond Surviving

Mr Mussett, a former Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed to the Board as Financial Trustee.

He is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and brings extensive financial expertise, having worked predominantly for US multinationals prior to his retirement.

Beyond Surviving warmly welcomes Andrew to the Board and looks forward to the impact his expertise will bring to the organisation. We are privileged to have him join us on this important journey.

Beyond Surviving attends Victim Support Europe’s MORE THAN WORDS: Turning Commitment into Real Change for Victims event in Brussels

The day brought to mind a statement shared by founder Ciara during an Ireland AM interview in April 2025, reflecting on her experiences within Ireland’s criminal justice system: “There is no consideration for the victim.” Sadly, many of Friday’s speakers echoed how true this remains across Europe.

Too often, victims are expected to navigate systems that view them merely as witnesses, rather than individuals whose lives are profoundly affected by such legal procedures. Many are left without timely information, without recognition, and without the dignity of being seen as more than a case number. Justice is treated as a process of accountability and punishment alone, while for so many victim-survivors, justice also means being respected, supported, heard and considered.

Beyond Surviving remains committed to amplifying survivor voices and championing a justice system that truly considers, respects and centres those at its core.

Beyond Surviving founder Ciara delivers her pitch at Voices of Change, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland event

Ciara spoke about the pivotal moment in her healing journey where she found herself in the ‘post-crisis gap’, after availing of essential support from frontline services such as Rape Crisis Centres. Their work saved Ciara, but she needed more, a next step.

Beyond Surviving exists because healing from domestic abuse and sexual violence is a lifelong process, and service provision must reflect that.

We bridge the gap between crisis intervention and long-term healing, extending and complementing existing services so that survivors can experience sustained, well-rounded support at every stage of their recovery.

Beyond Surviving shortlisted for ‘Start-up Social Enterprise’ award

Beyond Surviving is proud to share we are shortlisted for an award at the National Social Enterprise Awards 2025 under the category of ‘Start-up Social Enterprise’.

We are honoured to be shortlisted alongside two incredible social enterprises doing fantastic work, namely, AnamVR and Hugs Community.

Awards ceremony takes place on Wednesday, 15th October in Tallaght, Dublin. We are privileged to have made it this far and it’s a credit to the hard work and dedication of our passionate volunteers and survivor advocates! Thank you!

Our founder Ciara joins INCO Entrepreneurs first cohort of #CatalyseHer, supported by Visa Foundation, empowering women entrepreneurs across Ireland.

Visa Foundation has partnered with INCO to launch CatalyseHer, a comprehensive training and micro-grant programme designed to support 100 women-led small businesses across Ireland.

The initiative will provide early-stage, revenue-generating companies focused on social and environmental impact with training, community building opportunities, and access to funding through micro-grants.

Ciara was recognised by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland as one of Ireland’s newest wave of changemakers for founding Beyond Surviving

“It’s lovely for this to be recognised on a broader scale now, and I feel like I’m not alone in it anymore. I’m excited that everyone else seems to really believe in where this can go,” she said, “It feels like people can see the vision and see where this organisation can go. I’ve always believed in this and I just stuck to my guns.”

“What I found was that you do reach a point on this journey where you outgrow services and you look for something beyond that. The services that are available in Ireland support you up to this point of survival. I was looking around and I said – What’s beyond this?” After Ms Mangan realised that survivors often have nowhere to turn once they move beyond this stage, she said, “So I set up my own organisation.”

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) Impact Programme 2025

Beyond Surviving is ‘beyond’ thrilled to announce we have been selected as one of the five successful applicants to Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s Impact Programme 2025. Beyond Surviving welcomes €20,000 in unrestricted funding with open arms, together with structured pro-bono expertise valued at an additional €20,000 to €30,000. We’re incredibly thrilled to avail of all the expertise, support, networks, and opportunities that this programme will offer over the next 9-months and beyond, helping us to scale our impact and drive lasting social change.

National SATU Study Day

Our founder, Ciara, was pleased to contribute at the National Sexual Assault Treatment Unit Study Day at the Rotunda Hospital, formally introducing Beyond Surviving to the sector and highlighting the gap in post-crisis recovery support for victim-survivors of DSGBV, as well as Beyond Surviving’s critical role in bridging this gap collaboratively with the sector as a whole.

Grateful Awardees

Thank you to all those who nominated Beyond Surviving for this year’s Aldi Ireland Community Grants Programme. We have been awarded €500. Great news!

Cork’s 96fm Opinion Line

PJ talks to Ciara Mangan of Beyond Surviving about her work together with victim-survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and abuse to end counsellor notes being used against rape survivors in sexual offence trials.

Post-Crisis Matters Too

Our founder Ciara joined a panel of experts on Thursday 12th June at the launch of the National Women’s Council Ireland’s Strategic Plan 2025-2029. Ciara touched on the importance of survivor-led work and respecting survivors as experts in their own right. She spoke of the critical gap in post-crisis recovery infrastructure in Ireland and the urgent need for funding and investment in this area. “Healing is a life-long process and service provision must reflect and validate that.”

Beyond Surviving receives €1,000 donation from Castlebar Home Store + More Community Fund

Our founder Ciara headed over to the Castlebar branch at Home Store + More to pick up our donation after colleagues in store nominated Beyond Surviving as the top recipient for this term of their Community Fund initiative. We are extremely grateful. Huge thanks!!

Ciara takes to London

Our founder Ciara headed to Waterloo station as part of the global Let’s Talk About Rape campaign.

Let’s Talk About Rape® is a movement that challenges the silence and stigma surrounding sexual violence. Through photography and creative expression, the project empowers survivors to reclaim their narratives, confront trauma, and redefine themselves as survivors, not victims.

Beyond Surviving took part in our very first West of Ireland’s Women’s Mini Marathon

Thanks to everyone who supported us this year! Your generosity helped raise significant awareness of our charity and support services, along with €3,446 in donations.

Mayo man raises tens of thousands for abuse charity with skydive plan

Mayo man and sexual assault survivor Dylan Gallagher took to the sky today in an effort to raise funds for Beyond Surviving, a charity which Mr Gallagher says is close to his heart.

Solidarity with survivors – Ciara Mangan launches charity for abuse survivor

Rape survivor Ciara Mangan has set up a survivor-led charity, supporting survivors of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence and abuse through their healing journey.

Ciara Mangan, a survivor of sexual violence, has founded Beyond Surviving, Ireland’s first survivor-led charity to provide much needed support and connection for those healing from domestic and sexual abuse.

National Women’s Council Ireland reports: “An inspiring and vital step in addressing the isolation survivors face, reflecting resilience and the power of community in healing.“

‘It’s about reclaiming our lives’: Survivor launches charity to support rape victims

Ciara Mangan: ‘Something was missing, so I created Beyond Surviving and that’s the bridge that is not there. This is the first hub of its kind in Ireland.’