Survive

Mags Godderidge CEO of Survive talked to York Rotary on 12^th June.  Survive are the York Rotary nominated charity for the 2026 Dragon Boat Challenge.  Mags started with thanks, not just for the anticipated support, but for getting her out of the office for a couple of hours where enabling to avoid having to plate spinning and fire fighting for a couple of hours.

Mags shared powerful imagery from an Art Installation called Shame Ends Here Make Your Mark - which really brought home the prevalence and reality of sexual violence in our local community. On the image every stamp represents incidences of sexual violence in North Yorkshire.

She also shared results from a recent Independent Evaluation of Survive data by The University of York which shows Survive significantly reduces psychological distress and trauma symptoms and ability to cope with everyday life and significantly reduces future reliance on NHS Mental Health Services. This means Rotary's support of Survive is not only helping survivors heal, rebuild and thrive but is also contributing to local Public Health outcomes.  Mag’s advised that with the help of the Dragon Boat Challenge an additional amount of between £15,000 and £20,000 will enable an additional 15 to 20 hours of counselling for a year.

The work of Survive helped individuals and as a result it has a great impact in terms of reducing the call on NHS mental health services and overall providing many savings to society as well as improving individuals well being.

The work of Survive York costs approximately £700,000 a year and of that Survive have to undertake traditional fundraising for approximately 40% of the required funds.  For the balance of 60% Survive have to make funding applications via a number of statutory bodies who provide funding, though it is noted that Survive do not receive any funding from either the local authority or the NHS.  The lack of NHS funding is somewhat surprising given that the work they do addresses a real health issue.  As well as undertaking their invaluable and necessary work Survive clearly need to devote a lot of time to their fundraising needs.

Whilst people requiring support often come from deprived areas the work of Survive covers all sectors of society.

We were very impressed with the work of Survive and the explanation of that by Survive and the explanation reinforced the validity of our decision to support them via the 2026 Dragon Boat Challenge.  We also wish Survive every success for their paddling efforts in the Dragon Boat Challenge.

David Fotheringham