Volunteer Spotlight: Demelza Luna Reaver, Cyberstalking Specialist

Hi, my name is Demelza Luna Reaver! I joined The Cyber Helpline in December 2022 as a Cyberstalking Specialist. 

I was drawn to the Cyberstalking role during the second year of my PhD. My PhD is positioned within Cybersecurity, focusing on the exploration of technology-facilitated intimate partner abuse. However, after over a decade working in the charity support sector before my studentship, I was keen to get back to victim services. Joining The Cyber Helpline was a fantastic way to stay connected and involved in frontline support during my PhD research.

My experience working with The Cyber Helpline has been great. I had first come across the helpline during my studies. From application to onboarding, there has been consistent communication with the Helpline Manager and other team members. I have been made to feel welcome and supported as a new starter.

After working through the helpline’s bespoke Cyberstalking training, I have been able to dive into work with the survivors of abuse who approach the helpline. It has been a fantastic experience which has helped me and my studies immensely. My practical knowledge on the current experiences of survivors of technology-facilitated intimate partner abuse has grown. This growth has not been from primarily academic learning, but also from what is being seen and experienced by frontline services now.

Working within a service that expands my technical knowledge in Cybersecurity whilst keeping a finger on the pulse of survivor’s experiences of Cyberstalking has been invaluable. 

I believe The Cyber Helpline is a unique and vital service in the UK. Combining both cybersecurity experts and trauma-informed practice, the helpline is a safe space for survivors who may not have known where to turn for their experiences of cyber harms before. I continue to grow professionally and academically within my position as Cyberstalking Specialist, and I look forward to many more weeks, months and beyond at the helpline!