Slopey - just to clarify
VMC & IMC - flight CONDITIONS
VFR, IFR & SVFR - flight RULES
For non IR/IMC holders with a Night rating or Qualification:
At night, you must fly in accordance with the instrument flight RULES, (If you don't know them - go read them - Rules 29 to 31 of the Rules of the Air portion of the ANO) but should fly maintaining Visual Meteorological CONDITIONS (as per your licence privileges) if you are outside Controlled Airspace.
If you wish to enter, or leave, a Control Zone, you must have a valid IR/IMC rating to fly in accordance with IFR. As you haven't got that, you enter, or leave, flying in accordance with a SVFR clearance which will still require you to remain, effectively, in Visual Meteorological Conditions, following the terms of the clearance as issued.