In October 2021, we launched #NEVEROK to change the culture around harassment, assault and abuse across all our campuses, and in our partner venues. We believe everyone has the right to study, live, work and have fun in a safe and supportive environment. That everybody has the right to be free from abuse, harassment and/or assault.
We also want to ensure that violent, aggressive behaviour and abuse of others is known to be unacceptable and will be taken seriously, with consequences for any and all found to be perpetrating such behaviour.
The SU and UoG are committed to providing a safe environment to all students, staff and visitors and as part of our work to change the culture on campus, we are clear that both the SU and UoG have zero tolerance towards:
Sexual assault and harassment - Perpetrators making unwelcome sexual advances as well as any verbal, written or physical contact without consent.
Relationships/Domestic Abuse - Emotional or physical behaviour by a person in a relationship to control another.
Harassment and Bullying - Any unwanted behaviour by an individual or group that makes someone feel intimidated, degraded, humiliated or offended.
Honour crimes, FGM, Forced Marriages.
Enforced activities, including marriage, mutilation or violence against women.
Discrimination and unacceptable language use, such as transphobia, racism and homophobia.
Our pledges for the campaign:
Continue lobbying the University to do more to support victims
Run specific training for sports clubs & societies on keeping women safe
Including and promoting information on where to access support and information
Adding specific guidance on student safety into Welcome Packs for 2023/24
Increase the focus on women’s safety at SU events
Organise self-defense classes for Women+ students
Make anti-spiking kits available in our shops, so that students can collect for free
Work with local councillors, MPs, venue operators and the Police and Crime Commissioners to tackle the issues which we have less direct influence over
Work with University partners to develop a training offer for students on boundaries and how to be an active bystander
Continue to develop our #NeverOk campaign and promote reporting
This is an ongoing campaign, and we are working hard to achieve these goals and make a difference for students!
How can you get help?
University Reporting Tool:
The SU has put in place a reporting process that is simple for students to go through, while maintaining full confidentiality of the reported incident. In collaboration with both the University’s Helpzones and night-time venues in Gloucestershire, we have put in place a reporting system that prioritises your welfare as a student above all else. The reporting system works as follows:
- If you or someone you know has experience an act of sexual misconduct, violence, harassment or hate – whether on campus, in halls, private residence, or in your daily life – you can use the following Reporting Tool to report an incident to Student Services: Reporting Tool
- When reporting an incident, you can choose whether to report anonymously, or with contact details. If you choose to report with contact details, a member of the Helpzones (or Student Services team) will get in touch with you within 48 hours to provide advice and support, and help you explore options. Again, this process is entirely student-led, meaning you decide what formal action should be taken. Even if you decide not to take any action following an incident, and you wish to use the Helpzones as a listening ear or to help signpost you to other resources, then they can do just that.
- If you do wish to take further action following a reported incident, then the incident will be formally investigated by Student Services.
- Please note that if you report an incident that occurred in an SU-affiliated venue and you would like the venue to be made aware of this, the Helpzones would inform the SU of this and we would then get in touch with the venue. Again, we would only report back to the affiliated venue with the information that you are comfortable with sharing.
- Additionally, please also note that if a venue reports an incident to the SU and they identify the student(s) involved, Helpzones can actively reach out to the student(s) and investigate the incident further.
Reporting Tool
Anti-spiking kits in SU bar
We have free anti-spiking devices available at all of our SU shops- just pop in and one of our team will be able to get you one free of charge. These include drink stoppers and testing kits.
Sports team report
If you think something isn’t okay in your sports team or club, you can report it either with your details or anonymously. Inappropriate behaviour, bullying or harassment does not have a place in #TEAMGLOS and we will take any report received seriously.
Reporting Tool Here
Nightline
There is a student led listening service, called Nightline, that is on hand to help students when it’s out of hours. The service is open on Wednesday and Friday evenings from 8pm-8am.
The Nightline is there for anyone that wants to rant, chat or just have someone to talk to. It is also on hand for crisis calls.
Ring them on: 01242714777
Find them on Instagram at: glosnightline
Find them on Twitter at: glosnightline
Check out their website here: Gloucestershire Nightline - Gloucestershire Nightline
Hollie Guard
Hollie Guard is a next generation smartphone app that provides enhanced levels of protection. It is a free personal safety app that you can use to add trusted contacts, raise alerts, track a journey, monitor a meeting and record audio and video.
Find out more here: Hollie Guard Personal Safety APP
AskforAngela
You can ‘Ask for Angela’ to any SU bar, Glam or Blue&Blue night, as well as loads of other participating venues if you feel you are in an uncomfortable situation or need to get home quickly, and they will call a taxi for you and/or get you somewhere safe.
The Chaplaincy Team
The university warmly welcomes those of all faiths and world views, offering spaces for exploring values, beliefs and spirituality.
https://www.glos.ac.uk/student-support/faith-and-spirituality/
Email: chaplaincy@glos.ac.uk or call: 01242 714592
Mental Health and Wellbeing/Counselling/Welfare
The counselling service helps with any emotional, psychological or mental health difficulties you may experience during your time at university.
The service is free, confidential and run by qualified, professional counsellors who understand the pressures of university life. You can get in touch with us for:
One-to-one counselling
Drop-in sessions
A programme of workshops and courses
Couples’ counselling
Specialist sexual health counselling
Support for house and study groups in conflict
For mental health support, email mhw@glos.ac.uk or call 01242 714542
For welfare support, email welfare@glos.ac.uk or call 01242 714976
For counselling, email counselling@glos.ac.uk or call 01242 714542
Dignity Advisors
Our Dignity Advisers work to promote respectful attitudes and behaviour at university. If you feel you are experiencing inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour, they can offer confidential advice and support.
https://connectglosac.sharepoint.com/sites/health-and-wellbeing/SitePages/Speak-to-our-Dignity-Advisers.aspx
Email hbarker@glos.ac.uk or call 01242 714509
How can you help others?
Call out your mates
“Change starts at home”
Whilst a minority of men are perpetrators of violence, often mates let things slide and unknowingly set up the conditions that allow violence to happen. If you feel safe, calling out inappropriate behaviour or ‘banter’ can help show others its #neverok and help women feel safer.
Whilst often frustrating, men usually listen to other men and their opinions over women, and so your strongest super power in supporting victims and preventing harm is to speak up on their behalf.
Get them to explain their joke. Simply ask ‘why is that funny?’ ‘sorry, I don’t understand the joke, can you explain it to me?’. Having to provide a walkthrough of their misogynistic/violent/racist humour is often enough to make them realise the error of their ways.
Another way you can use your relative power for those who don’t have it is to back up a woman when she calls out a man in your presence.
Be an active bystander
Being an active bystander means being aware of when someone's behaviour is inappropriate or threatening and choosing to challenge it. If you do not feel comfortable doing this directly, then get someone to help you such as a friend or someone in authority.
Follow the ‘ABC’ method:
Assess for safety: If you see someone in trouble, ask yourself if you can help safely in any way. Remember, your personal safety is a priority – never put yourself at risk.
Be in a group: It’s safer to call out behaviour or intervene in a group. If this is not an option, report it to others who can act.
Care for the victim. Talk to the person who you think may need help. Ask them if they are OK.
Bystander tip #1 – Be Direct, speak up and be firm #NeverOK
Bystander tip #2 – Delegate tasks to others around you and get help #NeverOK
Bystander tip #3 – After the incident, check in with the person who was harmed #NeverOK
Bystander tip #4 – Distract attention away from the incident and de-escalate the situation #NeverOK
Bystander tip #5 – Document the interaction by recording on your phone #NeverOK
We are currently exploring within the SU and with university colleagues at how we can facilitate and roll out this training to students and staff to help equip them with the skills if they ever find themselves in this situation.
How You Can Intervene Safely:
When it comes to intervening safely, remember the four Ds – direct, distract, delegate, delay.
Direct action
Call out negative behaviour, tell the person to stop or ask the victim if they are OK. Do this as a group if you can. Be polite. Don’t aggravate the situation - remain calm and state why something has offended you. Stick to exactly what has happened, don’t exaggerate.
Distract
Interrupt, start a conversation with the perpetrator to allow their potential target to move away or have friends intervene. Or come up with an idea to get the victim out of the situation – tell them they need to take a call, or you need to speak to them; any excuse to get them away to safety. Alternatively, try distracting, or redirecting the situation.
Delegate
If you are too embarrassed or shy to speak out, or you don’t feel safe to do so, get someone else to step in. Any decent venue has a zero tolerance policy on harassment, so the staff there will act.
Delay
If the situation is too dangerous to challenge then and there (such as there is the threat of violence or you are outnumbered) just walk away. Wait for the situation to pass then ask the victim later if they are OK. Or report it when it’s safe to do so – it’s never too late to act.
In an emergency, call the police on 999.
And remember, never put yourself in danger. Only intervene if safe to do so.
Don’t commit sexual assault or engage in violent behaviour
It’s that simple. Keep yourself in check and think about how you would want to be treated. Respect the boundaries, opinions, choices, and identities of those around you.
Dark Nights Safety Tips:
If you’re walking home at night, don’t walk alone and stick to well-lit, main routes
Plan how you’re going to get home before you go out and keep money aside for a taxi
If you go out with friends, stick together and tell each other where you are going and who with if plans change
Keep track of what you’re drinking, as well as how much. Drink soft drinks or water in between alcoholic ones.
If you’re working late at the library or your job, ask a friend to meet you if possible, or get a taxi
Never accept a drink from anyone except the bartender and watch your drink being made. Don’t share/ exchange drinks
Never leave your drink unattended, giving someone the opportunity to slip something into it.
Did you know?
Moo Moo’s have FREE bottles of water for when you leave on a Monday or Wednesday. You just need to ask for one to a member of staff!
There is a discounted bus service every hour from the promenade on students nights at MooMoos/Popworld.
There is a Stagecoach bus service that runs from outside Moo Moo’s to Gloucester. There is also a 94N bus on the promenade that takes you to Oxstalls campus and the city centre
Security is around campus 24/7 so if you need anything at any time, you can ring them for help:
Park campus security: 01242 714402 or 07801 183630
FCH campus security: 01242 714836 or 07736 692087
Oxstalls campus security: 01452 715231 or 07793 245017
Pittville campus security: 01242 715069 or 07740 913684