Survivor Support Service

Yes. When you make an anonymous disclosure, we cannot find out your name, contact details, or any identifying information, or locate where the disclosure came from.

However, if you share identifying information like your name or location in the free-text boxes, it may be possible to guess who you are. We recommend that if you are disclosing anonymously, you don’t share any potentially identifying information.

There are limits to the action the University can take against an alleged perpetrator in an anonymous disclosure – this is because the accused person has a right to respond to any accusations made against them.

If you wish to make a formal report against a named student or colleague you should contact the Student Progress Service on casework@newcastle.ac.uk – further information can be found here. The Student Progress Service can advise you what will happen if you make a formal report.

Anonymous disclosures are read and held by the Survivor Support Service within Student Health and Wellbeing Services. We use anonymous disclosures to understand what is happening for our students and inform our prevention activities. For example, if we receive multiple anonymous disclosures from a particular school, we will offer support to that school to resolve the issues.

Reports (often referred to as formal reports) are named reports of incidents where the reporting party (usually the survivor) would like an investigation of what has happened in line with the Student Disciplinary Procedure. This process is managed by the Student Progress Service. Our team in the Survivor Support Service can support survivors who choose to make a formal report to the Student Progress Service, but we cannot be directly involved in the formal reporting process.

We read all anonymous disclosures within two working days of receiving them and use them to shape and inform University and city-wide prevention and engagement activities. We work with colleagues across the University and key community partners to take action to prevent future incidents, or to develop communications strategies which increase awareness of how to access our service.

If we notice a pattern in disclosures – for instance a group of disclosures related to the same school – we will contact the relevant team or individual to offer support and guidance on tackling these issues.

There are limits to the action the University can take against an alleged perpetrator in an anonymous disclosure – this is because the accused person has a right to respond to any accusations made against them.

If you wish to make a formal report against a named student or colleague you should contact the Student Progress Service on casework@newcastle.ac.uk – further information can be found here. The Student Progress Service can advise you what will happen if you make a formal report.

Disclosing sensitive data of this nature is optional and you should not feel pressured to disclose this information. Disclosing this data will not affect your ability to access the Survivor Support Service.

We use this data to understand who is using the disclosure form, and who is experiencing hate crime, sexual violence, or spiking at the University. Understanding this helps us develop preventative strategies and to make access to our service equitable. For example, in 2021 we were able to use data about the gender of sexual violence survivors to appoint a specialist Male Sexual Violence Therapist.

We report this data anonymously to the Changing the Culture Working Group and Race Equality Self-Assessment Team. These groups hold us accountable and ensure that we continue to challenge inequalities and inequities in our service. 

We aim to respond to all named disclosures or referrals within 5 working days (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, excluding Bank Holidays and University closure dates). 

We are not a crisis service – but crisis help is freely available for you.

If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999 for the emergency services. If you are safe but would like to speak to the Police or access national crisis support you should dial 101 for local Police, or 111 to speak to the National Health Service who can refer you to the relevant service. 

If you have experienced sexual assault within the last seven days, specialist, free, confidential support is available from your local Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). The SARC can support you with decisions related to counselling support, collection of forensic evidence (regardless of whether you wish to report to the Police). The SARC in Newcastle is managed by an organisation called Mountain Healthcare. You can contact them 24/7 on 0333 344 8283. 

Your report is stored securely within the Survivor Support Service and a member of our team will review your named disclosure or referral to get an understanding of your support needs. We will then contact you to explore with you what support you would like.

We can also help you to consider if you would like to make a formal report to the University or the Police if you wish to do so.

Making a disclosure or referral does not trigger any automatic processes within the University – for example, we will not inform your School, next of kin, or the Student Progress Service of what has happened (unless you ask us to do so). Your disclosure will be held confidentially unless we believe you or someone else is in danger.

We also anonymise named disclosures by removing all identifying information and collate these with anonymous disclosures. We then use this anonymous, non-identifiable data to shape support and prevention activities. 

Your disclosure or referral will be held confidentially in Student Health and Wellbeing Services unless we believe you or someone else is in danger. This means that we will not notify your School or trigger any complaint processes with the University or make any reports to other organisations such as the Police without your consent. We aim to put you in control of your support plan, and we will support you to make informed choices.

Our priority will always be your safety and support, and anything you share with Student Health and Wellbeing Services is confidential, unless we think safeguarding action is required. If you would like to discuss this in more detail before you disclose, please email survivorsupport@newcastle.ac.uk to speak to a member of our team. 

No. You do not have to report to the Police or the University to use our Survivor Support Service. You will be given the support and information you need to make a knowledgeable decision about your own care and support. We will support your decisions. 

Anything you share with Student Health and Wellbeing Services is confidential unless we think you or someone else is in danger. We will always endeavour to act in your best interests in these cases, and wherever possible we would work in collaboration with you.

Yes. Where an incident took place does not matter - we will support you. It may have been on campus, off campus, in the street, online, during a year abroad, or at a society or club event. Wherever it happened we can support you, and you can access our service.

If an incident occurred during a NUSU club or society event, game, or social, and you wish to report this to the Student’s Union who will support you to direct your complaint. You will still be able to access support from the Survivor Support Service, but your complaint will be managed by NUSU.
 
If an incident occurred during your year abroad you may have lots of questions about what you should do. Our Survivor Support Service will offer emotional support and guidance, and signpost you to appropriate support both from the University and from your host University, workplace, placement, or in your local community.  The support we offer will be bespoke to your needs, and we will support you to make informed choices about your support and reporting options.

It does not matter. Your support is our priority. We never want people to feel that they cannot speak up about their experiences or any concerns that they might have for themselves or others. If an incident occurred when you were under the influence of drugs we would seek to safeguard and support you. 

Students may wish to refer to our Student Drug Policy: Reducing Harm for further guidance on our approach to drug use. This policy states that “Criminal proceedings if action constitutes a breach of applicable laws and/or University procedures are more likely to be triggered if your behaviour places others at risk”. 

Survivor Support Service

Our dedicated Survivor Support Service provides safe, confidential support and guidance to all survivors of hate crime, hate incidents, sexual violence, spiking, and domestic abuse. To refer yourself for this support click “Make a named disclosure and seek help (for myself or a student)” on our Online Disclosure and Referral form or email survivorsupport@newcastle.ac.uk.  

Sexual Violence Liaison Officers

Within our Survivor Support Service, we have a team of specially trained Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs). The SVLOs role is to provide free, safe, non-judgemental guidance and support to students who have survived sexual violence whilst at university. SVLOs can support you regardless of where the incident occurred. For more information about SVLOs click here [link to Sexual Violence tab].
To be referred to an SVLO you can use our Online Disclosure and Referral form - click "Make a named disclosure and seek help (for myself or a student)” or email survivorsupport@newcastle.ac.uk.

Specialist Male Sexual Violence Therapist

Within Student Health and Wellbeing Services we have a therapist who provides specialist sexual violence therapy for men and non-binary people who would feel comfortable in a specialist men’s setting. To book an assessment for this service you can email survivorsupport@newcastle.ac.uk, you can also email sws.therapyappointments@newcastle.ac.uk or fill in an enquiry form here. Be sure to mention that you are seeking support from the male sexual violence therapist.

Women and non-binary people who would feel comfortable in a women’s service can be referred to RCTN who provide specialist sexual violence therapy.

Newcastle Student Health and Wellbeing Teams

Our Student Health and Wellbeing teams provide a range of support, including mental health support, disability support, and chaplaincy.

Safe Zone App

SafeZone is a free app for all students and colleagues that connects you directly to the University security team if you need help while you are on campus. 

You can get urgent help if you or someone near you, feels threatened or is the victim of an assault or robbery. You can also call for First Aid or help in less urgent situations. When you raise an alarm or call for help, all on-campus security team members will be alerted to your situation and location so that they can co-ordinate to help you quickly and effectively.

Details about the NUSU Welfare and Equality Officer can be found here, and further details of support available from the Students' Union can be found here.

If matters are impacting on your academic work, your accommodation, or finances, you can contact the Student Advice Centre for support.

You may be interested in joining It Happens Here - a NUSU society that aims to support all survivors and allies of sexual violence on campus through campaigns, socials, self-defence, self-care and support groups.  

Galop

Galop is a charity which supports LGBTQ+ people who are survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, so-called conversion therapies, so-called honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse.

National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)

NAPAC is the UK’s leading national charity offering support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect.

Northumbria Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)

Newcastle’s sexual assault referral centre (SARC) provides free, confidential counselling, support and advice service for people of any gender who have been subjected to sexual violence.

Colleagues at the SARC can also collect forensic evidence for use in Police reporting either now or in the future.

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland (RCTN)

RCTN are a charity which provides free, safe, professional support and information for women and girls aged over 13, as well as non-binary people who identify that women's services are right for them. Their support is for those who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives.

Revenge Porn Helpline

Revenge Porn Helpline provide support for adult survivors of intimate image abuse who live in the UK. They provide advice, guidance, and support with helping to remove intimate content which has been shared non-consensually online. They can also signpost survivors to legal advice services.

Samaritans

The Samaritans provide 24/7 support to help reduce feelings of isolation and disconnection. Phone number: 116 123 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Someone Cares Newcastle

Someone Cares offer a free counselling service for survivors and supporters of abuse, specialising in childhood sexual abuse, rape, and sexual assault. They also offer Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) support - you can contact this team directly on ISVAsupport@someonecares.org.uk 

Survivors UK (National)

Survivors UK provide information, support and counselling for men, boys, and non-binary people who feel that men's services are right for them, who have been raped or sexually abused.

Victim Support

Victim Support provide free and confidential support to help deal with your experience, whether or not you report the crime to the police. Telephone 0808 168 9111

Stop Hate UK

Stop Hate UK are a charity that provides support for survivors of hate crime or hate incidents. They have a 24/7 telephone helpline on 0800 138 1625.

They also provide a reporting tool that can be used by survivors or witnesses. You can report using an online form, or over the phone. More information can be found here. 

Northumbria Police

You can report crimes where there is no immediate emergency here.

Their online form for reporting incidents specifically asks about threat, force, violence or intimidation that may be related to race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

CrimeStoppers

A charity which allows people to report crime 100% anonymously. You can report incidents on 0800 555 111 or use their online reporting form here. CrimeStoppers are independent from the Police, and they do not need your name to make a report.

True Vision

True Vision are a Police funded website designed to provide information about hate crime and aimed at improving the service that Police provide to minority communities. Self-reporting and information pack available as well as online facilities to report hate crime quickly to the Police.

TellMAMA
 
TellMAMA supports survivors of anti-Muslim hate. They also record and monitor incidents. They have experienced case workers who can support and signpost survivors to appropriate support.  You can call them on 0800 456 1226, or click here to navigate to their online reporting form.

Community Safety Trust (CST)

CST provide a national emergency hotline 24/7 for survivors of antisemitism on 0800 032 3263. You can also report antisemitism confidentially via their reporting form here.

Equality Advisory & Support (EASS)

EASS Advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights across England, Scotland and Wales. You can access extensive guidance and information on their website, or call 0808 800 0082 (Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm)

Discrimination means treating a person unfairly. The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of their protected characteristics. Discrimination can either be direct, or indirect. 

Direct discrimination is intentionally treating a person less favourably for example, telling someone that they cannot access a building because of their race or ethnicity. Indirect discrimination is when a system, policy, or protocol does not appear to be discriminatory but has the unintentional effect of causing discrimination. For example, a workplace saying that a man cannot wear jewellery in the workplace and not providing an exception for jewellery which is an expression of a religion, such as Kara which are worn by some Sikhs. 

Under the Equality Act you have a right to complain if you feel you have been discriminated against either directly or indirectly in accessing a service. 

Harassment is unwanted behaviour “which you find offensive or which makes you feel intimidated or humiliated” (Citizens Advice). This might include: 

·       Verbal abuse 
·       Physical abuse 
·       Physical gestures or facial expressions 
·       Offensive or distressing emails, and comments on social media or in online forums 
·       Unwanted and offensive ‘jokes’ 
·       Destruction of property 

There are multiple statutes which define harassment, for example the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Public Order Act 1986. The Protection from Harassment Act 1997, for example, states that harassment is when the person carrying out the behaviour knows, or ought to know, that the behaviour is causing harassment. 

Under the Equality Act 2010, individuals are protected from harassment if it is connected to a protected characteristic. A protected characteristic is an aspect of your identity that makes you who you are. Some examples are: 

·       Age 
·       Disability 
·       Gender reassignment 
·       Race 
·       Religion or belief (or lack thereof) 
·       Sex 
·       Sexual orientation 
·       Pregnancy and maternity 
·       Marriage or civil partnership 

If you experience harassment because of a protected characteristic we refer to this using the protected characteristic, for example ‘Racial harassment’ or ‘Disability harassment’. You can disclose all types of harassment our Survivor Support Service on the Online Disclosure and Referral form, to the Students’ Union, and/or make a formal report to the University and/or the Police. For more information on making a formal report to the University about the behaviour of another student or one of our colleagues click here.

Free, confidential support and guidance is available from our Survivor Support Service if you have experienced discrimination or harassment. Follow the link above to disclose and seek help.

In the UK, you have a right to freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act 1998. This means that you can hold and express beliefs personally and publicly. You also have the freedom to assemble as a group and to associate with others who hold similar beliefs. Section 43 of the Education Act 1986 provides that lawful free speech should not be prevented or inhibited on University campuses so far as is reasonably practical. As a member of the Office for Students, Newcastle University must also follow the Regulatory framework for higher education in England. 

However, there is also key legislation that limits freedom of expression where it infringes upon another person’s rights. For example, it is illegal to speak in a way intends to stir up racial or religious hatred (Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006), or ways that stir up and incite hatred directed at people based on their sexual orientation (Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008). 

Students at Newcastle University must also adhere to the standards of behaviour outlined in the Student Charter. This means that students must treat fellow students, University colleagues, neighbours and other people in the community with courtesy, respect, and fairness. 

Newcastle University has a Code of Practice for Freedom of Speech which outlines our duties as a Higher Education Provider, as well as your rights and duties as a member of the University community. 

If you have experienced harassment or discrimination, you can disclose this to our Survivor Support Service using our Online Disclosure and Referral form. For more information on what happens to this disclosure click here [link to FAQs]. Disclosing via this form does not constitute a formal report, and it will not automatically trigger any other reporting or disclosure processes. In the Survivor Support Service, we support and empower the survivor to make fully informed decisions about their options. 

Students can make a formal report about the behaviour of another student or colleague by contacting the Student Progress Service or emailing casework@newcastle.ac.uk. You can find out more about formally reporting harassment or discrimination to the University here.

If you have been informed by the Student Progress Service that another student or colleague has made a formal report about your behaviour you are entitled to support from the University. This support will be offered from teams within Student Health and Wellbeing Services, outside of the Survivor Support Service.

If you are a student who has been accused of harassment or discrimination and need support, you can contact our counselling team to arrange an initial assessment. You can find further information about our counselling service here. You can also call us on 0191 208 3333. You may wish to talk to your personal tutor or your supervisor about what is happening, especially if it is affecting your academic performance. Your personal tutor contact details can be found on the Newcastle University Student App. 

You should also refer to the Student Discipline Procedure (responder). As part of this procedure, you will be given the opportunity to respond to the complaint. You are also entitled to have a supporter. Your supporter’s role is to support you through the process, and they cannot talk on your behalf. You can find guidance on the role of a friend or support here. 

We know it can be stressful to be accused of harassment or discrimination, and the University has a strong commitment to support both the reporting and the responding party.