If you have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, you may be feeling many things, shocked, confused, frightened, fragile, angry, numb, or any other emotion. However, you are feeling, try to remember that this is not your fault, you are not to blame, and you are not alone.

 

Urgent Support

  • Is it an emergency? If anyone is in immediate danger or seriously injured, contact the emergency services on 999.
  • If you are in LSBU Halls of Residence and you want help, you can contact any member of Halls Staff or call Security’s emergency number on 020 7815 6666. You can also use the SafeZone app to contact security on campus Download the app. Please be aware, if you speak to a member of LSBU staff, they will need to report what has happened
  • If you have been raped or sexually assaulted and you want to get a forensic medical examination, you can contact The Havens (they aim to provide this support within 90 minutes). Call them on 0203 299 6900.
  • Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened, try and find somewhere you feel safe. 

 

Support at LSBU

Do not feel under any pressure to act in any specific way. It is up to you to choose what kind of support you want to access and whether or not you want to report the incident/s to the Police or LSBU.

 

Formal report

You can choose to make a formal complaint to the University about a student or member of staff. These MyAccount FAQs have more info: 

 

External support

  • You can report a sexual offence to police by calling 101, using this website, or by visiting a police station. There is no time limit on reporting a sexual offence.
  • If you are thinking of reporting to the police, you can access confidential support from an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA). ISVAs are independent from the police, and can provide practical and emotional support, helping you to make informed decisions  You can refer for ISVA support via the following: ISVAs | Rape Crisis England & Wales and ISVA Service - Survivors Network
  • If you have been raped or sexually assaulted and you want to get a forensic medical examination, you can contact The Havens (they aim to provide this support within 90 minutes). Call them on 0203 299 6900.
  • Victim Support offer advice and guidance to victims of crime on their website, plus a helpline number: 08 08 16 89 111

 

Other support

You are not alone. You can seek advice from a number of agencies, at any time after the incident, even years later - support is not limited to those who choose to make an immediate report. Some other organisations which can provide advice and support are linked below:

  • Rape Crisis-  A national charity offering confidential help, advice to those who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any point in their lives. There are 4 Rape Crisis Centres in London. Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line open 24 hours a day: 0808 500 2222
  • Survivors UK -A national charity supporting men and non-binary people aged 13 and over who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives. Text chat open 12pm-8pm Monday-Sunday : 020 3322 1860
  • Galop- A national charity supporting LGBTQ+ people who have experienced all forms of abuse, including sexual violence. Can email help@galop.org.uk at any time. Support line open Monday to Thursday 10am to 8pm , and Friday 10am to 4:00pm: 0800 999 5428
  • Respond -provides therapy and specialist support services including advocacy to people with learning disabilities, autism or both who have experienced abuse, violence, or trauma. Call : 020 7383 0700
  • Victim Support - Provide independent free advice and support for victims of crime or traumatic events. Free helpline number: 08 08 16 89 111
  • Crimestoppers A national charity with a free helpline for reporting crime anonymously. Free helpline number 0800 555 11.
  • National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPC)  – support and advice for those affected by childhood abuse, with a support line open Mondays to Thursdays 10am to 9pm, and Friday 10am to 6pm: 0808 801 0331.

 

 If someone tells you about their experience of sexual misconduct

 It is important to be as supportive and non-judgemental as possible. Sometimes support means providing resources, such as how to access support services or helplines, seek medical attention, or report the crime to the police. But often, just listening and being there is the best way to support them. 

  • Listen. If they do want to talk, just taking the time to listen about what has happened can help, even if it’s difficult for you to hear. You might have a lot of questions but try not to interrupt or ask too many questions.
  • Ask them how you can help. You might have ideas about what they should or shouldn’t be doing but it's important to allow them to come to their own decisions without feeling pressured. Everyone deals with things differently. While you might be someone who needs to talk through things, maybe they don’t want to talk about it at all. It’s important to let them decide what happens next. Ask them what they need and then respect their wishes. Don’t ever try to force them into doing or saying something that makes them feel uncomfortable.
  • Remind them they are not alone and it is not their fault. Let them know that you are there for them and remind them, maybe even more than once, that they are not to blame. Ask if there is anyone else in their life they feel comfortable talking to about what has happened, and remind them that there is support available from both LBSU and from other organisations if they want it. Tell them about Report and Support.
  • Look after yourself. Supporting someone can be difficult and it's OK to take time and space for yourself sometimes. You may feel upset, angry, or helpless. If this is the case, it's important that you seek help for yourself. You can do this by contacting the mental Health and Wellbeing team How do I book an appointment with the Mental Health and Wellbeing team?

 For more information:

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There are two ways you can tell us what happened

A staff member was impacted or A student was impacted