Author: Student Communications

Meet MJ, your Anti-Sexual Violence Advisor!

Author Student Communications | Posted on

Hi! I’m MJ Andarcia-Bravo, UWE’S Anti-Sexual Violence Advisor. I was an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) before joining UWE and I was also a Community Engagement Officer and delivered training around consent, sexual harassment, and bystander intervention.  

What is the Anti-Sexual Violence Service?

UWE’s Anti-Sexual Violence Service provides a non-judgemental, inclusive, and confidential space for you to seek support if you have experienced sexual trauma of any kind, even if you don’t want to report something.

It’s important to note that this is self-referral, appointment-based service and not a crisis service. I can give you unbiased information about reporting processes with the police and university so you can make the best decision for you.

I offer 6 sessions to students who have had a recent experience of sexual trauma and 3 sessions to students who have had a non-recent experience. This can be done face-to-face, over the phone or on a video call. 

How can I help?

  • Provide information about the criminal justice process if you’re considering reporting.
  • Explain the University’s policies and procedures relating to sexual misconduct and give you information about your rights if you’re thinking of reporting internally.
  • Support you to make informed choices about what is right for you.
  • Help you to liaise with external and internal services (e.g. academic support, accommodation, sexual health, mental health) to make appropriate referrals so that you receive as much support as you feel you need.
  • Provide emotional support and empowerment through psychoeducational tools. 

I will never pressure you into reporting to the police or the university. I’m here to give you unbiased support and information. It’s always your choice, and you will be supported in whatever you choose to do.

Want to know more?

Find out more about UWE’s Anti-Sexual Violence Advisor (ASVA) on our webpage.

Remember, this isn’t a crisis service so if you have a serious concern about your own or another student’s welfare, please contact our crisis and serious concerns team.

Let’s focus on mental health

Author Student Communications | Posted on

We all know how important the topic of mental health is, and it’s particularly important for uni students.

You might be living away from home for the first time. Trying to juggle your academic studies, socialising and earning some money. Experiencing feelings of overwhelm, stress and loneliness.

All of this means that UWE needs to be doing everything we can to ensure your mental health is one of our top priorities.

Which is why we are one of 96 universities across the UK to have joined the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter Programme. It aims to improve mental health support for both students and staff in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity and the Charter brings together universities committed to making mental health and wellbeing a university-wide priority to share practice and create cultural change.

It means we can work with these other universities to share good practice and make sure we are doing everything we possibly can to improve our approach to supporting your mental health.

You can read more about it in this news article published when we joined the charter programme.

So, what do we need from you? Well, as part of this work we’re asking you to complete an anonymous online survey to evaluate the charter programme and help shape the future direction of this work. The survey is open until the 1st December 2023.

You can read some further FAQs about this survey below – make sure you check them out before you open the survey.

What is this research project about?

This research is funded by Student Minds. We are exploring how organisations participating in the University Mental Health Charter understand and experience the process. We want to capture this data to feedback to Student Minds and to help them better understand how the Charter is implemented and improve it for future use.

Why have I been invited to take part?

You have been invited to take part because you are a student in an UMHC participating university and your experiences and perspectives are valuable to us in researching and learning about the issues described above. Five universities are participating as case studies, and surveys are being sent to students withing these universities

Do I have to take part?

No. It is your decision whether or not to participate in the research project. You have one week to decide.

What will happen if I take part?

You will be invited to complete an online survey via email, sent to you by the UMHC Staff Lead at your university. By clicking on the link in the email, you will be taken to the survey (which should take about 30 minutes to complete) to talk about and reflect on your experiences of your university and your understanding of the services it provides regarding mental health.

How will information/data be collected?

Information will be collected by Online Surveys.

How will my data be used?

Information collected will be examined and analysed by the research team to provide valuable learning about experiences at universities that are signed up to the University Mental Health Charter.

What measures are in place to protect the anonymity of my data?

Data from these surveys will be compiled into data sets and not attributed to a specific person, but rather compiled data from the university (the surveys are being sent to five participating universities). Surveys are sent out by email by the UMHC Staff Lead and the results stored in Online Surveys are anonymised.

How will my data be stored and what measures are in place to protect its security?

The survey data will be downloaded from Online Surveys, encrypted and stored securely on the UCLan system.

Our data protection guidelines comply fully with GDPR. The University processes personal data as part of its research and teaching activities in accordance with the lawful basis of ‘public task’, and in accordance with the University’s purpose of “advancing education, learning and research for the public benefit”. Under UK data protection legislation, the University acts as the Data Controller for personal data collected as part of the University’s research. The University privacy notice for research participants can be found on the attached link: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/data_protection/privacy-notice-research-participants.php

How long will my data be stored for?

Digital data transferred from paper-based materials will be kept securely for 7 years. As the link to the surveys are sent by email from the UMHC Staff Lead at your university we will not be storing your contact details.

Who will have access to my data?

Three researchers from UCLan will have access to the data.

Will my data be archived for use in other research projects in the future?

No, it will not.

Are there any risks in taking part?

There are no perceived disadvantages or risks involved in participation. If you should experience any distress or discomfort (mental, emotional or physical) or disadvantage as part of the research, you should make this known to the researcher(s) immediately. Should any sensitive subjects arise during survey completion, you can opt out of the study at any time (see ‘What will happen if I want to stop taking part?’) We are not collecting health-related data on participants.

Are there any benefits from taking part?

There are no anticipated benefits to you from taking part. Participants may find the survey engaging and interesting and that they will gain a greater understanding of how they understand the Charter. The results of the survey will also be fed back to Student Minds for their annual report and to help them improve the Charter.

What will happen to the results of the study?

Findings from this research will be published in report(s) which will be made available to participants. They may also be published in journals and, if requested, copies of these articles will also be made available to participants. As explained above, data will be anonymised and not personally attributable to you, and you will not be identifiable from the publicly available findings.

What will happen if I want to stop taking part?

You are free to stop participating at any time by simply closing the browser window the survey is open on your device. You do not need to give any explanation for why you wish to withdraw from the study.

After you click submit the data will be added to the database anonymously, and so it will not be possible to withdraw it, as the data relating to you as you will not be personally identifiable.

What if I am unhappy or if there is a problem?

If you are unhappy with anything to do with the evaluation, or if there is a problem, please feel free to let us know by contacting Dr. Alan Farrier (AFarrier@uclan.ac.uk) and we will try to help. If you remain unhappy, or have a complaint which you feel you cannot come to us with, then please contact the Research Governance Unit at OfficerForEthics@uclan.ac.uk.

The University strives to maintain the highest standards of rigour in the processing of your data. However, if you have any concerns about the way in which the University processes your personal data, it is important that you are aware of your right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office by calling 0303 123 1113.

Who can I contact if I have further questions?

Dr. Alan Farrier (AFarrier@uclan.ac.uk)

An insight – my experiences on sexual harassment

Author Student Communications | Posted on

By Anna Burt, EDI Champion.

I’ve been experiencing sexual harassment since I was at school and throughout my adult life, like most of my friends and peers. Every woman I know has multiple experiences of harassment; everyone has stories and they are usually quite horrific.

I have been targeted in bars and clubs with unwanted attention and inappropriate touching. I have been cat called from vans whilst in my school uniform and wolf whistled during a job interview. I have been followed, chased and had someone expose themselves while I was walking with friends.

When I experience harassment like this, it really negatively impacts my mental health. I always come away wishing I had done more or said more, but when faced with a situation which is quite frightening, I find I shut down or withdraw. I am a fairly outgoing person and happy to have a natter with someone on the street, but being at the receiving end of harassment like this destroys my confidence and power. I feel small and vulnerable, and as if any kind of agency I had has been taken away. I find myself becoming mistrustful of everyone and unnecessarily judgemental. I hate feeling this way, but have learnt to adapt to survive.  

This kind of behaviour happens so regularly throughout our lives that my friends and I have become completely accustomed to it. We talk about it casually when friends ask us how our week was, they become part of our shared memories: ‘remember that night out where that guy…’ or ‘when we lived in that flat near that man…’. We know how to report it; we’ve told staff, we’ve warned friends. We detach ourselves from the trauma with humour and complacency.

We are so acclimatised to a constant low-level threat that it becomes part of our daily life. Autumn is my favourite time of year but I struggle with the darker months as it feels like I have a curfew as soon as it gets dark. If I’m ever going anywhere, I let my friends and family know and put my live location on. I share my journey with friends when I’m in an Uber and always try and sit near the driver when on buses. I carry a power pack in case my phone loses battery and I can’t contact anyone. I don’t walk with headphones in or my phone out and have learnt to be over-vigilant when walking alone, always looking ahead and behind me and for any easy exits. I have made myself late for appointments because the bus was too crowded and I felt trapped near someone who was acting strangely. I trust my gut and intuition above all, but often this hyper vigilance when I’m just trying to get home can be exhausting.

It’s second nature in my female friendship groups to state how far away we are, when we’ve got home safely and to put our keys in between our knuckles when we leave the house. We wait for others to get in their taxis or get on their trains. We schedule face times and over-plan our routes. We buy alarms and sprays, torches and whistles, all to simply get home.

I’ve had a few men make jokes about how women always go to the toilet together, not realising it’s a way we’ve learnt to keep ourselves safe.

Every day women in this country carry out these little rituals in order to keep themselves alive.

Sometimes I get lost in the mundanity of it all, but it’s so important to take a step back and realise: No. This is not ok, this is not acceptable and it shouldn’t be happening.

All this being said, allies and advocates do help. In all the harassment I have experienced, I have also had people help. When walking home at night, some men have pulled back so they aren’t walking so close to me, or crossed the street to show they aren’t a threat. Friends have carefully manoeuvred themselves to block me from people in clubs. I’ve had family members stay up late to make sure I got in ok or offer a lift home. Bar staff have contacted security for me and trustworthy strangers have watched my drink when I’ve gone to the toilet or asked me ‘Is this person bothering you?’ if I look cornered.

I’m also learning to be more vocal myself, despite how scary this can be. If anyone makes an inappropriate joke or says something that makes me feel uncomfortable, I try to call them out by parroting what they’ve said back to them – to highlight their sexism.  Sometimes, to challenge stereotypes, I play dumb by saying ‘I don’t understand’ or ‘I’m not sure what you mean by that’. Forcing them to repeat their ‘joke’ and diminishing its humour. It’s not a lot, but it’s a small way to get my power back. Its these small acts that help to combat this behaviour and reinforce what’s always in the back of our minds but not said; No. This is not ok, this is not acceptable and it shouldn’t be happening.

The Spiking Epidemic

Author Student Communications | Posted on

by BA(Hons) English Literature with Writing student.

I was eight when I first experienced a form of sexual assault.

Eight.

I was fourteen when I experienced my next form of assault. I was walking back home with a group of similarly aged friends when a man stopped us on the street in broad daylight and took out his penis in front of us.

Fourteen.

Since then I have experienced countless amounts of catcalls, gross comments and awkward touches. Most of them have been in broad daylight with groups of people around. None of them would say anything, even fewer would blink an eye.

Approximately one in five young women and girls will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, while one in twenty men will be abused once in their life. Yet our judicial system, one who claims to stand and support survivors of assault, is failing us. Only one in one hundred cases in 2021 were recorded by police, with most cases tucked away to be forgotten about (Rapecrisis.org).

This topic, one so taboo, is also a growing epidemic. British drinking and clubbing culture has led to an increase in spiking cases, so how can we stop this from escalating further?  

Some ways that you can prevent spiking in the case of you or your friends include:

  1. Always buy your own drink and watch it get poured
  2. Never leave your drink unattended or in the presence of strangers 
  3. Go to clubs with groups of friends or people that you trust
  4. Make sure to go to places in pairs, never leave to places alone or with people you don’t know
  5. Cover your drinks! 

Following these tips can help in preventing instances of spiking but, if you do believe you or a friend has been spiked, go to a trusted friend or family member that can take you to safety and call 999 to report it as soon as possible.

Rapecrisis.org also offer a support helpline, available Monday – Thursday: 13:00 – 17:00, 18:00 – 21:00 and Friday: 14:00 – 17:00. Call 0808 802 9999 or chat to them online.

Sources:

“Statistics about Sexual Violence and Abuse.” Rape Crisis England & Wales, rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/statistics-sexual-violence/.

I’m striving to be a better ally, and you can too!

Author Student Communications | Posted on

by Rahul Aswani, Vice President Community and Welfare, The Students’ Union at UWE Bristol.

As your VP Community and Welfare, I think UWE Bristol is a very exciting place to be, with many experiences for you to enjoy and have. I am passionate that UWE Bristol is a community where we all feel welcome and safe.

From my personal experiences here at UWE Bristol, I am striving to be a better ally to ensure we stay safe together. I am looking at my own behaviour to make sure I am not making anyone feel uncomfortable.

I am a vocal advocate for anti-spiking campaigns and I support my friends to seek support if they have experienced any form of harassment.

In my role this year as your VP Community and Welfare, if there are spaces where you feel unsafe or want to see change, please do get in touch as I am here to represent you! As part of my manifesto, I am lobbying UWE for funding to provide first aid training to more students and bringing greater awareness to the emergency contact numbers at UWE Bristol.

Get in touch by email – VPcommwelfare@uwe.ac.uk

Uncapped resits: the back-up plan you can’t rely on

Author Student Communications | Posted on

You may be aware UWE has an ‘uncapped resits’ policy – amazing, right? This means if you are unwell, injured, or something absolutely unavoidable comes up on the day of your assessment and you are unable to complete it, all is not lost – you may have another opportunity.

This is one of many ways UWE supports you in thriving academically while navigating the unexpected.

You must keep in mind, however, that ‘another opportunity’ is not guaranteed, and does not mean the same opportunity. You can find UWE’s full academic regulations online, but in short, resitting an assessment means:

  • You will need to repeat the assessment at a later date – when the knowledge is no longer fresh in your head, and your friends may have all finished and are enjoying their break
  • If you end up resitting more than one assessment around the same time, your workload will stack up and may be more demanding than it was before
  • Even if you don’t submit work at the first assessment – your non-submission still counts as an attempt
  • If you don’t pass your resit, you may not progress to the next year
  • If you are in your final year, you may not graduate on time as planned
  • If this means extending your studies, you will need to pay for another year of tuition and other associated costs
  • If you are an international student, this may have serious implications on your visa or sponsorship
  • If there are any updates to the content of the module, you would need to study any new material independently

It’s reassuring to know the possibility of resitting is there if you genuinely need it, but consider it your academic safety net – not a way to procrastinate. ‘Buying time’ will only cost you more later.

If you are in need of support, academic or otherwise, there is a range of different options available to you. Contact your Student Experience Coach, a Student Support Adviser, speak to your Academic Personal Tutor or explore our wider Wellbeing Support options.

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