EFFECTIVE EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS WHICH ARE USED TO ENHANCE THE SUPPORT
PROVIDED TO STUDENTS BY THEIR UNIVERSITY
Specialist support services
120. Much of the evidence submitted to the Taskforce emphasised the need for
universities to work with specialist support services wherever necessary. The
Taskforce agreed that establishing relationships with organisations providing
specialist support is important for addressing the needs of students. This
support may vary depending on the type of incident but for sexual violence in
particular external support usually has a significant role to play. In order to
work effectively with specialist support services, universities should monitor
whether there are barriers to students’ ability to access services in the area and
be responsive to this. Ongoing awareness and understanding of this will allow
institutions to consider what might be appropriate in terms of making available
additional funding and support if students cannot easily access these specialist
support services61.
121. Universities may not always have the specific expertise to provide the full range
of support required for these extremely sensitive issues. However, there is an
expectation that institutions will be able to guide students through the available
options and refer them to the specialist advice and support that is on offer. The
evidence received identified some positive examples of partnership working
between institutions and specialist support services. However, these can be
dependent upon the initiative of a particular member of staff rather than the
result of formalised institutional policy and practice. The evidence supports
universities taking a more systematic approach to establishing these links to
ensure that students receive the appropriate advice and support. This approach
will also minimise the impact of expert knowledge being lost via staff absence or
departure.
122. In relation to violence against women and sexual harassment, experts
recommended that institutions build relationships with local specialist support
services including Rape Crisis Centres (or other similar services, as Rape Crisis
centres are not always nearby) and with charities such as Refuge or Women’s
Aid. On antisemitism, UJS recommended that universities should engage with it
for advice and support as well as the CST and University Jewish Chaplaincy. Tell
MAMA are keen for universities to encourage victims of anti-Muslim
harassment or hate crime to report the incident to Tell MAMA as well as their
university. In relation to LGBT+ hate crime, the National LGBT Hate Crime
Partnership may also provide opportunities for universities to link up with local
and regional organisations providing victim support.
123. Annexe D provides a non-exhaustive list of support agencies that universities
may wish to engage with or refer students to on specific issues.
At the time of writing, UUK is carrying out work to understand where universities are providing
mental health services to support the demand from students that local mental health services do not
have the capacity to respond to.
61
41