How we can help

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What is sexual assault or harassment

Sexual abuse may take many forms. In addition to rape and sexual assault, it includes sexual harassment,听i.e.听any behaviour that is humiliating, intimidating or hostile, and may include actions like derogatory name-calling, belittling remarks, insults, threats, unwanted personal attention.

It can also include any form of鈥痵exual activity鈥痶hat takes place without the other person鈥檚 full and informed consent鈥�� involving鈥痯hysical contact, words, or photographs鈥痮nline or by text message.鈥�

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, class, or background.听The majority of听rape and sexual assault are mostly carried out by someone known to the听victim;听a spouse, partner, friend, colleague or family member.鈥疭exual violence can also be committed by strangers. If you鈥檝e been sexually assaulted you don鈥檛 have to report the assault to police if you don鈥檛 want to, however only the police can carry out a formal investigation into these types of matters.听

How to report an incident

All students, staff and visitors to our campus can report an incident in any of the following ways:

  • You can report听an incident听anonymously via our online form - your report will be sent confidentially to dedicated staff within BU:
  • 鈥婭f you find yourself in听an emergency situation听on campus, please call听01202 962222听from a mobile or听222听from an internal landline. For off campus emergencies call 999
  • If you're deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired听you can use the emergency SMS/Text:听80999听or non-emergency SMS/Text:听67101听for off campus incidents.听Please note:听you'll need to听听first to use this service
  • Report to Dorset Police via the鈥�听or by calling听101听from any phone, including a mobile.听

The university takes a听zero-tolerance听approach to any form of abuse and will听take action听against any student or staff member who is deemed to have breached the鈥�Student Disciplinary Procedures听(under Conduct and Welfare)听or our听.

Find support on campus

You can contact any of听our teams below for further support:

  • Contact the听Achieve@BU team
  • Jacquie O'Brien,鈥疉chieve@BU Officer:鈥痚mail鈥�[email protected]鈥痮r call 01202 969696听
  • Health and wellbeing services听
  • You can also speak to an鈥�AskBU听Adviser鈥痠n confidence
  • Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service drop-in
    The听听service听run听a听drop-in at the Student Wellbeing office on the first Monday of the month, between听11am - 2pm, during term time. The service is completely confidential and听supports anyone who lives, works or studies in Dorset and has been affected by some form of sexual trauma at anytime in their life, it does not have to be a recent incident and does not have to have occured in the county.

Find external听support

If you want to go elsewhere for support you can always contact the below organisations:听

  • 鈥�撎齮his is the dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for Dorset, providing a comprehensive service to anyone who has鈥痓een raped or sexually assaulted and can support you even if you do not wish to report an incident to the police.听They offer a safe and non-judgemental environment which focuses on the needs of you, the individual. All clients are treated with dignity and respect. The Shores are contactable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.听
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You can also find further support services on our听wellbeing resources page.