SAFEGUARDING,
sUPPORT &
REPORT.
Everybody needs a little help sometimes. And it's totally OK to ask. Whatever the issue, we’re here for you. If you need immediate help, please follow the advice below. If you need to learn more first, please scroll down for more information.
Want to Make a Disclosure?
The safety and wellbeing of all our students is hugely important to us. If you have a problem, or you feel a fellow student may have a problem, then we want to help. If your concern is urgent and requires an immediate response, please call 999*or the NHS Mental Health Response Service on 111.
For all other concerns, please call us on 0203 7011184 or alternatively use the form below which will be logged with our Safeguarding and Wellbeing team, who will respond within 24 working hours.
Please note that completing the form within this Support & Report page will not automatically start a formal disciplinary process.
We want all students at Applied Business Academy to experience an environment that is stimulating, enjoyable and safe. However, during your time with us, you may witness or experience something that concerns or distresses you and you might want us to know about it.
You should not have to accept any behaviour that you’re not comfortable with. You can let us know about something that has happened/is happening to you or to someone else.
We’ve tried to make our disclosure form as easy to complete as possible. Some of the questions relate to the incident being disclosed, some are about the person whois/has been subjected to the concern, and some will ask about your preferences around remaining anonymous or leaving contact details.
You are able to let us know about the incident(s) in one of 2 ways, either anonymously or by leaving your contact details.
If you choose to disclose anonymously, we will not be able to offer direct support or begin any formal processes. However, your concern will be recorded and if it concerns another individual who you name, then we will investigate the concern with them.
If you let us know about something and leave your contact details, depending on whether you are a student, staff or visitor, you may be contacted by a member of our Safeguarding & Wellbeing team to discuss your options for further support.
For more information you can read our privacy policy
You can leave the form at any point. You can ask any questions you have about this system by emailing our Safeguarding & Wellbeing team on safeguarding@abacademy.co.uk.
Immediate Support
If you need immediate help, please contact the Police by calling 999. If you need urgent mental health, please call the NHS on 111.
Safeguarding Support TeamOur dedicated Safeguarding Telephone number is
+44 7548 824549
Email at: safeguarding@abacademy.co.uk
We want to make sure you are able to access the support you need, even if you choose not to disclose using the system or decide not to leave your contact details at this time.
If you are able to leave your contact email on this system, we will be better able to determine the most appropriate support for you, with you ultimately deciding for yourself how you would like to proceed. Submitting information on this system does not trigger a formal disciplinary process, or any other process.
Even if you are unable to complete the questions in this disclosure system, or access any other support, at this point in time, you can still access the support you need at a later date before you leave the Academy.
Once your disclosure is received a Case Worker will get in touch with you to meet and discuss your options further in person or remotely. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions and this support will continue with the Case Worker you initially speak to until you feel you have received all the support you need.
The support we can offer is listed below:
- We can help you make contact with any support service you choose to engage with.
- We can provide information about specialist support services both within and outside of the Academy.
- If you want us to, we can communicate with your programme leader on your behalf to discuss your situation and ensure you are receiving the best support possible.
- We can help find solutions to other problems or issues you may be experiencing in your everyday life, regardless of whether this is directly related to the incident you have disclosed or not.
Information for Staff.
Once your disclosure is received a Dignity and Respect Contact will get in touch with you to meet and discuss your options further in person or remotely.
The Contact Service is for members of staff and visitors who feel that they have been subjected to unacceptable behaviours, such as bullying or harassment, or who are responding to complaints about unacceptable behaviours. Dignity and Respect Contacts provide staff with accurate information about relevant Academy policies and procedures and the options available to them.
For more general information, please contact the Dignity and Respect Contact Service by emailing: safeguarding@abacademy.co.uk.
It can sometimes be helpful to get in touch with local or national organisations for additional support, or if you would prefer to speak to someone outside of the Academy. Below are some services which may be useful for you.
COVID-19/Coronavirus -
Specific Mental Wellbeing Support
Guidance forthe public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ten (10) tips if you are worried about Coronavirus
There are many commonly held misconceptions (or myths) around sexual violence. These can lead to an increased prevalence of these instances, poor support for victim/survivors, and/or incorrect outcomes in formal reporting procedures.
Here are some common myths and misconceptions, and the truths to provide the correct information.
Myth:Having sex with someone when they are incredibly drunk is not rape. Women who get intoxicated are "asking for it
Fact: "Alcohol is the number one substance used to facilitate rape." (LeBeau, M., et al. Recommendations for Toxicological Investigations of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assaults. Journal of ForensicScience. 1999.) Drinking alcohol lowers our inhibitions, which means we are more likely to do things while drinking that we may not do when we are sober. Whether someone has been drinking, flirting, or kissing someone, it doesn't mean consent to have sex with them. If it's not sober consent, it's not legal consent.
Myth:Sexual Assault is just about sex.
Fact: Sexual Assault is about power and control. A perpetrator is not motivated by overwhelming sexual desire for someone. Assaults are primarily out of anger and/or a need to feel powerful by controlling, dominating, or humiliating the victim.
Myth:What a victim is wearing may be the cause of the assault.
Fact: Regardless of what someone wears, be it skimpy and sexy, this does not excuse a sexual assault. We all have the right to express ourselves anyway we choose without having to be blamed with motivating an attack.
Myth:It’s only rape if someone is physically forced into sex and has the injuries to show for it.
Fact: Many people who are sexually attacked are unable to move or speak from fear and shock. They may be in a coercive or controlling relationship with their rapist, and/or too young to give consent (under 16). Sex without consent is rape. Just because someone doesn't have visible injuries doesn't mean they weren't raped.
Myth: If two people have had sex with each other before, it's always OK to have sex again.
Fact: Consent must be given and received every time two people engage in sexual contact, even if a person is in a relationship with someone or has had sex with them before.
Myth: People who were sexually abused as children are likely to become abusers themselves.
Fact: The vast majority of those who are sexually abused as children will never perpetrate sexual violence against others. There is no excuse or explanation for sexual violence against children or adults.
Myth: Women are most likely to be raped after dark by a stranger, so women shouldn't go out alone at night.
Fact: Around 90% of rapes are committed by known men, and often by someone who the survivor has previously trusted or even loved. People are raped in their homes, their workplaces and other settings where they previously felt safe. Rapists can be friends, colleagues, clients, neighbours, family members, partners or exes.
Myth: People often lie about being raped because they regret having sex with someone or for attention.
Fact: False allegations of rape are very rare. Most victims and survivors never report to the police. One reason for this is the fear of not being believed.It's really important we challenge this myth so those who've been through sexual violence can get the support and justice they need and deserve.
Myth: When it comes to sex, women and girls sometimes 'play hard to get' and say 'no' when they really mean 'yes'.
Fact: Everyone has the legal right to say 'no' to sex and to change their mind about having sex at any point of sexual contact; if the other person doesn't stop, they are committing sexual assault or rape.
Myth: Men of certain races and backgrounds are more likely to commit sexual violence.
Fact: There is no typical rapist. People who commit sexual violence come from every economic, ethnic, racial, age and social group.
Myth:Men don't get raped and women don't commit sexual offences.
Fact: Men are also raped and sexually assaulted. Often people who've been sexually assaulted or abused by a woman worry they won't be believed, or their experiences won't be considered 'as bad'. This can make it difficult for these survivors to access services or justice.
There are many commonly held misconceptions around hate crime and hate incidents.These can lead to an increased prevalence of these instances, poor support for victim/ survivors, and/ or incorrect outcomes in formal reporting procedures.
Here are some common myths and misconceptions, and the truths to provide the correct information.
Myth: It happens too often to report each one.
Fact: Each and every hate incident and hate crime is one too many. The Police want to hear every time you are a victim. Each offence will be logged and will receive a police response
Myth: Hate crime is another word for racism.
Fact: Hate crimes are not just incidents of racial intolerance, but also include religious discrimination, homophobic and transphobic abuse, disability hate crime and more recently, crimes against older people.
Myth: Hate crime is under control now it’s been recognised.
Fact: Hate crimes are actually on the rise and many hate crimes go unreported to the police.
What is a Hate Crime or Hate Incident?
If you've ever been abused, assaulted or intimidated because of who you are, you may have been the victim of a hate crime or hate incident.
A hate crime is when someone commits a crime against you because of your:
• Disability Gender
• Identity Race Sexual
• Orientation Religion or any other perceived difference.
If someone does something that isn’t a criminal offence, but you believe it was motivated by prejudice or hostility, this is a ‘hate incident’. Though what the perpetrator has done may not be against the law, their reasons for doing it are.
Hate incidents such as being called an abusive name or sent an offensive message online can be just as serious and upsetting as hate crimes and, as an Academy, we will take these seriously.
Immediate and Ongoing Support If you are on campus, please contact our Security Service on 02037011184 who are available all day, every day. If it’s a life-threatening emergency or you need immediate, help please call 999.
Internal SupportStudents and staff can disclose an incident using the University’s Support and Report system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can leave your email address to seek further support from Student Support.
External SupportVictim First are an independent and confidential service that support victims through their journey of recovery. They can support you coping with the after effects of crime and help with reporting to the police.
Galop provides emotional and practical support for LGBT+ people. They are able to give independent advice to those who have experienced violence, threats, intimidation and/or insults due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.Call 0800 999 5428 10am-5pm, Monday to Friday (open until 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays).
The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network: https://www.baatn.org.uk/free-services
What is Sexual Violence and Harassment?Sexual violence and harassment includes all unwanted sexual behaviours. This could include verbal comments, sharing sexual photos/information online, stalking, groping and inappropriate touching. These behaviours are usually categorised as sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape.
Sexual harassment is any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that you find offensive or which makes you feel distressed, intimidated or humiliated. Examples of this behaviour could include rude jokes, stalking/ following, or asking inappropriate questions.
The overall definition of Sexual Assault is an act of physical, psychological and emotional violation, in the form of a sexual act, inflicted upon someone without their consent. Examples of this behaviour could include touching, groping, grinding.
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of penetration (into the mouth, anus or vagina)carried out against a person without their consent. Consent needs to be ongoing and not forced and from all parties. All genders can be raped and there is support available if this is something you have experienced. All of these behaviours are equally unacceptable. If this happens to you, it’s important to remember it is not your fault.
Immediate and Ongoing Support
If you are on campus, please contact our Security Service on 02037011184 who are available all day, every day. If it’s a life-threatening emergency or you need immediate, help please call 999.
Internal SupportStudents and staff can disclose an incident using the University’s Support and Report system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can leave your email address to seek further support from Student Support.
External SupportFirst Step is a free confidential service for male rape and sexual abuse survivors & their supporters living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to enable survivors to make the “First Step” towards feeling less isolated through increased personal power to make choices.
Survivors UK offers a helpline and online advice for male survivors of sexual assault and rape.
Galop provides emotional and practical support for LGBT+ people. They are able to giveindependent advice to those who have experienced sexual assault, violence or abuse. Call 0800 999 5428 10am-5pm, Monday to Friday(open until 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays).
For online information and guidance related to Revenge Porn, stalking and sextortion:
https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/resources/university-student-advice/
Qwell- Online support service offering online support as well as 1-1 chat-based counselling with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop-in basis.No referral is required- please visit their website to register.
Togetherall- a free online mental health support community, available 24/7. Access a variety of courses and resources to help manage mental health. The platform is run by trained professionals and allows users to share anonymously and receive support from others. No referral required- please visit their website to register.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is offensive, abusive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, or an abuse or misuse of power, which undermines, humiliates, denigrates or injures the recipient.
Bullying behaviour includes:• Excluding or isolating someone socially.
• Physically abusing or threatening abuse.
• Making offensive jokes or comments.
• Intruding on a person's privacy by pestering, spying or stalking. You do not have to accept any behaviour that you’re uncomfortable with. You can let us know about something that has happened/is happening to you or someone else.
What is Harassment?
Harassment is unwelcome behaviour that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive atmosphere.It can refer to any aspect of personal identity.Although the actions or comments may possibly have been meant as ‘banter' if they are viewed as unacceptable to the recipient, it could be officially classed as harassment.
What is Online Harassment? The use of information and communication technologies by an individual or group to repeatedly cause harm to another person. Online harassment can invade all aspects of a target’s home and personal space and may involve threats, embarrassment, or humiliation within an online environment.
Online harassment may also be referred to as cyber-aggression, cyberbullying, cyber-harassment, cyber-hate, cyber-victimisation or deviant online behaviour.
Online harassment may include: •Persistent use of the internet or other electric communication to harass, frighten or spy on someone
•Sending or posting harmful content about a person to other people
•Sharing someone’s personal information, without their consent
• Purposeful isolation of individuals from online communication with others in a network
•The exchange of online sexual images or videos
• Online disclosure of sexual or intimate photos or videos, without the consent of the person pictured
• Pretending to be someone else online§ Sending or posting deliberately inflammatory, inappropriate or controversial messages or comments on the internet intended to upset or provoke responses from other internet users
What is Abuse?
Abuse is to treat someone with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly. Abuse includes any action that intentionally harms or injures another person.
Abuse can take many different forms and can be enacted in different ways. There are different types of abuse and these can include: physical abuse, domestic violence or abuse, sexual abuse, psychological/ emotional abuse, financial/material abuse, modern slavery, discriminatory abuse, organisation/institutional abuse, neglect/ acts of omission, self-neglect.
Initiations
An example of bullying, harassing and/ or abusive behaviour may be initiations which may, for example, take place to 'induct' students into sports teams or societies. There is a difference between 'initiations' and 'problem initiations'. Not all 'initiations' involved the types of harmful or inappropriate activities or behaviours that would establish a 'problem initiation' (British Universities & Colleges Sport, BUCS webpage).
A problem initiation is not defined by:• The naming of an activity
• When it takes place
• The location of that activity
• Individuals willing to participate
Inappropriate or dangerous activities or behaviours associated with 'problem initiations' include but are not limited to:
• Bullying, harassment and power inequality, often used as a means to coerce participation in activities, challenges and other risky behaviours, designed to humiliate, often against a person's will
• Consumption of excessive quantities of alcohol
• Consumption of abnormal / unpleasant substances
• Forced acts of nudity / nakedness
• The humiliation of a person in public
• Victimisation of a specific group of individuals (e.g."Freshers")
• Sexual harassment / inappropriate sexual jokes / sexual assault
Isolation or ostracising of individuals (e.g. through removal of a mobile phone / geographical remoteness)
• Psychological or physical torment perpetrated against an individual's wishes
Immediate and Ongoing Support If you are on campus, please contact our Security Service on 02037011184 who are available all day, every day. If it’s a life-threatening emergency or you need immediate, help please call 999.
Internal Support Students and staff can disclose an incident using the University’s Support andReport system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can leave your email address to seek further support from Student Support.
External SupportVictim First are an independent and confidential service that support victims through their journey of recovery. They can support you coping with the after effects of crime and help with reporting to the police.
National Bullying Helpline offer practical help and support to anyone experiencing bullying. Call 084522 55 787 9am-5pm Monday-Friday
Bullying UK provides advice relating to bullying at University. Call 0808 800 2222 oremail askus@familylives.org.ukfor advice.Their helpline is free and confidential.
Stop Online Abuse-Galop’s online resource to help women and LGBT people who have experiencedonline abuse.
The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network: https://www.baatn.org.uk/free-services
What is Domestic Violence?Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:
• Coercive Control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
• Psychological and/or Emotional Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Financial Abuse
• Forced Marriage
• Female Genital Mutilation
• Honour-Based Violence
• Harassment
• Stalking
• Online or Digital Abuse
What is Coercive Control?
Coercive control is when a person you are personally connected with repeatedly behaves in a way that makes you feel controlled, isolated or scared. This could include isolating you from friends and family, controlling your finances, monitoring what you do and where you go, putting you down and making you feel worthless or threatening to harm you, your child or your property. There is not a definitive list of behaviours, as the abuser will often use various means to establish controlling or coercive behaviour.
Controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship is defined as controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship which causes someone to fear that violence will be used against them on at least two occasions; or causes them serious alarm or distress which has a substantial adverse effect on their usual day-to-day activities.
What is Honour-based Abuse?Honour based abuse is a collection of practices used to control behaviour within families in order to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs and/or honour. Violence can occur when perpetrators perceive that a relative has shamed the family and/or community by breaking their ‘honour code’.
Honour based abuse cuts across all cultures, nationalities, faith groups and communities. Circumstances which may lead to the abuse are wide ranging and not culturally specific. It is important to remember that, despite the use of this label, there can be no ‘honour’ in abuse, and where culture or tradition are used to exert power or control over others, this can only be a misuse of that culture.
Honour-based abuse includes: • Physical abuse (kicking and beating)
• Psychological pressure (strict monitoring, humiliation, threats)
• Forced Marriage
• Abandonment (leaving someone in their country of origin)
• Forced suicide
• Honour killing (murder)
Immediate and Ongoing Support If you are on campus, please contact our Security Service on 02037011184 who are available all day, every day. If it’s a life-threatening emergency or you need immediate, help please call 999.
Internal SupportStudents and staff can disclose an incident using the University’s Support and Report system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can leave your email address to seek further support from Student Support.
External SupportNationalDomestic Violence Helpline- Freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247
Mankind offers a confidential helpline for all men across the UK suffering from domestic violence or abuse.
Call 01823 334244
10am-4pm ,Monday-Friday
Galop provides emotional and practical support for LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse.
Call 0800 999 5428
10am-5pm, Monday to Friday
(open until 8pm onWednesdays and Thursdays).
LGBT+ Survivors Forum - The forum will allow users to share their experiences, support one another and receive information and support from the team at the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline.
The LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Survivors Forum will provide this safe space for LGBT+ people to support one another.
You can access the forum here: LGBT+ Survivors Forum
Karma Nirvana is a charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. They run a national helpline offering direct support and guidance.
Call: 08005999 247
9am-5pm Monday-Friday
The Halo Project is a charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse, forced marriage and FemaleGenital Mutilation (FGM).
Call: 0808 1788 424 or 01642683 045
9am-5pm Monday-Friday