We take reports of sexual harassment and abuse very seriously, and want to stamp out unacceptable behaviour in Huddersfield.

The student sexual harassment OUT (sshOUT) programme is an awareness campaign against sexual violence, delivered by the Students’ Union in partnership with a local organisation called Freedom Personal Safety. As part of the campaign, staff from student facing services and the Students’ Union will be trained to deal with reports and support students who may experience sexual harassment in Huddersfield. We want all students to be comfortable reporting to staff and to know they’ll receive support.

It's our priority as your Students’ Union to provide a safe environment for all our students. Going on a night out for during welcome week is common for students. We support the #AskforAngela policy. A number of clubs in Huddersfield have signed the Ask for Angela pledge, meaning if you feel unsafe in their venue, you can ask any of the staff at the bar to “speak to Angela”, and they will get you out of the unsafe situation. As your Equalities Officer, I will continue to work to ensure that students are encouraged to speak to any of the staff working during welcome week on any harassment issues, and this will be dealt with appropriately. We also have a Safe Taxi policy that is available for students to use during the day and when you are on a night out in Huddersfield. The Safe Taxi system is a way of getting around Huddersfield safely and even when you’re short of cash. The taxi driver takes your information, which would then be sent to the Students’ Union, where you can come and pay for your taxi the following day. Currently we’re working with XService, A1 Taxis and GT Taxis.

You shouldn’t be afraid to speak up when you have experienced any form of harassment. You can report this online using the University’s Share and Support tool, talk to someone from the University Wellbeing Team or come and talk to the Students’ Union Advice Centre. For more information about the support available please visit the Students’ Union website. 

The sshOUT programme is funded by Rosa and the Justice and Equality Fund Advice and Support programme.

Adetayo

Equalities Officer