Help and advice
If you have been affected by harassment, bullying, intimidation or discrimination there are a range of support services provided by the University, Students' Guild/The Students' Union and external organisations who can help all students and staff. You may not know it, but you may have experienced a hate crime which is reportable to the police: details are below.
Support for Students
In an emergency
- Police / Ambulance – 999
- Campus Estate Patrol (Exeter) – 01392 723999
- Campus Security (Penryn) – 01326 254444
If you need medical attention
Exeter
- Student Health Centre (Streatham)
- The Heavitree Practice (St Luke's)
- For out of hours medical care call NHS Direct on 111
- Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Cornwall
- Student Health Centre and local surgeries (Penryn and Falmouth)
- Lander Medical Practice (Truro)
- For out of hours medical care call NHS Direct on 111
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals
If you need advice or to talk to somebody
- Dignity and Respect Advisors – a team of trained University and Guild staff providing a confidential service for those involved in cases of harassment of bullying
- International Student Support – advising and supporting non-UK students on all campuses
- Nightline – confidential and anonymous listening service run by trained student volunteers from 8pm to 8am during term-time
- Multi-faith Chaplaincy – a safe and confidential space to talk
- Students’ Guild Advice Unit (Exeter)
- Residence Life Team (Exeter) – confidential support for students living in University accommodation
- The Students’ Union Advice Service (Cornwall) – support for housing, finances, academic concerns and welfare
- Student Support (Cornwall) – living and welfare support
If you need wellbeing support
- Wellbeing Services, including
- Student Support(Cornwall)
Support for Staff
In an emergency
- Police / Ambulance – 999
- Campus Estate Patrol (Exeter) – 01392 723999
- Campus Security (Penryn) – 01326 254444
If you need advice
- Dignity and Respect Advisors – a team of trained University and Guild staff providing a confidential service for those involved in cases of harassment of bullying
- Human Resources Business Partners, Managers and Advisors – The HRBP for your service or College is your first point of contact for all HR-related enquiries.
- The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team – advisors can provide advice on any enquiries related to EDI.
Further Support
- If you would like general support, or would like to speak to someone else confidentially within the one of the student/ staff networks, more information can be found here.
If you need wellbeing support
- Spectrum Life is the EAP provider for the University of Exeter. This free service is offered to University of Exeter staff members and postgraduate students, as well as family members living at their address. Counselling services offered consist of up to 6 sessions per person, 'per problem' of either telephone OR face-to-face counselling.
- Occupational Health - Occupational Health can assist with mental health and disability support and offer a staff counselling service.
External support and advice
- Bullying UK - a charity dedicated to supporting those who are experiencing bullying in the home, in education or in the workplace. They have a confidential helpline as well as a live online chat service.
- National Bullying Helpline - dedicated to stamping out bullying and helping those who are, or have been bullied.
- Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services - support and information about rape, childhood sexual abuse or sexual violence. They are a professional and confidential service which support you through coping with and recovering from what has happened. Devon Rape Crisis can also explain to you your options and rights in relation to the incident(s). Helpline: 01392 204174
- The Mix - UK based support service for young people. You can find discussion boards and articles on a wide range of issues and talk to somebody online, on social media or on their free confidential helpline.
- Samaritans - Samaritans provide confidential emotional support for anyone in need, no matter what you are experiencing. They can help you explore your options, understand your problems, or just be there to listen. The 116 123 number is free from landlines and mobiles and does not show up on phone bills. They also offer email and text support and you can visit the local Exeter branch.
- Galop - Galop provides confidential and independent advice and support for LGBT+ people who have experienced sexual assault, abuse or violence.
Support and information about sexual abuse and assault
If you would like support around these issues, you may wish to contact one of the following organisations:
- Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services - 01392 204174
- The Oak Centre, Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly - 0300 3034626
- The Willow Centre, Truro - 01872 272059
- National Rape Crisis Line - 080 802 9999
- The Rape and Sexual Abuse Line - 0808 800 0188
- The UK Survivors Trust - 0808 801 0818
- National Association for People Abused in Childhood - 0808 801 0331
- Male Survivors Partnership - 0808 800 50005
Hate Crime and Incidents
Hate crime is against the law. A hate crime is any crime perceived to have been motivated by hostility or prejudice.
We have been concerned to receive reports of racially motivated abuse suffered by our community connected to the Coronavirus pandemic. Inappropriate behaviour or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. This is a hate crime and is against the law. If you experience, or are witness to, any behaviour of this type, please report it to the police immediately or via our Speak Out web pages. Details of how to report are below. We will investigate and, where necessary, disciplinary procedures will be followed. Further advice and information from police about COVID 19 is available here - www.devon-cornwall.police.uk.
If you are feeling anxious during this time, further support is available via our wellbeing webpages. We have signed an open letter with partners across Exeter on tackling hate crime and racism in our community, particularly in light of recent incidents in relation to coronavirus. This is a time when we must work together and support each other - not create more division and hurt.
Read the letter in full.
Please see these links for material available in Traditional Chinese:
A hate crime can be committed against a person or their property based on:
- Disability
- Race or ethnicity
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
- or any part of someone’s personal identity
Hate crimes can include things like:
- Being called names or other forms of verbal abuse
- Being sent offensive letters, emails or text messages
- Being attacked or threatened with violence
- Having your property interfered with or damaged
If any of these things are happening to you, you should report them to the police and you can also report them to the university.
The university and the police take seriously reports of hate crime. We have a zero tolerance approach to hate crime and work together on this.
The police are committed to investigating all forms of hate crime. The university cannot report a hate crime to the police on your behalf but we can support you in making a complaint to the police.
If you are not sure if you have experienced a crime or not we would still encourage you to report it to the police or to talk to someone about this. Sometimes what you have experienced may not be a crime but if it is motivated by hostility or prejudice these are called hate incidents and these are also monitored by the police.
How do I report?
If it is an emergency where life is threatened, people are injured or offenders are nearby and an urgent response is required, ring 999.
You can report hate crime to the police in a number of different ways
- Online using the Devon and Cornwall Police non-emergency crime reporting form
- Call the police on 101, the force's non-emergency number.
- Report the problem to your local police station or local policing team.
If you do not wish to report to the police direct you can report through a third party who may also be able to provide help and guidance:
- True Vision Report It tool
- Stop Hate UK
By reporting through a third party you can remain anonymous if you wish to but please read the guidance on the provider website about how to do this.
The university cannot report a hate crime to the police on your behalf but we can support you to make a report to the police. You can ask for this support when you report an incident informally or formally or through the Wellbeing Service or the Student Cases team.
You can read more about hate crime, how to report and details of third parties on the Devon and Cornwall Police website here.