For Sexual Violence and Assualt Awareness Week, we're highlighting the University of Staffordshire's Sexual Violence Liaison Team.
This Sexual Violence and Abuse Awareness Week, your Union are highlighting just some of the work we and the University do to support victims of violence and abuse in our community. We are dedicated to hearing, encouraging and supporting victims whilst treating them with the dignity and empathy they deserve.
An important element of the work we do is the University's Sexual Violence Liaison Team. This is a team of professionally trained Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs) from both the Union and the University who are there to support members of our community who have experienced sexual violence. Students who require this service are encouraged to contact the team for access to the following services:
- Immediate and ongoing care and support: referrals to mental health, wellbeing and medical services; safety planning; academic and workplace adjustments; self-care resources; advocacy; navigating resources, Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).
- Assistance with reporting and complaints: assistance in making an informed decision about next steps should an individual choose to report to authorities within the university or to the police.
- Provision of information: provision of up-to-date community resource information.
- Education: delivery of education, prevention, training, and awareness activities with campus partners.
The important thing to remember if you or someone else has experienced sexual violence is that no matter where you were, what you were doing, what you were wearing, what you were saying, if you were drunk or under the influence of drugs, it was not your fault; you are not to blame.
The Sexual Violence Liaison Officers can be contacted via email at SVLO@staffs.ac.uk
If you or anyone else is in need of immediate support, call 999.