Dignity and respect for all

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Damian Walford Davies emphasises the importance, at this time when tension and concern are running high, of treating one another with dignity and respect.

One of the greatest strengths of our university community is its diversity. With that diversity come different views, different beliefs and different perspectives.

This has been at the forefront of my mind as I, like many of you, watch the tragic events still unfolding in the Middle East, against a wider background of conflict around the globe. Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner has already written to you in relation to the distressing events of, and following, 7 October. We are fully aware, and understand, the worries and concerns of our staff and students as the violence in Gaza continues.

In this context, I wanted to remind our community – since that is precisely what it is and needs to be – of the absolute need to behave with  dignity and respect to all. Our University must be a safe space. We will – all of us – adopt a zero-tolerance attitude to harassment and discrimination of all kinds. Some, no doubt, would wish the University to take up a clear position in relation to the conflict. It is out of principle that our emphasis is placed, in such communications as this, on the things that bind us together: staff and student safety and denouncing harassment and incitement in all its forms.

It is Islamophobia Awareness Month, to which we rightly draw attention; at the same time, we make no distinction between one month and the other eleven, or between one form of discrimination and other. This includes antisemitism. We will call out and act on such behaviour when we see it.

It is right, at the same time, that our commitment to freedom of speech within the law remains steadfast.

Should you experience any harassment or discrimination, we strongly encourage you to report it immediately.

Access support

Staff can contact Care First, our employee assistance programme, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Care First offers a free confidential helpline, resources, and face-to-face or telephone counselling.

Staff wellbeing support.

We also offer pastoral and spiritual support to all members of the university community regardless of whether you hold any explicit faith. You can contact one of the chaplains and they will arrange a time to meet with you, or we can put you in contact with a representative from your own faith.

Access support – students

If you are concerned about the impact of recent events on your studies, contact your personal tutor to discuss our extenuating circumstances policy.

Contact Student Connect at the Centre for Student Life to access any of our student support services, including counselling and wellbeing advice.

Access independent advice from our Students’ Union. The Student Advice team provide free, confidential and impartial advice.

We also offer pastoral and spiritual support to all members of the university community regardless of whether you hold any explicit faith. You can contact one of the chaplains and they will arrange a time to meet with you, or we can put you in contact with a representative from your own faith.

Respect for all members of our community

We have a zero-tolerance approach to racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, abuse, incitement or harassment at our university.

If you or anyone you know has experienced, or is experiencing hate crime or any form of violent, abusive there is help available for you. It is your choice whether you tell someone about your experience, but please know that you can access confidential, non-judgemental, specialist support from our Disclosure Response Team (DRT).

You can access DRT’s support regardless of whether you want to report the incident formally to the Police or university.

Making sure that you feel safe on campus

The university has security support available 24 hours a day and this can be accessed any time by calling +44 (0)29 2087 4444, or extension 74444 from a university landline.

Our SafeZone app is your quick and easy way to alert our Security team if you need help or assistance while on campus. If you are off campus the app will alert the police that you need assistance.

Download the SafeZone app.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training

Find out about training, including:

• Recognising and Responding to Racism
• Let’s Talk About Race Workshop
• Bystander Awareness Training
• Equality and Diversity Refresher
• Equality and Diversity for Team Leaders and Managers