If you or someone you know has been injured you should seek immediate help. If you or anyone else is in danger or seriously injured, call 999 (or 112 from a mobile). If you are on campus, you can also contact Campus Safety (01483 683333).
You can also use the University’s Report + Support platform to let us know about abuse you, or someone you know, has experienced. Reports can be made anonymously or with contact details, and every report is taken seriously.
Safety and practical planning
Abuse can make you feel unsafe in your own home, relationships, or daily life. You do not need to face this alone. Professional services can help you make a safety plan. For example:
- Thinking through safe places you could go in an emergency.
- Agreeing code words with a trusted friend or family member.
- Keeping copies of important documents somewhere safe.
- Making a plan for your children or dependants if relevant.
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline and Men’s Advice Line provide further guidance around safety planning.
Specialist organisations
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge): 0808 2000 247. Support for anyone experiencing abuse 24/7.
- Women’s Aid: Support and safety planning resources for women and children.
- Men’s Advice Line: Confidential advice for male victims, including trans and non-binary people.
- ManKind Initiative: Helpline for men experiencing abuse.
- Galop: National LGBT+ Abuse Helpline and specialist support.
- Respond: Support for people with learning disabilities and autism who have experienced trauma or abuse.
- SignHealth: Specialist domestic abuse service for deaf people.
- SafeLives: UK-wide domestic abuse charity offering resources and advocacy.
- Karma Nirvana: Support around so-called honour-based abuse and forced marriage.
University support (students and staff)
- Sexual Violence Liason Officers (SVLO)s: trained to support students affected by sexual violence and overlapping harms such as domestic abuse. They can help survivors think through options and connect with specialist domestic abuse services.
- Campus Safety: available 24/7 to talk through reporting options and safety planning.
- University of Surrey Students’ Union (USSU): can provide advice, support with processes, and attend meetings alongside students.
- Centre for Wellbeing: the University’s team of professional counsellors, and mental health workers offers confidential support.
- The University of Surrey Students Union (USSU) is a free confidential, impartial service where students can get advice and information on academic and personal issues, including advice on procedures and representation at meetings.
- Extenuating Circumstances. If you feel your studies have been affected by what has happened you can consider applying for extenuating circumstances (ECs).
- Chaplaincy: faith, belief and spiritual support, including non-faith chaplains.
Staff-specific support
- Human Resources: if you are a member of staff or manager your HR contact will be able to identify the support that’s available for you.
- Employee Assistance Programme, BHSF RISE, gives staff access to free personalised, on-demand advice and support from a team of mental health, financial and legal experts, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Trade unions: there are three trade unions that represent staff at the University: Unison, Unite and UCU.
- Occupational Health provide a range of occupational health services including, absence management. health surveillance, health screening, work station assessments, policy design, on site assistance/clinics, disability at work, and health promotion.