The UCO acknowledges the distressing nature of recent events in Israel and Palestine and the impact this may have on the wellbeing of students and staff at the UCO. We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all, that is free from discrimination.
We would like to offer our support to all those affected by this and other conflicts around the world, and encourage UCO staff and students who are impacted to reach out to discuss their individual support and welfare needs. The following sources of information and support may be useful to you.
Sources of information and support
- UCO students and staff can access free and confidential counselling by submitting a request to counselling@uco.ac.uk.
- Our Student Support team are available to provide support and guidance for UCO students and can be contacted at studentsupport@uco.ac.uk.
- We would encourage UCO staff to speak to their line manager or HR@uco.ac.uk for information and support, or to discuss any concerns they may have.
- For students seeking out-of-hours support, Student Nightline provide and anonymous listening and information service run by students, for students. You can talk to a trained volunteer about anything – big or small – in complete confidence on 020 7631 0101 or via listening@nighline.org.uk. They also provide live chat on their website at https://nightline.org.uk
- The Samaritans have a helpline open 24/7 to talk anonymously and confidentially about any issues that might affect you. Call 116123 to access the service.
- Solutions Not Sides is a registered charity and education programme that exists to empower young people with the knowledge, empathy and skills to promote dialogue and conflict resolution, and to challenge prejudice in the UK. - https://solutionsnotsides.co.uk/
Please note that these services are available to all within the UCO community. If you feel you would benefit from some support due to current events, other conflicts or issues closer to home we encourage you to seek help and advice through the channels provided.
Dealing with harassment
We hope that all members of our community are treated with respect and care; we will not tolerate any form of harassment or victimisation at the UCO. In the event that any member of our community experiences harassment or threatening behaviour, we encourage you to take the following steps:
- Seek support and advice from the Student Support Department or HR in the first instance at StudentSupport@uco.ac.uk or hr@uco.ac.uk
- Report harassment via internal channels. Please refer to UCO’s Dignity at UCO Policy for more information - https://www.uco.ac.uk/sites/default/files/content/Policies_Procedures/Dignity_UCO_Policy_UCO_V4_Jan2021_FINAL.pdfharassment
- Report hate crimes and other threats to the police and or other appropriate authorities. See information and guidance published by the Met Police at https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/hco/hate-crime/how-to-report-hate-crime/