School partners with Guild on bystander training programme
The School of Medicine is proud to collaborate with Liverpool Guild of Students to pilot a Bystander Intervention programme to support the wider delivery of this training at the University, helping to raise awareness of the types of behaviour that constitute harassment and assault and empower students to challenge and prevent these on campus.
Everyone should feel safe on campus, and the School is looking to support this by recruiting student doctor volunteers from Years Three and Four to deliver the training to students in Years One and Two next academic year.
The Bystander Intervention workshop aims to improve knowledge and understanding of sexual misconduct and other types of misconduct and encourage students to feel empowered to challenge it. The training explores different approaches, looking at scenarios and potential barriers and enablers to the types of interventions available.
Chloe Field is Deputy President at the Guild and was elected on a manifesto of student issues she was passionate about tackling, including sexual misconduct.
Can you tell us a bit about your role and how it supports students?
As a student officer, my role is to represent students who study at the University of Liverpool. My campaign to Reclaim our Campus aims to take steps to create a zero-tolerance campus where no form of unwanted sexual contact is accepted by the student community or the University.
As a student, who can I reach out to for support if I have been sexually harassed or assaulted?
There is support available through The Guild and University if you have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Report and Support is a new online tool where students can submit a report about an incident and receive support from a Wellbeing adviser at the University. You can also speak to an advisor in the Guild who can talk you through University processes and help you access external support in the city.
Remember, you are not alone and there is always someone to reach out to and talk to.
Am I able to access support or make a report anonymously?
You can make an anonymous report through the Report and Support tool but, in that case, the University won’t be able to identify and contact you to offer any advice or support. If you are worried about contacting the University, the Guild advice service is independent and completely confidential and can talk you through your options whilst you decide on the next steps.
How about if I witness an incident that I am uncomfortable with?
It’s ok to witness something and not be sure of how to act. Sometimes it's hard to know if intervening in the moment is helpful. At the Guild, we offer bystander intervention training so you can understand the different ways you can help someone in need. If you are unsure or confused, come and speak to someone. A Guild Adviser can talk you through your options and make sure you get support.
What initiatives are you currently working on in relation to this?
Alongside working with the University to update current policy, we have developed a pilot programme together with the School of Medicine to train a wider group of students in bystander intervention training.
Increased knowledge of bystander intervention has been shown to lead to reduced incidents, increased reporting and a culture where victims feel supported and empowered.
As student leaders, we see you as a key group to take part in the training. Becoming an active bystander can create a safer and more inclusive community that everyone is a part of.
Discover more
- See the sexual harassment and assault page of the student intranet (link) for the options available for reporting an incident, as well as the support the School, University and Guild can provide.
- Students in Years Three and Four can sign up to be a part of the pilot programme via this survey (link).