We have all welcomed greater freedom from the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions especially those around meeting up with friends and family. We also recognise that these changes may feel overwhelming and that some people may try to take advantage of the vulnerability of others.
Did you know that teams across Oxford Brookes and beyond, offer a range of support, tips and resources for staying safe and well throughout the year? We’ve rounded up information on a few of these and we hope you find it useful.
Wellbeing
The Wellbeing team provides a range of year-round support services to Brookes students. During the pandemic, the team has been providing its services remotely and will continue to do so during the summer. The Wellbeing Contact us webpage details the opening hours for the services during semester and vacation times.
The support provided by the team includes:
- Counselling - a free confidential service which aims to help you clarify and overcome problems or issues and to develop life management resources and skills
- Inclusive Support Service - providing advice and information if you have a disability and/or long term health condition
- Specialist support for students with dyslexia and/or specific learning difficulties
- Specialist mentoring for students with mental health difficulties or diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum
- Multifaith Chaplaincy - working with all students and staff from any faith tradition or no faith at all, offering companionship and spiritual care
- The Student Welfare Team is available to support you if you are going through a particularly difficult time
- A team of advisors available if you are a care leaver, estranged from your family, LGBTQ+ and gender identity, a mature student or a student carer.
Wellbeing also has a handy Need help now? webpage should you need emergency help with contact details for partner organisations who are available 24/7:
- Samaritans - someone to listen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Shout - a 24/7 live text chat if you’re anxious, worried or stressed
- Oxford Safe Haven - providing a safe space to those in a mental health crisis, Friday to Monday
- CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) - free, confidential helpline for anyone who needs to talk
- Papyrus - confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide
- Oxford Nightline - listening, support and information service run by students for students in Oxford, during Oxford University term times.
- Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) - providing dedicated support to victims of rape or sexual assault, including providing a confidential space for interviews, examinations and collecting evidence.
Security Services
The Security Services team works across all campuses and Oxford Brookes-managed halls of residence. The team go out on regular patrols, seven days a week and are available for emergency assistance on/around campus 24/7 - just call 01865 48 3060.
This week the team have been supporting Thames Valley Police’s (TVP) Safer Streets Campaign alongside Brookes Student Community Wardens. The support included providing free BikeRegister marking kits and Immobilise property marking to the community in Cowley.
If you notice any suspicious activity, anti-social behaviour or abandoned cycles or vehicles you can report an incident to the team with contact details or anonymously.
Follow the team’s Twitter and Instagram accounts to see what they are doing and for tips and resources.
Visit the Security Services webpages for information and advice on crime prevention, safety tips, tuition fee scams, accommodation security, cycle security, protecting your personal belongings, fraud and much more.
Personal Safety
It’s been a while since many of us were out and about, meeting up with friends and new people throughout the day and into the night. Here’s a reminder of some of the information and resources which are helpful to know about:
- Take a look at the helpful personal safety webpage and safety tips handbook from Security Services.
- Brookes Union Safe Taxi Scheme - helping you get home safely no matter where you are in Oxford even if you haven’t got the cash to pay for the journey at the time
- Download HollieGuard, a free personal safety app. A member of our reception team demonstrates how easy the app is to use in a short information video.
Report & Support
If you have experienced or witnessed sexual violence, hate crime or harassment involving students, you can report it online with your contact details or anonymously using our Report & Support tool.
If you or someone you know has experienced any of the following behaviors, support is available at the University and by external support services:
Oxford Brookes, along with the University of Oxford and other partners across the city, is currently working with TVP to help keep everyone safe as we socialise more. Together we are sending a clear message that sexual harassment and violence are not acceptable and action will be taken against perpetrators.
Thames Valley Police
Oxford Brookes has worked in partnership with Thames Valley Police (TVP) for many years to keep everyone in our community safe and supported.
If you need to contact the police please use one of the following options:
- Via the TVP webpages
- For non-emergency situations which do not require an immediate police response call 101
- For emergency situations which require an immediate response call 999.
You can follow TVP on social media via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.