UHI Inverness achieves EmilyTest Award for commitment to tackling gender-based violence

UHI Inverness has achieved the EmilyTest GBV Charter Award in recognition of its zero-tolerance approach towards gender-based violence (GBV).

The award is the culmination of two years of work to establish practices and training to deliver gender-based violence prevention, intervention and support across UHI Inverness.

The charter recognises that UHI Inverness has passed the EmilyTest by ensuring that it demonstrates outstanding commitment to addressing gender-based violence and providing a safer, more inclusive and supportive campus environment.

The EmilyTest charity was established following the death of Aberdeen undergraduate law student, Emily Drouet, who had been subjected to a campaign of gender-based violence by a fellow student. The charity has created the world’s first Gender-Based Violence Charter for colleges and universities to ensure educational institutions have the appropriate responses and support in place for students - support that could have saved Emily’s life.

Fiona Drouet, founder and chief executive officer of EmilyTest

Emily’s mother, Fiona Drouet, the founder and chief executive officer of EmilyTest, said:

"I am thrilled to congratulate UHI Inverness on achieving the EmilyTest GBV Charter Award. This admirable accomplishment reflects the college’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence and creating the safest and most responsible campus possible. Of particular note are their ongoing and sustained efforts in raising GBV awareness among both students and staff.

“I greatly admire all colleges and universities that embrace the charter and recognise the value of EmilyTest's independent quality assurance framework. Achieving the award involves significant work, but UHI Inverness has remained focused throughout, resulting in this important milestone. We are excited to continue this partnership with the college and fully congratulate them once again!"

UHI Inverness has introduced a new gender-based violence policy, an online reporting tool and extensive staff and student officer training since May 2022. New bespoke funding and support plans have also been introduced that can be put in place to support students affected by gender-based violence. On-campus events have been held to promote local support services, demonstrating a commitment at UHI Inverness to work with partners to be part of a move towards a wider change across society.

UHI Inverness is only the third college in Scotland to achieve this status by meeting more than 40 minimum standards. The award was presented to the college by Fiona at a special event on campus on Tuesday, 10 December, which was Human Rights Day and also marked the final day of the 16 days of global activism against gender-based violence.

To coincide with the presentation, a Wellbeing Event was also held in the campus atrium, attended by external partners who shared information and advice with students about gender-based violence and how to care for their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

Fiona and Lindsay

Dr Lindsay Snodgrass, Vice Principal at UHI Inverness, said:

“Achieving the EmilyTest Charter recognises our commitment to tackling gender-based violence. As a socially progressive organisation at the heart of our community, we recognise the critical role we can play by educating our students and providing intervention and support where required. Engaging with EmilyTest has led to meaningful change in how we can help to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. I’m incredibly proud of the dedication and commitment of our staff, students and partners in driving this work forward and in fostering a culture of respect, care and resilience.”

Wellbeing Officer, Claire Kilburn-Young, said:

“We are all committed to providing a high level of support to students by working with the Violence Against Women and Girls partnership agencies in our community such as Women’s Aid, Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland and Sexual Assault Referral Centres, creating a protocol for emergency housing, personalising study plans for students and providing discretionary funding. We have also contextualised EmilyTest’s fantastic LISTEN training resource which supports staff on how to deal with gender-based violence disclosures. We are rolling it out to staff and student officers twice a year so that staff can risk assess and support students with all aspects of how their lives are affected by gender-based violence and offer individualised support. We are all committed to creating a safer and more inclusive environment for all.”

Claire Kilburn-Young

To contact our Wellbeing and Student Support teams: studentsupport.ic@uhi.ac.uk and wellbeing.ic@uhi.ac.uk

Chris, Fiona, Lindsay and Myra Ross of NHS Highland who spoke at the event