Support from UHI

UHI Student support teams

Our network of Student support staff are trained in listening and responding to sensitive matters such as Gender Based Violence, and can help you talk through your feelings and options.

• Wherever you may be learning, as a student of UHI we can help you to access the support you might need such as wellbeing & counselling services, study support, or financial assistance.
• We can also direct you to external support, with your consent, such as Rape Crisis Scotland, Women’s Aid, or the Police. Unless we feel that you or someone else is at significant risk of harm, your journey of support and recovery is guided by you – we recognise that what works for one survivor, may not feel right for another.

Contact your campus Student support team, or if you are unsure where you are enrolled email support@uhi.ac.uk.

See the privacy notice for contacting UHI Student support. 

Are my discussions about GBV confidential?

If you choose to let UHI know that you or someone you know may be at risk of GBV, or have experienced GBV, we will support you and give you (or the victim/survivor, if that isn't you) control and choice in how to proceed.

If you are at risk of harm, we may need to take steps to share information within UHI, to ensure you get the most appropriate support from the best person - this might be your local Safeguarding Lead/s or Student Support Manager. Rarely, we may have a duty to contact the Police or Emergency Services, only if the risk of significant harm to you or someone else is very high. We may also need to share your information for Safeguarding purposes if you or someone else at risk is classed as a child, or classed as an 'adult at risk'.

We would always try to let you know, and work with you, to do this in the best way possible.

We would not share your disclosure, or be able to discuss it, with your family or friends. Sometimes we can share your information with an external support agency (e.g. Women's Aid) but only if you ask us to and consent to this.

External agencies that we link or signpost to may have their own policies and approaches to confidentiality.

Reporting another UHI Student

As incidences of GBV are a breach of our Student Code of Conduct, you may wish to report the behaviour of another UHI student to us for internal investigation. The student does not need to study at the same UHI campus as you. You can ask any member of staff to help you do this, and they will follow the UHI Disciplinary Procedures. ‘Reporting’ in this way is different than making a disclosure to staff. You can disclose (tell staff what happened to you, without naming the student) and receive help and support without making a ‘report’, if you choose.  

You can continue to access support from us, or external services, during a UHI investigation. We will also take steps to assess the risk and put safety measures in place whilst the investigation is ongoing. We have a duty to also provide support to the accused student, though this will be provided by a separate member of staff. 

Please note that whilst a police investigation is ongoing, UHI will not hold an internal investigation for the same crime at the same time. However, we will continue to support you and risk assess as above. UHI Disciplinary Procedures will not be able to access the same powers as the police and court systems.

We will not pressure you into making a report, but can talk you through what might happen. In rare circumstances where we believe there is significantly high risk to you or others, we reserve the right to investigate, even where this was not your choice, to ensure the safety of all.

Reporting a staff member to UHI

If you wish to report a staff member (including contractors) to UHI for Gender Based Violence, you should use the UHI Complaints Procedure. You can ask your local Student Support Team to help you do this, as well as explaining the process and alternative options such Reporting To The Police. 

UHI will risk assess and put safety measures in place whilst any investigation is underway.