You can report what has happened through our reporting system Report and Support The system is confidential and will only be accessible to a small number of dedicated staff who will respond, based upon what you have shared. You are able to tell us what happened with your details in order that we can respond. You can alternatively tell us anonymously.
Choosing to report anonymously means that we might not be able to help you directly but the information you provide can be used at a later date and will help us to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the University.
Support
If you or someone you know is a victim/survivor of harassment, sexual assault or rape, support is available. Experiencing any of these types of incidents can be very traumatic and you may experience a range of emotions. There is no ‘normal’ or ‘right way’ to react.
Please remember that you are not alone and you are not to blame for what has happened.
Are you safe?
Here are some simple steps you can take to help ensure your safety:
- Find somewhere you feel safe
- You might be in shock, so wrap up warm
- Consider telling someone you trust about what happened. Victims First offer support and to talk to someone confidentially
- Call 999 if you require urgent medical attention.
Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
You might also want to consider contacting a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). SARCs provide dedicated support to victims/survivors of rape or sexual assault – including providing a confidential space for interviews, examinations and collecting evidence. Some may also offer counselling services.
These services are available to all ages and genders, and you can use access their services regardless of whether or not you feel you want to report to the police.
If you experienced sexual assault within the last 10 days, you may wish to go to a SARC centre and/or arrange to see Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) . For more information, please see the following webpage:- SARCs and ISVAs - New Pathways
Anyone can self-refer to a SARC. This means that you can go to the SARC independently and do not have to involve the police, or anyone else if you do not want to.
If you self-report in this way, it is up to you whether any evidence which is collected is passed on to the police. If you later decide to report, the evidence will still be at the SARC.
Also, if possible, try to take these steps:
- do not wash
- do not brush your teeth
- do not have a cigarette
- do not eat or drink
- do not change your clothes
- if you do change your clothes, do not wash them but put them in a clean plastic bag
- try not to go to the toilet
- do not clear up anything from the area of the incident
- don't worry if you have already done some of these things. It's possible that there is still forensic evidence to collect.
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) - An ISVA provides emotional and practical support and advice to any student who has experienced sexual violence, recently or in the past. You can access them independent of our service or one of our SVLOs can help you in making contact.
We can arrange for you to have a Sexual Violence Liaison Officer (SVLO) - An SVLO can listen and discuss the options available to you through external services and within the university. Your appointed SVLO can also liaise with these external services and University staff where required and will provide ongoing 'wrap around' care and support.
You have access to support from an SVLO regardless of whether the sexual violence happened on- or off-campus, or if you were subjected to sexual violence before you came to Aberystwyth.
If there is an emergency call 999 or Security on 01970 622649 or mobile 07889 596220 - https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/efr/campus-security/
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