Arden considers the welfare and safety of its community as paramount and is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming, inclusive and diverse community that nurtures a healthy environment and culture of mutual respect and consideration for our students, staff members and visitors. If you have been affected by sexual misconduct or harassment, this webpage offers information about the support and reporting options available inside and outside of the University, as a single source of information.
Arden University must comply with a new condition of registration effective from August 1st 2025 regarding Sexual Misconduct and Harassment. As part of that, we have created a single source of information in relation to Sexual Misconduct and Harassment.
Reporting form can be found here:
Sexual misconduct refers to all unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates personal boundaries, dignity and consent and causes distress. This includes (but is not limited to) sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape.
Sexual misconduct can also happen online, where digital technology is used to violate consent, privacy, or personal boundaries including;
- Image-based abuse – Sharing intimate images or videos without consent (sometimes referred to as "revenge porn").
- Online sexual harassment – Sending unwanted sexual messages, comments, or threats.
- Unwanted requests for sexual content – Pressuring someone to send nude images, videos, or perform sexual acts via livestream.
If you have an experience which is not listed above, or you are unsure of the nature of your experience, we can support you. Please do not let limited definitions prevent you from seeking support.
Harassment is any unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct relating to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. A single incident can amount to harassment.
The protected characteristics are:
- age;
- disability;
- gender reassignment;
- marital or civil partner status;
- pregnancy or maternity;
- race;
- colour;
- nationality;
- ethnic or national origin;
- religion or belief; or
- sex or sexual orientation.
Harassment also includes treating someone less favorably because they have submitted or refused to submit to such behaviour in the past.
What Support is Available
Support for Harassment
If it is not an emergency, you can speak to your GP/healthcare professional or call the Police non-emergency number 101 or attend any local Police station.
There are also confidential and independent support organisations that can support you:
National Stalking Helpline: offers information and guidance to anybody in the UK who is currently or has previously been affected by harassment or stalking through a freephone number and email facility – 0808 802 0300. (09:30-16:00 weekdays except for Wednesdays when it is open 13:00-16:00. The Helpline is not open on bank holidays).
Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service: a trauma-informed service established to assist high risk victims of stalking. Accredited Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers (ISACs) ensure that victims of stalking are supported and that a coordinated community response is developed locally to keep victims and their children safe – 020 3866 4107.
STOPNCII: StopNCII.org is operated by the Revenge Porn Helpline and offers support to remove non-consensual intimate images from the internet.
In addition, the University has two comprehensive support platforms to enable students or staff to access 1-1 confidential support and access a range of resources on a host of topics.
For students – Student Assistance Programme Togetherall Full details and login information can be found on the Wellbeing Portal, which is part of the Student Hub.
For staff – Employee Assistance Programme Health Assured Full details and login information can be found on the Staff Intranet page.
Specialist Support for Sexual Misconduct
If you have been effected by sexual assault and would like support, please see below for a list of external specialist support providers, such as local charities, organisations or Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). All organisations provide comprehensive support and information and online resources, and you don't need to report to police to access help. Many operate 24/7 helplines and offer both immediate crisis supports and longer-term therapeutic services.
A Sexual Assault Referral Centre (or SARC as they are often referred) are there to provide specialist, compassionate support under one roof, so survivors don't have to navigate multiple services when they're already dealing with trauma.
- You can go directly to a SARC without going through police or doctors first.
- You can also ask the police to take you to a SARC without intent to prosecute.
- Everything is completely confidential.
- Support is free.
- You can get help whether the assault happened recently or years ago, however, if you are attending a SARC after assault to get evidence, you would ideally do this within 72 hours of the attack.
- SARCs help people of all ages and genders.
If you cannot locate the area you live in on the list below, the national Rape Crisis helpline relevant to your country. As they can provides support and can direct to local services in your area.
Rape Crisis England & Wales National Helpline 24/7 Support Line available to anyone aged 16+ across England and Wales. 0808 500 2222
Rape Crisis Scotland National Helpline s available any day between 5pm – midnight available to people of all genders living in Scotland aged 13+ who have been affected by sexual violence. 08088 01 03 02
England
The Survivors Trust - The dedicated Rape Crisis Centre for Leeds supporting all women and girls affected by rape and sexual violence of any kind.
The Hazlehurst Centre (West Yorkshire SARC) Sexual Assault Referral Centres serving West Yorkshire.
Huddersfield, Wakefield
RASAC (Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield) Offers free and confidential counselling and support services to people who have experienced any form of sexual abuse and/or rape either as a child or as an adult.
Bradford
Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service Support for rape and sexual abuse survivors living in and around Bradford.
Ben’s Place Specialist support for males who’ve experienced sexual abuse.
St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Offers help to men, women and children in Greater Manchester and Cheshire area.
Manchester Rape Crisis Provides support for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence.
Rape & Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) Supports all survivors of sexual abuse in Birmingham and Solihull, offering empathic services to children and adults of all genders.
Horizon Sexual Assault Referral Centre 24/7 support service covering Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands.
MIDLANDS - Additional Services
Coventry
CRASAC (Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre) Offers free and confidential support and information to anyone from the age of 5 who has been affected by sexual violence, providing specialist support for adults and children in Coventry.
Northampton
Northamptonshire Rape Crisis Run by an all-female team providing women-and-girls-only safe space, with extended support services to males of all ages offering help following sexual abuse or assault.
The Topaz Centre Nottinghamshire SARC offering free confidential support to anyone over 18 who has experienced sexual abuse and violence.
Nottinghamshire Sexual Violence Support Services (SVSS) Provides comprehensive sexual violence support services across Nottinghamshire.
Solace Women's Aid - North London Rape Crisis Runs a free anonymous helpline and provides specialist emotional support with 11 Independent Sexual Violence Advisors.
EALING & West London
West London Rape Crisis Centre (Women and Girls Network) Provides specialist support services for women and girls who have experienced recent or historic sexual violence, including child sexual abuse, rape, prostitution, sexual assault, sexual harassment, gang related sexual violence, and sexual bullying in Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow.
HOLBORN and STRATFORD Central and East London
East London Rape Crisis (Nia) Provides free, confidential specialist help for women and girls aged 14+ who have experienced sexual violence. East London Rape Crisis (Nia) - Survivors Gateway.
The Havens - London SARC Network Specialist centres in London for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted, with three centres covering the whole city as a network of specialist sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) open 24/7.
If you can’t identify your London Borough, London Survivors Gateway provide a Service Map to help you locate the right service closest to you.
London Survivors Gateway Central referral service for professional and self-referrals across London, offering counselling, forensic medical examination, groups, and Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy (ISVA) services.
Hersana - Providing Black femme survivors with support, access to justice and holistic therapies around all forms of gender-based violence, based in Hatton Garden, though supports black femme survivors across the UK.
Germany
LARA - Rape Crisis and Counselling Centre Offers assistance for women, trans, inter, and non-binary individuals over the age of 14 who have been raped, sexual abused, and/or sexual harassed.
Their hotline offers rapid advice and support, with walk-in services available Monday-Friday 9am-6pm.
BFF - Federal Association of Rape Crisis Centres In each German federal state, the BFF’s women’s counselling centres and rape crisis centres provide support for women and girls affected by violence and for their family and friends. Services are confidential and anonymous upon request.
Czechia
PORT Centre (proFem) staffed exclusively by women, offers a comprehensive range of free services – from emergency crisis assistance to psychotherapy, social counselling and legal advice. The first comprehensive centre for victims of sexual violence in the Czech Republic, opened in January 2024.
Emergency Services (Czech Republic):
112 (Central emergency number), 155 (Ambulance), 158 (Police), 116 006 (Victim Support Crisis Line)
Free Course - Caring for yourself: Sex and intimacy after sexual violence - https://victimfocus-resources.com/products/free-course-caring-for-yourself-after-sexual-violence
Free Resources Library on Gina - https://www.gina.uk.com/resource-library
NHS Advice after sexual assault - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/
Reporting Sexual Misconduct & Harassment
We understand that reporting sexual misconduct and harassment can be difficult. Our confidential reporting system is designed to support you whilst helping us monitor incidents and improve our response. This reporting form is handled with due sensitivity, confidentiality and reasonably by the relevant Arden University staff teams to investigate or offer support to anyone who has requested so.
The reporting form is for all and any student, staff member or visitor to Arden University.
Confidentiality and your Privacy
All reports are kept confidential and handled in line with our data protection policy. Every report, whether anonymous or formal, helps us provide better support to our community.
Remember: You don't have to face this alone. Support is available whatever option you choose.
External reporting
If you think that you are the victim of a crime, including harassment or sexual misconduct, the incident should be reported to the police immediately.
We will support you throughout the process and we recommend that you approach the relevant emergency service at your given location.
UK: Call 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency)
Berlin: Call (+49 30) 4664 4664 (non-emergency) or 110 (emergency)
The University will support you throughout the police process and will handle any internal disciplinary action separately under the Student Disciplinary Procedure.
Internal reporting (to Arden)
You can choose to report on your own behalf, on behalf of someone else, or without specifying who it refers to. The form will ask you to describe the situation in your own words, then give you the option to upload any supporting evidence you have. You'll answer a few clarifying questions to help us understand the context before choosing whether to report anonymously or formally. All data is handled appropriately and only relevant staff members who have been sufficiently trained will have access to this for the purposes of investigation or providing support, if requested.
If you select anonymous reporting, we'll ask about any barriers that might be preventing you from reporting formally. You can choose to share your identity if you'd like a member of the University to reach out and offer support. Whilst we may not be able to help you directly through anonymous reporting, we'll provide follow-up support options. Your report still helps us understand the scale of issues and improve our services for everyone.
If you choose to provide your details and any additional information about the reported party, we will be able to investgiate this fully as outlined in the relevant Student or Staff Disciplinary Procedure. Your details will be handled sensitively and appropriately, and you will be contacted to offer direct support and to provide anything additional that may support an investigation.
The full investigate process can be found in the Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, either for students or staff.
Steps to consider take when formally reporting
- Record dates, times, locations of incidents.
- Note who was present.
- For online harassment: take screenshots, save messages with dates/times.
- Report as you feel able.
- Confidentiality: Your complaint will be handled confidentially on a "need to know" basis.
- No retaliation: You're protected from victimisation for making a complaint in good faith.
- Support throughout: The university will support you through the entire process
- Your choice: Generally, the decision to progress a complaint is yours (though the university may act independently if there's a duty to protect others).
- Investigation: An impartial investigator with appropriate experience will handle your case.
- Outcome: If upheld, action will be taken which may include warnings, suspension, or expulsion.
- Ongoing support: The University will consider how to manage ongoing relationships and may arrange mediation or counselling.
Remember: You don't need to be certain if something counts as harassment, bullying, or sexual misconduct - contact Student Support for confidential advice.
Any complaint about Unacceptable Behaviour (not related to Harassment or Sexual Misconduct) should be raised in accordance with the Student or Staff Complaints Procedure which can be found here (student) and here (staff).
We recognise that the first stage of the Complaints Procedure may not be suitable in respect of the Unacceptable Behaviour experienced and a complaint can be raised under the second stage immediately.
As a general principle, the decision whether to progress a complaint is up to the individual making the complaint. However, the University has a duty to protect all students and staff and so may pursue the matter independently if, in all the circumstances, we consider it appropriate to do so.
If we consider it appropriate in all the circumstances and in accordance with our duty to protect students and staff, as well as the wider community, we may report a complaint of unlawful Unacceptable Behaviour to the police. We will use reasonable endeavors to notify the victim of the allegation before making a report to the police but, we reserve the right to make a report to the police without notifying you in advance where we believe it is appropriate to do so. Full details on this can be found in the Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy for students or staff.
Training & Awareness
As part of supporting all in the University community to understand their rights and responsibilities as well as being made aware of how to report and support on offer at the University, we’ve introduced training and awareness raising courses for students and staff.
To find out more information as a student, click here
To find out more information as a staff member, click here Astute LXP All current staff members of Arden University have been emailed with the training on the 1st July 2025 and additional information can be found on the Staff Intranet.
These sessions are tailored to our University environment, but also discuss topics such as bystander intervention training, how to report, consent on campus and why the new condition of registration (E6) has been introduced. To note, staff members can also access the student training which is particularly valuable to learn more about bystander interventions and consent.
Policies
Arden University has a range of policies that outline the responsibilities and rights for everyone in our University community including students and staff. The full list of policies can be found here but we want to highlight a few key ones you should be aware of.
The University has a position on personal relationships which can be found here.
Further related policies are outlined below and within our central policies and standards webpage. These policies either exist for all or have different versions for students or staff (which is cited below where relevant).
- Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct (Student and Staff version)
- Safeguarding Policy
- Disciplinary Procedure (Student and Staff version)
- Personal Relationships Policy
- Freedom of Speech Policy and Code of Practice
- Code of Conduct
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
- Complaints Procedure (Student and Staff version)
The university does not use Non-Disclosure Agreements.