Harassment & Sexual Misconduct
NEED HELP NOW?
If you, or someone you know, has experienced harassment and/or sexual misconduct, we can advise you on how to get help and support – while recognising that everyone copes differently with their own experience
SUPPORT AND REPORT
If you’re not ready to talk about what has happened but you want someone to be aware, you can share your experience via our Support and Report tool. You can remain anonymous while making the College aware.
What is harassment and sexual misconduct?
Harassment is when someone’s unwanted conduct violates a another’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment because of, or connected to, protected characteristics. This might be a repeated experience or a single experience that impacts more than one person, in person or online.
Sexual misconduct is when someone carries out unwanted sexual behaviour towards another person that makes them feel upset, scared, offended or humiliated. This can be a single or repeated experience of unwanted conduct, in person or online.
Full official definitions of harassment and sexual misconduct are available in our Student Bullying and Harassment Policy, and Student Sexual Misconduct Policy. Both policies can be accessed here.
What to do
If you experience harassment or sexual misconduct, here are some steps you can take:
- Capture what happened: Write down details of the incident, including dates, times, locations, and any witnesses. Keep any evidence, such as emails, texts or social media messages.
- Tell Someone: Share your experience with a trusted friend, family member, peer or professional support service. They can offer support and help you decide on the next steps.
- Decide what is best for you: Seek advice, seek support and if you feel it is right for you, report the incident to the College and/or to the police.
- Be informed: Familiarise yourself with your legal rights. For example, under the Equality Act 2010 you are protected from sexual harassment in the workplace, on public transport and in educational institutions.
If you have witnessed harassment and/or sexual misconduct, you can take the same steps and report it using the same methods below.
If you are a staff member who has been affected by any form of harassment or sexual misconduct, please refer to the WaterBear staff handbook.
Options to consider
If you’ve experienced sexual assault or rape, there’s no right or wrong way to feel or be. What has happened is not your fault and you’re not alone. Your safety and wellbeing are the most important things right now and you can access specialist support, if and whenever you feel ready.
If you’d like to speak to someone immediately
Please refer to the the Specialist Support Services in box below.
Drink spiking
If you think that you might have had your drink spiked, it’s best to report this to the police as soon as possible. Some drugs can leave the body within 12 hours, so it’s important you get tested as soon as possible. We know it can be scary to report being spiked, but the police are here to help you. They will listen to you and take you seriously.
Emergency contraception
It’s worth considering emergency contraception, which can prevent pregnancy, after unprotected sex (sex without contraception or when contraception might have failed). You need to use emergency contraception within three to five days of having unprotected sex. The sooner you use emergency contraception, the more effective it usually is.
Emergency contraception is available free from NHS sexual health clinics and GP surgeries.
HIV tests
It’s advisable to take an HIV test. You can obtain a test in person or order tests online, with free and paid-for options. Many tests will provide you with a result in just a few minutes. HIV prevention medication should be started within 36 hours.
Who do I tell?
Depending on how you feel, here are some support options available.
There are a range of specialist support services locally and nationally.
Services we highlight at the WaterBear are:
Specialist support for sexual harassment nationally
https://rapecrisis.org.uk
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/
https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk
To find out more about the services that SARCs offer, you can watch the NHS video, ‘Turn to us, we are here’.
Specialist support for sexual harassment in Brighton/Sussex area
https://saturncentre.org
https://survivorsnetwork.org.uk
https://safespacesussex.org.uk
Specialist support for sexual harassment in Sheffield area
Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (SRASAC)
Scotia Works, Leadmill Road, Sheffield S1 4SE
Information and Support Line: 07517 100 757
Office Telephone: 0114 2412766
Email: [email protected]
Hackenthorpe Lodge
Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
Free, confidential healthcare and compassionate support to people aged 16 and above in South Yorkshire that has experienced sexual assault or rape in their lifetime.
Telephone line 0330 223 0099 is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Survivors UK: Survivors UK are a charity offering support to men who have experienced sexual violence. Web and SMS chat can be accessed through their website.
Galop – the LGBT+ anti violence charity: Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and queer people who have experienced sexual violence, domestic abuse or hate crime.
WaterBear students have access to a dedicated Student Support team. Whether you are studying on campus or online you can talk confidentially to a professional who can listen and help you to decide on your next steps. We encourage you to talk to us about incidents so we can ensure you receive the support you need.
Visit us
If you’re on campus you can visit the Student Services Team as follows:
WaterBear Brighton, 15 Bond Street, Brighton BN1 1RD
WaterBear Sheffield, 49 Eyre Lane, Sheffield S1 4RB, UK
Email us
General: [email protected]
Brighton Student Support Officer: [email protected]
Sheffield Student Support Officer: [email protected]
Call us
Brighton: +44 (0) 1273 726230
Sheffield: +44 (0) 1143 992720
Alongside student support services, Falmouth students also have 24/7 access to a confidential support helpline, via our partner, Spectrum Life. This means help is always just a call, message, or click away. Have your Student ID number handy if possible.
Call 0800 0318227 (UK):
WhatsApp: Send ‘Hi’ to 07418360780 to start a conversation.
Request a callback or use live chat: Share your details and get support at a time that suits you.
If you are not ready to talk about what has happened, but you want someone to be aware – you can share your experience via our Support and Report tool. You can remain anonymous while making WaterBear aware.
Also read ‘What does the WaterBear do with the information I share with them?’ in FAQ below.
If you are in immediate danger – call 999
If you are safe and have chosen to contact the police, you can contact the non-emergency line on 111.
The Student Support team can advise and support you in making a report to the Police.
If you do not wish to make a report to the Police, or if you have already done so and the matter has been concluded, and you would like WaterBear to take further action, you can make a formal complaint. The Student Support team can support you through the process, and the Falmouth Students’ Union can also provide impartial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is up to you how much you share and what steps you decide to take.
Our support team can:
– Listen
– Help you understand your options
– Help you to find the right ongoing support for your individual situation
– Help you to make any required adjustments at WaterBear
– Provide advice on seeking medical or legal support
– Support you while you contact the Police or make a formal report to WaterBear if you choose to
WaterBear can put precautionary measures in place, which can include a requirement for a student not to contact another student, and/or a suspension, while a Police or internal investigation is in progress.
Who you speak to and how you respond is your choice. Everyone reacts in their own way to their individual experience. If you choose to contact the Police, the team at WaterBear can support you in doing this.
External support services can also help with this decision. There are a range of specialist support services locally and nationally. Services we highlight at the WaterBear are:
Specialist support for sexual harassment nationally
https://rapecrisis.org.uk
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/
https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk
Specialist support for sexual harassment in Brighton/Sussex area
https://saturncentre.org
https://survivorsnetwork.org.uk
https://safespacesussex.org.uk
Specialist support for sexual harassment in Sheffield area
Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (SRASAC)
Scotia Works, Leadmill Road, Sheffield S1 4SE
Information and Support Line: 07517 100 757
Office Telephone: 0114 2412766
Email: [email protected]
Hackenthorpe Lodge
Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
Free, confidential healthcare and compassionate support to people aged 16 and above in South Yorkshire that has experienced sexual assault or rape in their lifetime.
Telephone line 0330 223 0099 is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Survivors UK: Survivors UK are a charity offering support to men who have experienced sexual violence. Web and SMS chat can be accessed through their website.
Galop – the LGBT+ anti violence charity: Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and queer people who have experienced sexual violence, domestic abuse or hate crime.
Also read ‘What does the University do with the information I share with them?’ in FAQ below.
The College treats disclosures with the utmost confidentiality, and you can be assured that any information will only be disclosed to staff as necessary in order to support the investigation and resolution of the case, and to make decisions in accordance with applicable policies and procedures. The College may require access to sensitive information (for example, a file held by Student Services).
If you make an anonymous report please be assured that the College does not collect any data that can identify you, other than any information you provide yourself. Anonymous reports help us understand what kind of incidents are taking place in our community. Anonymous reports will not be acted on, except in very exceptional circumstances where it is necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of a student and/or the wider WaterBear community. In such cases we understand that it may be possible to identify someone even if they have reported anonymously, from the context of information, however we will make every effort to protect students in this situation.
Any disclosure of an incident will be student-led. However, where the College is made aware of a serious allegation against a student or a member of staff or it has grounds to suspect that sexual misconduct has taken place or is taking place, it may have a duty to investigate a case, regardless of whether a student wishes to make a formal complaint. In some cases, WaterBear may also have a duty to notify the Police. As above, such circumstances would be to ensure the safety and welfare of a student and/or the wider College community.
All data provided to the College during a disclosure is treated in line with our data privacy regulations and complies with data protection legislation.
What happens once an incident is formally reported to the College?
The College has a formal procedure to follow once a complaint is made. Those involved in the complaint are informed individually of the investigation, outcome, reasoning and of any follow up actions.
When the College is made aware of an incident of sexual misconduct or harassment, a risk assessment is completed to ensure students are fully supported, and to consider, where appropriate, precautionary measures which may need to be put in place while the matter is considered further, including for a police or College investigation. A requirement for reporting and reported students not to contact each other is a standard measure. Further measures may include suspending a reported student from all or part of the College under our Suspension Policy. Precautionary measures may mirror any bail conditions issued as a result of any police processes.
Precautionary measures are neutral and temporary, taken in response to the serious concerns and balancing the interests of all parties involved, to allow space for further consideration and/or an investigation to take place.
Full details can be found in the Student Disciplinary Policy & Procedure here.
The College has a formal procedure to follow once a complaint is made. Those involved in the complaint are informed individually of the investigation, outcome, reasoning and of any follow up actions.
When the College is made aware of an incident of sexual misconduct or harassment, a risk assessment is completed to ensure students are fully supported, and to consider, where appropriate, precautionary measures which may need to be put in place while the matter is considered further, including for a police or College investigation. A requirement for reporting and reported students not to contact each other is a standard measure. Further measures may include suspending a reported student from all or part of the College under our Suspension Policy, found on this page here. Precautionary measures may mirror any bail conditions issued as a result of any police processes.
Precautionary measures are neutral and temporary, taken in response to the serious concerns and balancing the interests of all parties involved, to allow space for further consideration and/or an investigation to take place.
Full details can be found in the Student Disciplinary Policy & Procedure on this page here.
At WaterBear, we believe that every student deserves protection from harassment and sexual misconduct. We are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where such behaviour is unequivocally not tolerated. Regardless of their mode of study, all individuals are supported.
We expect all members of our community to treat each other with dignity and respect, in alignment with our core values. We strive to foster a culture where inappropriate behaviour is actively challenged and not accepted.
Our commitment is to ensure a culture of mutual consent and empowerment, where everyone feels confident to speak out against misconduct. We treat incidents of sexual misconduct and harassment with the utmost seriousness, sensitivity and fairness, ensuring comprehensive support for those affected.
Policy
We have a range of policies and procedures to ensure that harassment and sexual misconduct can be dealt with effectively and appropriately, and that all students can be supported. Our policies state our definition of harassment and sexual misconduct.
Sexual Misconduct Policy
Student Code of Conduct
Student Bullying and Harassment Policy
Complaints Policy and Complaints Procedure
Student Disciplinary Policy and Procedure
Behaviour and Suspension Policy
Safeguarding Policy
Relationships at Work Policy
Please refer to the WaterBear Policies page for all policies listed above.
Managing Conduct Policy (in staff handbook)
Staff Bullying and Harassment Policy (in staff handbook)
Relationships
Close personal relationships between staff and enrolled students are not permitted, as stated in the staff “Relationships at Work Policy” which can be found here. Students can report harassment or sexual misconduct within staff-student relationships, regardless of the policy’s stance on such relationships, and will not be penalised for participating in such relationships. If you wish to report harassment or sexual misconduct within a staff-student relationship you will be protected from retaliation.
Guidance is shared with all students on recognising and building healthy relationships.
Support is available for students 24/7, year-round. Any student can contact the helpline for advice if they are unsure of the situation in which they find themselves.
Training
From 1st August 2025, all new students are invited to mandatory training about sexual misconduct & harassment. Webinars or face to face training will be offered in Weeks 0-2 in each study block for all new starters (regardless of study mode). They are reminded of what is acceptable, what to look out for and how to respond to incidents. This is reinforced through student communications during their time at WaterBear.
Staff training is provided to ensure staff are fully aware of the law and regulations as well as their role in responding to incidents of sexual misconduct or harassment. These messages are reinforced through each academic year via staff communications.
Respect & Belonging at WaterBear: Your Guide
At WaterBear, we are committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and safe community for all students. As part of this commitment, all new students are required to complete Respect & Belonging at WaterBear: Your Guide—a short, informative training session designed to help you understand your rights and responsibilities during your time at university.
This 30-minute webinar covers key topics including:
• Recognising and responding to harassment and sexual misconduct
• Staying safe online
• The role of the active bystander
• How to report an incident and access support services
The training is essential in helping us build a safer and more supportive campus environment.
For all on-campus undergraduate students online and postgraduate students – you will receive an email inviting you to attend one of 12 webinars running between weeks 0-1. Further sessions will be added during the year.
If, for any reason—particularly due to past trauma—you feel this training is not suitable for you, you are not required to attend. Instead, we will make an opt-out form available to you prior to the training.
The form also gives you the opportunity to request a conversation with a trained member of staff, should you wish to discuss alternative support options.
Together, we can ensure WaterBear remains a welcoming place where everyone feels they belong.
Information provision
WaterBear maintains and promotes this webpage with staff and students in line with the Office for Students regulation and requirement for the provision of a comprehensive single source of information relating to sexual misconduct and harassment.
Staff & Student engagement
Falmouth University co-chairs a Gender Safety and Sexual Misconduct Working Group with the University of Exeter, where both universities work together with Student Support services and the Students’ Union to share work being done and coordinate joint initiatives. Falmouth University also work closely with external agencies such as the police and The Bridge, who attend regular wellbeing fairs and hold drop ins on campus. Information from the Gender Safety and Sexual Misconduct Working Group is disseminated to WaterBear.