If you think you or someone you know has experienced a hate crime, there are many support options available to both students and staff. Talking things through with someone you trust such as a friend, relative, or colleague can sometimes help.
If there is an immediate danger call 999 or if you are on campus then you can call Campus Safety via 0121 359 2922 or via the Safezone app.
Support from the University
- The Hub - The first point of contact for areas relating to student support and advice. They will be able to point you in the right direction with regards to which service may be suitable to your needs.
- Counselling and Mental Wellbeing Service - The University’s team of professional counsellors, psychotherapists and mental health workers offers confidential support.
- Chaplaincy Team - The Chaplaincy team is experienced at listening and offering pastoral and spiritual guidance, prayer, support and friendship. Care and support is offered to all, regardless of background.
- The Enabling Team - Our Enabling Team provide advice and support for students with disabilities, including ongoing health conditions and learning difficulties.
Support from the Students' Union
- Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) – you can also get independent and confidential advice and support from the ARC based at Aston Students’ Union. They will be able to speak with you about your situation, your options and make you aware of the support service available.
Find more information about the support available from Advice and Representation Centre (ARC).
It can sometimes be helpful to get in touch with local or national organisations for additional support, or if you would prefer to speak to someone outside of the University. Below are some services which may be useful for you.
COVID-19/ Coronavirus - Specific Mental Wellbeing Support
Support for staff
Initially you may wish to speak with your line manager or if that is not appropriate then you can also contact HR directly.
Employees can also seek support through the University’s Employee Assistance Programme, PAM Assist, which is a free confidential and life management and personal support service available to staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 0800 882 4102
Support outside of the University
It can sometimes be helpful to get in touch with local or national organisations for additional support, or if you would prefer to speak to someone outside the university.
General
- Samaritans - You can call for free on 116 123 for non-judgemental emotional support 24/7, regardless of what you’re going through. You can also email them at jo@samaritans.org.
- Citizens Advice (Hate Crime) - For information on Hate Incidents and Hate Crime.
- Victim Support. When you report a crime to the police, they should automatically ask you if you would like help from an organisation like Victim Support. But anyone affected by crime can contact them directly you don’t need to talk to the police to get Victim Support help.
- True Vision offers guidance on reporting hate crime and hate incidents. If you do not wish to talk to anyone in person about the incident or wish to remain anonymous, there is an online form for reporting hate crime; you can report non-crime hate incidents to the police to try and prevent any escalation in seriousness.
- Togetherall - An anonymous 24/7 online global community with support from trained professionals which you can log onto using your university email address.
Specific external support:
- SupportLine - A charity providing information and emotional support by phone and email for high risk and more vulnerable or isolated groups in society.
- African Sons and Daughters: African Sons and Daughters (ASD) is a non-profit organisation focused on the needs of members of the African community in the UK and the Worldwide African Diaspora.
- Chinese Information and Advice Centre: dedicated to helping Chinese women and families who are struggling or in distress.
- Chinese National Healthy Living Centre: telephone and other support services for the Chinese community. Multilingual health helpline offers advice and signposting on range of issues.
- Nour: provides Islamic support and advice through Islamic advisors (male and female) who are from a range of different Islamic schools of thought.
- The Asian Circle: a collective within The Circle, brings together UK-based Asian women from all walks of life who have a shared passion and commitment to addressing the issues facing dis-empowered women and girls in India and South Asia.
- The Sikh Helpline: established over 25 years ago, The Sikh Helpline has developed itself to be a trusted point of contact for members of the community in dealing with a range of issues, especially those linked to cultural and social taboos.
- CST: is Community Security Trust, a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats. You can report antisemitism directly to CST, as well as receiving psychological support tailored to the Jewish community's needs.
- Muslim Women’s Network: operate a national specialist faith and culturally sensitive helpline that is confidential and non-judgmental, which offers information, support, guidance and referrals for those who are suffering from or at risk of abuse or facing problems on a range of issues.
- Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust: was founded on the premise that inequality must be tackled in all its forms. This includes inequality of access, and of opportunity, wherever it occurs.
The Trust are dedicated to transforming the life chances of young people and improving the world in which they live to enable them to develop and nurture their talent. - Tell Mama: are an independent, non-governmental organisation which works on tackling anti-Muslim hatred. The MAMA Project will provide a means for such incidents to be reported, recorded and analysed, working to ensure this data is accurate and reliable and the victims and witnesses affected receive support.
- Jewish Care: offer different services for Jewish people who are experiencing emotional difficulties and distress or coping with mental health problems. Such as housing, rehabilitation centres, employment and support groups.
- Muslim Youth Helpline: is a charity which provides faith and culturally sensitive services to young Muslim people in the UK.
- Nour: provides Islamic support and advice through Islamic advisors (male and female) who are from a range of different Islamic schools of thought.
- Union of Jewish Students: are the voice of over 8,500 Jewish students, spanning 67 Jewish Societies (J-Socs) on campuses across the UK and Ireland.
- Arc SafteyNet: a range of national resources related to Hate Crime and disability free to download and use.
- Respond: helps children and adults with learning disabilities who have experienced abuse or trauma, as well as those who have abused others, through psychotherapy, advocacy and other support.
- EACH - Educational Action Challenging Homophobia: Helpline offering support for young people affected by homophobia.
- Equality Advisory and Support Service: an organisation that provides advice on discrimination and human rights issues.
- Galop: a charity working to prevent and challenge homophobic and transphobic hate crime.
- Switchboard: A one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, email and instant messaging service.
- Birmingham LBGT Centre: voluntary organisation providing advice and support to LGBT+ people in Birmingham. Offers counselling, well-being services and wide range of support groups.
- Stonewall: a charity that campaigns on issues affecting lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
- Beaumont Society: a UK registered charity, their primary focus is the transgender individual.
- Being Gay is Ok: a service that gives online information and advice for under 25 year olds.
- Papyrus HOPELINEUK. If you're under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm-10pm and bank holidays 2pm–10pm).
For a full list of specific specialist support, please click here.
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