About the support service

“The Support Service is honestly the most incredible resource. It helped me so, so much. I often find myself wishing every sexual violence support service was like the Oxford University one. It really did help me so much in a very, very dark time, so thank you” – Survivor student  

All Specialist Caseworkers at the service are trained to support you at your pace, free of charge and in confidence. We work independently from colleges and departments and can help you to explore your options. We use an empowerment model and will validate and support you with the choices that feel right for you.

We can meet you in person in our dedicated space in Oxford city centre. We also provide remote appointments via Microsoft Teams, depending on your preference.

The Service offers both Specialist Caseworkers and the services of an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA), seconded from the local Rape Crisis centre.

What we do

The team are specially trained in responding to incidents of sexual harassment and violence, domestic abuse and stalking. We offer a response that is non-judgemental, pro-active, and non-directive that puts you in control of what happens next.

We recognise that everyone's situations are different and the support and advice we offer will be tailored to your individual circumstances and need. There is no pressure to take any action or to report and you are free to change your mind at a later time.

We will:

• Listen to your story (as much or as little as you would like to share or feel able to).
• Help you explore the options that are available to you and support you to make an informed decision about what you may wish to do next, including advising on reporting options (including to the police, Proctors' or college).
• Support you through college and university complaints processes.
• Find practical solutions to help you study (including support on extensions or mitigating circumstances).
• Talk through therapeutic support options.
• Discuss any concerns regarding emotional, mental, sexual or physical health.
• Facilitate support so that you are kept safe and feel safe whilst in Oxford.
• Help you put together a plan of what you want to do next, and make sure that it supports your needs.

We link with other relevant services to ensure you receive specialist help from the right people.

Confidentiality

As a student welfare service we work confidentially, meaning we won't share anything that you tell us with your college, department, tutors, family, or police without your explicit permission. There may be times, such as when you or someone else are at significant risk of harm, where we need to think about sharing some information, and if this comes up we will discuss this with you first, where safe and possible to do so. The full guidance on confidentiality can be found on this page.

“I’ve already told many of my friends how highly I recommend the service in the event they ever need it, and I really hope my experience can encourage more people to reach out. The service is incredible!” – Survivor student  

How do I get in touch?

To make an appointment, please complete our online form. We aim to be in touch within 2 working days with an offer of an appointment. You do not need to provide any detail in your submission regarding what has happened. If you have any queries or issues with the form, please contact [email protected].