Current Students and Staff

// University News

14 Mar 2017

Loughborough awarded funding to help tackle sexual harassment within universities

Loughborough has been awarded more than £23,470 of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) as part of a nation-wide scheme to tackle concerns about sexual violence and harassment.

The grant, which is part of HEFCE’s Catalyst Fund, will be used to support the delivery of three key initiatives:

−      A training programme to encourage and support students in challenging inappropriate behaviour, to help tackle the cultural and attitudinal foundations that underpin sexual violence.

−      The further development of reporting tools, including the introduction of an online system, to help increase reporting rates.

−      A Loughborough-based conference, which will allow university staff and students from across the country to share best practice on tackling the culture of sexual violence and to find out about learning gained from Loughborough’s project.

Manuel Alonso, Director of Student Services, said: “Loughborough is well known for its student experience and we work hard to ensure our students can learn and develop in a safe environment.

“We have already been working in close partnership with our Students’ Union, the police and our local Sexual Assault Referral Centre on the theme of sexual violence and have a joint policy in place. This funding will enable us to enhance our work, crucially in liaison with the students themselves, around this important issue.”

HEFCE has awarded funding to more than 60 projects in universities and colleges across the country as part of this initiative.

The Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson, said: “We take any form of violence and sexual harassment extremely seriously, and expect universities to take a zero-tolerance approach.

“The interest and response to HEFCE’s fund has been hugely encouraging. The number of projects announced and the support shown reinforces the willingness of universities, across the country, to support staff and students in providing safe and secure campuses and I look forward to seeing the impact of these projects in due course.”