Student Support

If you’ve experienced a crisis — including rape, sexual assault, hate crime, harassment, or discrimination — please know that you are not alone. Support is available, confidential, and free. You have the right to feel safe and respected.

This page explains what you can do, who you can contact, and how to look after yourself in the aftermath of a traumatic experience — wherever you study in the UK.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 if you or someone else is in danger or needs urgent medical attention. If you are not in immediate danger but need advice, you can call:

  • NHS 111 in England or Wales
  • NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland
  • NI Direct: 0300 200 7885 in Northern Ireland

You can also call 101 for non-emergency police support. Try to move to a safe place and contact someone you trust.

If you’ve experienced rape or sexual assault

  1. Know that you are not to blame. What happened is never your fault — and you do not have to face it alone.
  2. Get medical and emotional support. You can go to your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for confidential medical care, emergency contraception, and forensic evidence collection (if you wish). You can visit even if you haven’t decided whether to report to the police. Find your nearest SARC: nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault Support organisations across the UK

    Victim Support (UK-wide)

    • England & Wales: 0808 1689 111 (24/7)
    • Scotland: 0800 160 1985
    • Northern Ireland: 028 9024 3133 — victimsupport.org.uk
  3. If you wish to report You can report to the police immediately or later – it’s your choice. You can also make an anonymous report via local police websites or through crimestoppers-uk.org You do not have to report to access help or counselling.

If you’ve experienced a hate crime

A hate crime is any act motivated by hostility or prejudice related to race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or nationality. It can include verbal abuse, physical assault, damage to property, or online harassment.

Support and reporting options

Victim Support (UK-wide)

  • England & Wales: 0808 1689 111 (24/7)
  • Scotland: 0800 160 1985
  • Northern Ireland: 028 9024 3133 — victimsupport.org.uk

You can also report hate incidents directly to the police via 101 (non-emergency) or 999 in an emergency. You have the right to report anonymously and still receive support.

If you don’t feel ready to talk

It’s normal to feel unsure, numb, or conflicted after a traumatic event. You can reach out to support services at any time, even days, weeks, or even years later. Support services are there to listen, not to pressure you.

24/7 listening and mental health support

  • Shout (UK-wide): Text 85258 for free, confidential crisis text support
  • Mind (England & Wales): 0300 123 3393 — mind.org.uk
  • SAMH (Scotland): 0344 800 0550 — samh.org.uk
  • Aware NI (Northern Ireland): 028 9035 7820 — aware-ni.org
  • The Mix (UK-wide, for under-25s): 0808 808 4994 — themix.org.uk

Looking after yourself Try to eat, rest, and stay hydrated — your body and mind need care. Reach out to someone you trust (a friend, family member, or student representative). Your university will have student wellbeing, counselling, or chaplaincy services, you can contact them without making a formal report. If academic work is affected, ask your student services about extensions, mitigating circumstances, or pastoral support.

Disclaimer

This page is provided by the National Hindu Students’ Forum (UK) to help students across UK universities find reliable sources of crisis support. We are not an emergency service and cannot offer counselling or safeguarding intervention directly. If you are in immediate danger, please call 999. For medical help, contact NHS 111 (England & Wales), NHS 24 (Scotland), or NI Direct (Northern Ireland). For ongoing emotional and practical support, reach out to the national organisations listed above. Your safety and wellbeing matter — help is available 24 hours a day, across all parts of the UK.