Gender-based and sexual violence

We recognise that gender-based violence (GBV) is a problem within our society, which is being tackled by organisations across the UK.

GCU has a team of First Responders who have received training in listening and responding to disclosures of gender-based violence. They can provide information and signposting to sources of support both internally and externally. This resource is available to both staff and students.

If you are at immediate risk, please do not hesitate to dial 999. Police Scotland remain committed to tackling GBV throughout this pandemic and beyond.

If you are experiencing suicidal feelings or thoughts, or are thinking of ending your life, take a moment to pause. There is always a way out of whatever you are experiencing and there are people ready and waiting to help you. Please see our feel in crisis webpages for support information.

There are a number of support services available which can offer you support within the University. We have displayed information on some of these services below:

Support services available within the University

There are also a number of specialist support services available externally. We have displayed some of these useful contacts below:

Specialist external sources of support (staff and students)

Rape Crisis Glasgow

Rape Crisis Glasgow provides a free and confidential support service to women and girls who have experienced rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse.

Scottish Women's Aid

The Women’s Aid network supports women, children and young people, who have experienced domestic abuse across Scotland by promoting women and children’s rights, providing services and advice to members and ensuring that services are available to women, children and young people with experience of domestic abuse.

There is also a Women's Aid Survivors' Forum for women (over 18) who have been affected by domestic abuse to share their experiences and support one another.

The Survivors’ Trust

The Survivors’ Trust provides free information, advice and emotional support across the UK.

Phone: 08088 010 818

Monday -Thursday: 10am - 6pm

Fri: 10am - 2pm

Say Women

Say Women offers safe semi-supported accommodation and emotional support for young women aged 16 to 25 who are survivors of sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault and who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness.

Glasgow East Women’s Aid

Glasgow East Women’s Aid provide support for women, children and young people who are affected by domestic abuse.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

Refuge provide a freephone, 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline and Online Chat Facility.

Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (TARA)

TARA supports trafficking survivors, to help identify and support women who may have been trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation.

Revive

Domestic Abuse Relocation Service- support for people fleeing abuse to find social housing in a different area of the country.

Routes out

Routes Out offers support to women who sell sex. The service is part of Community Safety Glasgow which aims to increase safety for people across Glasgow. Routes Out understands the risk of selling sex and the stigma women can feel which can make it difficult to ask for support.

Information on local services

You can find further information on local services available at the Scottish Government Webpages.

ASSIST

ASSIST provides support to families going through the Domestic Abuse Courts.

Scottish Women's Rights Centre

This centre is based at Strathclyde University within their Law Clinic. It is a partnership project between Rape Crisis Scotland, the University of Strathclyde and the Legal Services Agency.

The centre was created to ensure that women in Scotland who have or are experiencing gender based violence are able to access timely and appropriate legal advice and information.

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre open times are subject to change; opening times and information can be found at their website.

The Centre offer a Helpline service which works on a triage basis: our experienced advocacy workers will be handling your initial call and they will put you in touch with our solicitors if you need further advice. You can read more about the helpline here, or phone them at 08088 010 789

SWRC have legal guides and factsheets which may answer some of your initial questions or concerns. More guides for survivors of sexual violence and for migrant women are also available on their website.

SWRC Solicitor Network

SWRC have a signposting network of Solicitors across the country who have undertaken our domestic abuse training. You can find their details on their website.

Victim Support Scotland

Victim Support provides victims with free and confidential emotional and practical assistance and information about the criminal justice system. Trained volunteers and staff deliver this assistance throughout Scotland. There is a Victim Support office in every local authority area.

Daha

Daha are an organisation who provide a list of helpful advice lines that you can call for support if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse.

Home Finder UK

Home Finder UK offer the Revive Project: which is an enhanced add-on option to Homefinder UK case management service, focused on relocating domestic abuse survivors. It was specifically designed to provide move-on housing options for those fleeing domestic abuse with no outlet to escape.

Educational resources for staff/students

Click Magazine

What is Click Magazine?

Click Magazine is a creative platform from CLiCK for women with lived experience of selling or exchanging sex in Scotland to share their needs and experiences in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

This platform aims to take the voices of women to the people making decisions that affect women’s lives right now to shape Scotland’s support and policy landscape as the country begins the process of learning to live with coronavirus.

Click Cast is a monthly podcast series, hosted by Anna (CLiCK development worker) and Shannon (CLiCK resource and information officer), which explores the needs of women in Scotland’s sex industry in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In each episode, we hear from women with lived experience and from key support services in Scotland in order to ask what is being done – and what needs to change – to best meet the needs of women in Scotland’s sex industry.

Together Alone wellbeing project and self-care toolkit

For many women in the sex industry, the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating feelings of stigma, loneliness, and social isolation. Together, Alone is our wellbeing-based arts project which aims to foster a sense of community and solidarity by building a “self-care toolkit”. We invite women to creatively share what self-care means to them. What works? What doesn’t work? And where self-care doesn’t go far enough, what needs to be done to better support the mental wellbeing of women? Women will be able to access free masterclasses with women artists to explore creativity in a variety of mediums, including photography, painting, and illustration.

Your Voice

Your Voice is a space for women to explore their needs, concerns, and experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. By working directly with Anna (CLiCK development worker), women can be a part of improving CLiCK and other services for women, with the opportunity to explore creative ways of making their voice heard in a way that works for them.

Student support

Gender-based and sexual violence

Support services available within the University

Specialist external sources of support (staff and students)

Educational resources for staff/students

Personal safety apps and technology