North East Scotland College introduces safeguarding platform
February 2, 2021
North East Scotland College (NESCol) has introduced a new tool to help staff and students report physical or sexual violence, harassment, racism or any other form of discrimination.
NESCol has invested in the Report + Support platform, an online portal with a proven track record in educational settings.
The site went live today (2 February) and can be accessed directly here.
Report + Support provides the user with a confidential way of reporting issues, whether as a victim or with a concern for someone else. A safe online environment and access to support services are key features.
Zuzana Banicova, Student Access and Inclusion Manager at NESCol, said: “It is vital that we remove any barriers to reporting any form of violence, harassment or discrimination for all members of our College community. The introduction of Report + Support is a positive step to tackling an important issue.
“Everyone should feel empowered to report incidents or concerns, but that is not always the case. By creating a safe, confidential online space we hope that it will provide the reassurance and support that will encourage more people to take that first step.”
A number of established initiatives are in place at NESCol to ensure an inclusive and supportive experience, including the RESPECT campaign and its focus on reinforcing key values.
The introduction of Report + Support to support that ongoing work has been welcomed by Police Scotland.
Detective Inspector David Crowther, of the Public Protection Unit of Police Scotland, said: “North East Division are firmly behind the roll out of this support measure.
“We all know the effects abuse can have on a person and their wellbeing. It is important that as much support and guidance is freely available and accessible to aid any person suffering from abuse, those in the process of reporting abuse or in circumstances where you believe a friend, relative or colleague may be suffering from abuse. Police Scotland have a zero tolerance approach to all forms of abuse and we will deal firmly and robustly with all cases.
“Nobody within the learning environment should expect to suffer from any abuse or harassment as they go about their studies. This platform is a significant step in allowing those that need it to report incidents and experiences whilst being signposted to the relevant support agencies.”
Report + Support, developed by specialist provider Culture Shift, has been successfully introduced at universities and colleges throughout the UK.