SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding students whilst on campus:

Safeguarding is about doing everything we can to make sure all of our students and staff are kept safe and protected from harm. The government provides statutory guidance to colleges on what we need to do to achieve this. We adhere to all guidance and pride ourselves on going above and beyond to make College a safe, happy and thriving environment for all. It is important to us that all college students are treated with respect and dignity and feel safe and listened to.

Your Student Support & Safeguarding Officers have the skills, knowledge and expertise to deal with a range of safeguarding incidents including:

Emotional Abuse
Physical Abuse
Sexual harassment or violence
Verbal Abuse
Bullying
Self-harm / suicidal thoughts
Neglect
Domestic Abuse
Mental health
Eating Disorders
On-line safety (sharing of images, sexting and financial risks)
Homelessness

Substance or Alcohol Misuse
Preventing Radicalisation
HATE Crime
Sexual exploitation and Grooming
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Forced Marriage
Honour Based Violence
Criminal Exploitation
Trafficking
Financial Abuse
Gambling addiction

If you are worried about any of the above, please contact the Core and ask to speak to any of the Student Support and Safeguarding Officers, who will be more than happy to help and support you. You can reach The Core on 01995 642348 or email: Safeguarding@myerscough.ac.uk

If you or another is in immediate danger, you must call 999 asking for the relevant emergency services. Your life is the most important item you possess, you must act quickly to preserve in an emergency situation.

PREVENT

Prevent is designed to safeguard and support those vulnerable to radicalisation. Prevent is 1 of the 4 elements of CONTEST, the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy. You may be in a position to identify and support someone who may be vulnerable to becoming involved in extremism or terrorism. Friends and family are often the first to spot worrying changes taking place. These can be big or small and can take place very quickly or over a longer period. Trust your instincts and if you’re concerned seek help by acting early and tell us your concerns in confidence.

You can reach The Core team on 01995 642348 or safeguarding@myerscough.ac.uk. If you are unsure and want some more information or have concerns you want to share with relevant agencies you can do this at https://actearly.uk/ or by ringing the ACT Early Support Line on 0800 011 3764.

If your concern regards an immediate threat, you must call 999 and report directly to the police.

Support for those affected by Bullying, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct or Domestic Abuse.

Here at Myerscough College we have a zero tolerance approach to all sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment, and hate crime. All Myerscough Students, those in our community and wider society have a right to feel safe. If you think you or someone you know are being bullied, harassed living in a situation of domestic abuse or the target of sexual misconduct or hate crime, remember that it’s never yours or their fault.

As a further measure to safeguard and support students within our college, we are part of the Operation Encompass initiative. This collaborative partnership allows college to be notified of any domestic abuse incidents happening in the family home of students under 18, enabling Safeguarding and Support staff to check in with those students living in an environment where Domestic Abuse is present.

Please contact The Core and they can provide a wide range of support and information about how you can keep yourself safe and support others, whilst accessing any additional support if needed.

You can reach The Core team on 01995 642348 or safeguarding@myerscough.ac.uk. Or if you or someone else is in immediate danger dial 999 or contact campus security 24/7 on 07741324116

If you have been a victim of rape or sexual assault, recently or in the past, there is a range of support available to you, whether or not you choose to make a report to the police.

24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line - 0808 500 2222
Childline - 0800 1111
24 hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Run by Refuge) 0808 2000 247
National Sexual Health Helpline - 0800 123 7123
National Stalking Helpline - 0808 802 0300
Rape Crisis
Womens Aid
Victim Support
The Survivors Trust
Male Survivors Partnership

Documents

Mental Health, Wellbeing and Counselling Services

Our team of Student Support and Safeguarding Officers provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space, in which you can discuss any issues that may be affecting your ability to study or having a negative impact on your wider life. By visiting The Core you will be greeted with a smile and a listening ear for you to discuss the things affecting you and be offered practical advice and guidance from our SSOs.

Your SSO will help you with any further referrals to external agencies or direct you to support apps and websites that can help. You can make an appointment to see someone in The Core by ringing 01995 642348 or by contacting us on safeguarding@myerscough.ac.uk

If you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, support is available from your local NHS A and E department or by ringing 999.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Mental Health Crisis Line (24/7) - 0800 953 0110

Our team are here to support you through difficult times. Poor mental health can take many forms and with an ever increasing list of support networks for those suffering with Anxiety, Depression and other mental health conditions we can direct you to the right support. 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Many of us go through difficult times in our lives, which can leave us feeling worried, anxious or depressed and feeling unable to cope. By making a call to The Core you are taking the first steps to challenging your poor mental health and making positive changes for a better future.

More information can be found on the following link:

Myerscough Early Help and Mental Health Offer

External Support Organisations

There are a number of external services that may be able to help if you are feeling distressed and/or are concerned about managing suicidal thoughts.

NHS

Comprehensive guidance and signposting from the NHS on anxiety.
Visit the NHS page on anxiety, fear and panic.

If you're at immediate risk of harming yourself (for example, if you've made a plan and are worried that you may act on it soon), then this is a crisis and you should go directly to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department of your local hospital to get urgent help.

If you're unable to reach A&E yourself, call 999 to request an ambulance

CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably

Website: thecalmzone.net
Phone: 0800 58 58 58
Webchat: thecalmzone.net/help/webchat

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.

Their helpline is for men in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.

WELLBEING HELPLINE & TEXTING SERVICE

Wellbeing Helpline and Texting Service is a Freephone out of hours, person centred listening environment for people requiring emotional support in relation to their own mental health or that of someone they know.

The service is an out of hours service which operates 365 days a year, Monday to Friday 7pm-11pm and Saturday and Sunday 12pm-12am, however the text service does have extended time from 10am during the week.

Freephone: 0800 915 4640
Text: 'HELLO' to 07860 022846

SAMARITANS

Samaritans is a UK charity that offers confidential support to anyone struggling with distress or thoughts of suicide. You can call, email, or chat with trained volunteers 24/7 to talk through your feelings in a safe, non-judgmental space.

Website - Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen
Call - 116 123

ANXIETY UK

Anxiety UK is a UK charity that supports anyone affected by anxiety, stress, and related disorders. They offer confidential advice, practical coping strategies, and access to therapy or support groups to help you manage anxiety and improve wellbeing.

Website - National charity helping people with Anxiety - Anxiety UK
Call - 03444 775 774 - 24/7 info-line

SWITCHBOARD

Switchboard is a UK-based charity supporting LGBTQ+ people and anyone questioning their identity. They offer confidential listening, information, and guidance via phone, email, and webchat to provide support for mental health, relationships, and coming out.

Website - Homepage | Switchboard
Call - 0800 0119 100

FRANK - Talk to Frank

Talk to Frank (usually just called FRANK) is a UK government-funded drug advice service. It provides honest information about legal and illegal drugs, advice about the effects and risks and support for people worried about their own drug use.

Website: Honest information about drugs | FRANK
Phone: 0300 1236600: thecalmzone.net/help/webchat
Text: 82111

NATIONAL BULLYING HELPLINE

National Bullying Helpline provide information and advice for anyone dealing with bullying

Website - Information and advice about all forms of bullying
Phone - 0300 323 0169 or 0845 22 55 787

SHELTER

Shelter is a UK charity that helps people with housing problems. They offer free advice and support on issues like renting, eviction, or homelessness, so you can stay safe and secure in your home.

Website - Home - Shelter England
Call - Free helpline on 0808 800 4444

CRUSE BEREAVEMENT

Cruse Bereavement Care is a UK charity that supports anyone who has lost someone. They offer confidential advice, emotional support, and guidance to help you cope with grief, whether through one-to-one chats, group support, or online resources.

Website - Home - Cruse Bereavement Support
Call - 0808 808 1677

NATIONAL CENTRE for EATING DISORDERS

National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCFED) is a UK charity that supports anyone affected by eating disorders. They provide confidential advice, guidance, and access to treatment options to help you or someone you care about manage and recover from eating challenges.

Website - Eating disorders | Professional treatment and training | The National Centre
Call - 0845 838 2040

KOOTH

Kooth is a free, confidential online mental health and wellbeing service for young people and students. It offers professional counselling, peer support, and self-help resources to help you manage stress, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, all in a safe, anonymous space.