Unhealthy Relationships, Violence and Abuse

Reporting an issue
If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, abuse, or a range of other issues, you can use the USW Report + Support website to report it.

Anonymous reporting
You can use Report + Support completely anonymously.

In this case you will be signposted to support. We will not (be able to) contact you directly to offer support, because we will not know your identity.

We will use the anonymous reports to look at trends at USW, on and off campus. This data helps to inform USW to educate students and improve support.

Reporting with contact details
If you provide your contact details when you make the report, you will be contacted by someone from our specially trained team to offer you support.

Initially they will offer you an appointment where they will listen first and then explain the different options. They can provide emotional and/or practical support, including if the person lives or studies with you. They can tell you about specialist services and can refer you to them if you wish.

Unhealthy Relationships
It may be difficult to notice the signs of an unhealthy relationship, especially if you are in one.  The relationship probably did not start off that way, but may have gradually changed over time to include:

• Controlling behaviour,
• Being ridiculed or shamed,
• Being threatened,
• Your partner isolating you from family and friends,
• Taking control of what you spend,
• Physically or sexually violent behaviour.

Rape and sexual assault
Rape and sexual violence can happen within or outside of a relationship.  This includes sex without a person’s consent due to drugs, alcohol or unconsciousness. Sexual assault is unwanted touching of a sexual nature.

Consent should be given and can be taken back at any time.  You can find out more about consent here.

Sexual harassment and stalking
Sexual harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, and can include unwanted touching, kissing, verbal and non-verbal behaviour.  It can be in-person, online or via other means like stalking (following a person, watching them, spying on them or forcing contact including through social media).

Sexual Misconduct
The University’s student code of conduct defines sexual misconduct as any unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature that is committed without consent, by force, intimidation, or coercion. It includes rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, indecent exposure, image-based sexual abuse or so called “Revenge Porn”, and stalking. It includes online sexual misconduct, such a sextortion when someone threatens to share your private and sexual content online unless you meet their demands.

Other forms of violence and abuse

• Sexual exploitation
• Non-consensual sharing of sexual images or videos
• Sextortion
• Revenge porn
• Relationship abuse (domestic violence)
• Forced marriage
• Honour-based violence
• Female genital mutilation (FGM)
• Trafficking and forced prostitution

According to the Revolt Sexual Violence at University report:

• Groping and unwelcome/unnecessary touching in a sexual manner is the most commonly experienced form of sexual assault.
• 39% of students that have been sexually assaulted or harassed were made to feel responsible for the incidents.
• Only 6% of students reported the incident to police or their university.
• Those that didn’t report sexual crimes to their university said it was because: they didn’t think it was serious enough (56%), they felt too ashamed (35%), they didn’t know how to make a report (29%).

Any incidents of assault and harassment are serious and are worthy of reporting. Remember, if it isn’t your choice, you haven’t given consent.

Everyone responds differently to a non-consensual sexual experience, there is no right or wrong way to react. Healing and coping look differently for everyone but it’s never too late to seek support.

USW Mental Wellbeing
USW's Mental Wellbeing website offers a range of support and can guide you to a wide range of help outside of USW at the Help Yourself Hub.

USW Health Service
You can contact USW Health Service if you have an injury you need support with, and for help and advice on pregnancy, STIs or other health issues.

USW Chaplaincy
For a different approach to support, contact USW Chaplaincy. Whatever your sexuality, gender, race, age, ability, culture or belief, they are always welcoming and considerate.

USWSU
University of South Wales Students' Union also offer independent support to students of the University.

Safezone app
USW provides all students with free access to the SafeZone app, where you can contact University Security directly by sharing your location and communicating quickly via text message. If you feel unsafe anywhere on campus, you can use the SafeZone app to report this and seek immediate assistance. It will also show you where you are on campus in a variety of formats.

Brook
Brook Consent Myths & Facts

Live Fear Free - a Welsh Government service which offers specialist advice and help to all survivors, victims, professionals, and concerned others on all forms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, including rape, sexual harassment, and stalking. 
Out of hours helpline 0808 80 10 800 or email [email protected]. 

Men’s Advice Line - provides advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Call: 0808 801 0327. 

Galop - a national LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline. Call 0800 999 5428 or email [email protected]. 

Bawso - provides support to black minority ethnic communities and individuals in Wales affected by abuse, violence and exploitation. 

New Pathways - a Welsh charity providing support for those affected by rape, sexual abuse or sexual assault. 

Victim Support - can help anyone affected by crime, whether they decide to report it or not. Call them on 0808 16 89 111.