The University of Bristol is committed to providing a positive experience for all students and staff. We believe that bullying, harassment, assault and discrimination are never acceptable.
What is bullying?
Bullying is unwanted behaviour which is intimidating, offensive or insulting. Anyone can be bullied, but it usually involves individuals or groups with more power, bullying someone with less. The person who is being bullied can feel humiliated, threatened or upset and it can become a pattern of behaviour.
What is harassment?
Harassment is unwanted actions or behaviour by individuals or groups which violates a person’s dignity and creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. Sexual harassment is when these actions or behaviour are sexual in nature.
Harassment against a person due to a protected characteristic, is considered a hate crime. This means that the behaviour or actions are motivated by hostility towards age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership or pregnancy and maternity.
Immediate help
- Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured call 999 (or 112 from a mobile).
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened, try and find somewhere you feel safe. If you are at the University you can call University Security on 0117 331 1223 or go to your nearest University building and ask someone to phone Security for you.
Support for students
- You can use the Report and Support system to report your concerns or speak to an Adviser from the University’s Student Wellbeing or Residential Life Services for advice and support. Contact Wellbeing Access to do this.
- The University has a range of wellbeing support. If you are not sure who to contact, you can speak to an Adviser from the University’s Student Wellbeing or Residential Life Services for advice and support. Contact Wellbeing Access to do this.
- Have an informal conversation with the Student Complaints Officer (student-complaints@bristol.ac.uk, +44117 394 1820) or the Bristol SU Academic Advice service.
- Consider submitting extenuating circumstances if your studies have been or are being affected.
- Ditch the Label. An online advice and support community for young people up to the age of 25 who have experienced bullying.
Support for staff members
- Talk to your line manager. Particularly if your work has been/is being affected.
- Have an informal conversation with a Trades Union representative (UCU, UNISON, or UNITE), or ask your HR Operations team for advice.
- Citizens Advice Bureau for information regarding bullying and harassment at work.
- University support services for staff wellbeing and mental health.
Other sources of support
- National Bullying Helpline for practical support to anyone who is experiencing bullying. Call 0845 22 55 787, 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.
- Victim Support help anyone who has been the victim of a crime. They can support you coping with the after-effects of crime and help with reporting to the police.
Reporting for students and staff members
- Report and Support. Staff and students can report an incident anonymously using the University’s Report and Support system.
- To the police. You can report a crime using the non-emergency number, 101.
- Make a formal complaint using the University’s Acceptable Behaviour Policy (for students) or to your HR Operations team (for staff)