Keeping you safe

As a BCU student we want you to feel safe and well while you're studying, so we have a range of services to help, as well as appropriate reporting services should you ever not feel safe.

We will work with students, parents, carers and other organisations to promote welfare for all and will take reasonable steps to keep you safe.

We promote Respect at BCU: that is, treat others as you would wish to be treated. We believe in the right of all individuals to be protected from abuse, regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.

Security Services

Our Security Services team provide a 24/7 service, 365 days of the year, keeping our campuses, staff and students safe.

Security Services run regular patrols around campus, as well as monitoring our extensive CCTV system, and work closely with our University Police Officers from West Midlands Police.

Wellbeing support

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Team offers a range of support, including trained Counsellors, Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, wellbeing advice, and more. Our Money and Childcare Advice team is also available with financial advice.

Any concerns about a student, whatever their nature, should be raised through Report and Support. The portal also has a support information for a range of issues.

Any staff member or student, who is concerned about a member of the BCU community, can make a report either anonymously or with their contact details.

Report and Support

Any concerns, incidents or unacceptable behaviour should be reported through Report and Support.

This includes behaviour of staff, students and visitors. Anyone can make a report, either anonymously or with contact details.

All reports are read and managed by the Mental Health and Wellbeing team (for student reports) and HR (for staff reports).

Appropriate action will be taken in response to all reports received. Where reports are made with contact details, we may contact you to seek further information and / or to provide details of available support.

Trained staff

All our staff complete regular mandatory Safeguarding and Prevent Duty Training.

Training includes what is the Prevent Duty and what does this mean for the university; what to do when staff are concerned for a student or staff member's welfare, for any reason, and what procedures to follow to raise any concerns.

Suicide Prevention Strategy

We recognise that universities play a key role in helping to prevent suicides and that this requires a whole university approach, working in close partnership with students, family, local government and the NHS. We are committed to mental health support and awareness permeating every aspect of the university culture and experience, and it being part of the language of education. The Suicide Prevention Strategy sets out our approach.

The Prevent Duty

What is the Prevent Duty?

The Prevent Duty is part of the Government's Counter Terrorism Strategy, CONTEST. Under the Prevent Duty, “specified authorities” are required to have a “due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism”. It applies to higher education institutions, local authorities, schools, further education institutions, the health sector, prisons and probation, and the police.

The Office for Students regulates HEI compliance with the Prevent Duty and requires universities to have specific policies and procedures in place. Read the most recent guidance.

What is BCU's approach?

BCU's approach to the Prevent duty forms part of our wider safeguarding activity and is underpinned by the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

We will safeguard the welfare of our students, staff and BCU community.

The Safeguarding Policy sets out the University's approach.