ISVA

The University ISVA is employed by the local Rape Crisis Centre, Survivor Space, and contracted to the University to exclusively support students. They are completely independent from the University, your college or any other agencies, and will tailor their support according to your needs.

How can the ISVA support you?

The ISVA provides emotional and practical support and advocacy to any student who has experienced sexual violence, recently or in the past. They work in a non-directive and non-judgemental way. This means that they can give you information about legal processes and services that are there to support you, will support you to explore your options, and will support the decisions you make.

Having an independent support to advise you and hold your hand through the process is invaluable.

- Student accessing the ISVA service

An ISVA can:

Provide information about the criminal justice process

• If you are considering reporting to the police but do not know what the process involves, the ISVA can offer an ‘informed choice’ session. This is an hour long session in which the ISVA will outline the process in detail from report to court. This then gives you the information you need to consider when deciding whether this is the right process for you at this moment in time.  

Support throughout the criminal justice process

• If you want to engage with the police, or have already done so, the ISVA can act as an advocate and support throughout the process. This involves attending interviews with the police where appropriate, and scheduling updates and meetings. This can include liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and assisting with a right to review if your case is closed. The ISVA can offer emotional support in court and help with practical measures to assist on the day. Support is not capped to a certain time period and the ISVA will support as long as the process is ongoing, regardless of your student status. 

Support with the University/college disciplinary process

• The ISVA can advocate for you if you would like to make a report to the college, Proctor’s office or department. They can explain the disciplinary process and attend the interview with an investigator for emotional support. They can also assist with applying for mitigating circumstances or with moving rooms, if the reason for the request relates sexual violence experiences. 

Provide emotional support

I wouldn't be here today if it wasn’t for the help of the University ISVA

- student accessing the ISVA service

• Emotional support is non-therapeutic, wide ranging and holistic, for example discussing the impact of what happened, booking and attending GP appointments. The context of the ISVA appointments are flexible if you would prefer to meet outside of the University. 

Confidentiality

The ISVA service is confidential and everything you tell the ISVA will be kept within Survivor Space, unless you give explicit consent to share information with another agency or individual. Survivor Space has an organisational confidentiality policy, which means that other Survivor Space staff may be able to access these records in exceptional circumstances.

Absolutely wonderful, affirming support throughout my University and college reporting.

- Student accessing the ISVA service

The ISVA will discuss confidentiality, and the boundaries of this if any safeguarding concerns arise.  

How do I get in contact?

The ISVA accepts referrals directly from students via this self-referral form.

Third parties, including other University organisations, can also make referrals as long as they are sent with the student's permission via this third-party referral form. 

Upon receipt of your referral, the ISVA will contact you to arrange a time to meet you either virtually, via phone or face-to-face in a location that's convenient for you.

For other enquiries, they can also be contacted via [email protected].