Wednesday 03-12-2025 - 15:32

Written by Leah Buttery

Leah Buttery is your 2025/26 Wellbeing Officer

 

 

The 16 days of activism against violence against women and girls is a key opportunity every year for us to advocate for safety and educate our student body on the complexity of this issue. Lancaster has had a long history of campaigning against sexual misconduct and systemic misogyny, but what have we been up to this term?

 

 

Victim Support Fair  
On the 27th of November, the Student Wellbeing Incident Support Service (SWISS) hosted an event in partnership with LUSU and the Consent Collective to bring awareness to the variety of support services that are available for victims of gender-based violence in Lancaster. 
Stall holders included: 

• Birchall Trust
• Victim Support
• Lancashire Police  
• Lancaster City Council  
• Consent Collective (@luconsentcollectivesoc)

SWISS staff were also present to support any student who wanted to make a disclosure or were at all distressed by the themes of the event.  

 

Reach Respect Training 
Across the 25th and 26th of November, Women’s Aid in partnership with LUSU ran four training sessions on recognising the signs of abuse, how to signpost, and how to support those who might be experiencing domestic abuse. 
Around 40 students received this training and gave overwhelmingly positive feedback. The majority of students who attended were student volunteers – on JCR, society, or sport execs – and therefore are well placed to support students. 
 
“I found the training to be extremely insightful and engaging. Regardless of the sensitive topic matter I felt as though it was lead in a safe and supportive way.  
As a student leader, I now feel far more equipped to spot the signs and help support someone that may be experiencing domestic abuse” – Carys Smith, Furness JCR President 
 
“I found the training really helpful as sometimes simply being reminded of support that we can offer and use can change a survivor’s life.”  - David Grice, Furness JCR VP Wellbeing and Campaigns 
 
“I found the Women’s Aid training very professionally and insightfully delivered. It has given me invaluable skills to better understand the warning signs of domestic abuse and how to support victims. This is the sort of training I wish I had at college.” – Pavan Bhamidipati, County JCR Equality and Opportunities Officer  
 
 
 
My Streetlighting Campaign  
Over the last few weeks, we’ve had a map out in the LUSU office for people to tell us where in Lancaster they’ve felt unsafe as a result of poor street lighting. So far it’s been filling up with stickers around areas such as: 

• The Canal  
• Greaves Road & Pointer Roundabout  
• Primrose  
• Bowerham 

If you want to add your thoughts, the map will still be up in LUSU up until Christmas break (and we’ll wheel it out again for Re-Freshers!) or you can message me @lusuwellbeing to tell me about your experiences! 
We’ll be taking any evidence we collect to the City Council to lobby them to improve lighting in Lancaster in student residential areas and ensure that our students are able to enjoy the nightlife Lancaster has to offer without feeling at risk.  
 
 
If you have been affected by the content of this article, support is available:

• LUSU Advice  
• Birchall Trust
• Lancaster University Wellbeing Services OR fill in a UniSafe form
• Access Lancaster’s training module on sexual misconduct.