GSA has a duty to protect children and adolescents under the age of eighteen who are at risk of harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination or being drawn into radicalisation. If the concern is to do with terrorism or radicalisation, it falls under GSA's 'Prevent' duty.
All incidents involving children and adolescents under the age of eighteen must be reported under the incident's corresponding category in GSA's Report and Support tool (e.g. 'Assault', 'Harassment', 'Domestic abuse, Coercive control and Gender Based violence', etc).
All incidents involving children and adolescents under the age of eighteen must be reported under the incident's corresponding category in GSA's Report and Support tool (e.g. 'Assault', 'Harassment', 'Domestic abuse, Coercive control and Gender Based violence', etc).
Members of the University community may come into contact with children and adolescents under the age of eighteen in many different ways, for example whilst studying or on placement, through sports or society activities, or through summer schools or outreach activities. All members of the University community have an essential role to play in ensuring that children and adolescents under the age of eighteen are protected.
Examples of harm or abuse of children and adolescents under the age of eighteen include:
Examples of harm or abuse of children and adolescents under the age of eighteen include:
- Physical harm (also check Assault): physical assault, inappropriate restraint or sanctions, making someone purposely uncomfortable (for example, not allowing or helping a child or adolescent under the age of eighteen access the facilities), etc.
- Sexual harm (also check Sexual Misconduct + Assault): inappropriate intimate contact, rape, sexual assault, indecent exposure, etc.
- Psychological harm - humiliation, blaming, controlling, threatening, intimidating behaviours, verbal abuse, removing mobility or communication aids or leaving someone unattended when they need assistance, etc.
- Financial or material harm - stealing money or valuables from a child or adolescent under the age of eighteen, coercing them to give them money, exploiting their assets, etc.
- Neglect and acts of omission - failing to provide appropriate support and welfare for a child or an adolescent under the age of eighteen (e.g. not providing access to canteen facilities for a student to eat, or failing to provide appropriate accommodation for someone who is disabled).
Possible indicators that a child or an adolescent under the age of eighteen is being abused or neglected include (but are not limited to):
- changes in behaviour, such as becoming quieter
- withdrawing from activities, contact or communication
- losing weight of appearing malnourished
- struggling with money
- having cuts, bruises or injuries that can’t be explained
Resources:
- Report child abuse (Mygov.scot) has more information on ways to report and links to support sites.
- Signs of child exploitation (CSE the Signs).
- ChildLine – if you’re a child or an adolescent, ChildLine will listen to you and help you work out what to do next.
- ParentLine Scotland provides support for anyone caring for or worried about a child.
- If you’re an adult and worried about a child, the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) have professional counsellors who can give help, advice and support.
- Sense - if you are concerned about yourself or somebody else, Sense can provide advice or help.
- If you’ve been affected by a crime, contact Victim Support Scotland. Victim Support offers phone, live chat, and other online support.
- Check any other Support category for more specific support and external organisations.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Take care of yourself. It’s important that you take care of yourself. If you’ve heard something distressing or if something is troubling you, the GSA's Counselling Service offers confidential help to students. Register online via: https://live.uniticms.com/gsamhw/ to request a counselling appointment.
If you are in immediate danger or are seriously injured, please call 999 (or 112 from a mobile).
If you need immediate support or feel in crisis, we have listed several emergency services contact details on GSA's external website that you may find helpful.
Students can access information on GSA's student services here
Staff can access information on GSA staff services here
Students and staff can also access support through: Papyrus Hopeline247 - Prevention of young suicide. This is a 24/7 service for young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, as well as for anyone who is concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. Call 0800 068 41 41, text 07860039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org to stay safe or to keep someone safe from suicide.