Whether you’re a student or a staff member, discrimination is never okay and is not tolerated at the Bedford College Group.
Discrimination is contrary to the Equality Act 2010 and the University of Warwick’s Principles and Dignity Policy.
Information
Discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than someone else on the basis of a protected characteristic:
- Age
- Disability
- Sex
- Gender reassignment
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation.
- Marriage or civil partnership
- Pregnancy or maternity
There are three different forms of discrimination, which can occur separately or in conjunction with one another:
- Direct – when someone is treated less favourably on the grounds that they are believed to have a protected characteristic.
- By association – discrimination due to someone’s relationship to a person with a protected characteristic.
- By perception – discrimination due to perception that they have a protected characteristic.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s definition for discrimination can be found here.
Some scenario-based examples of discrimination include, but are not limited to:
- A manager disciplines an employee because they have to take time off to care for their disabled child. Other staff who have had similar amounts of time off work are not disciplined. This could be direct discrimination by association under the protected characteristic of disability.
- A heterosexual student wishes to conduct their dissertation on a topic relating to LGBTUA+ equality. A staff member refuses to supervise them in the belief that the student is gay. This is direct discrimination by perception.
- Ignoring an individual because they are perceived to have a protected characteristic when they do not, in fact, have the protected characteristic.
I have been affected by Discrimination
If you have been a victim of discrimination, it may be hard to know what to do or how to feel. That’s okay.
What happened was not your fault, you’re not alone, and what you do next is your choice.
- Report and Support is not an emergency reporting tool.
If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured:
- On Campus, during office hours, call the Safeguarding Team: For Bedford sites 01234 291888, for Tresham sites: 01536 413004
- If you are Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, please send a text message, starting the message with the word safe to 07860 097683, this is available during office hours.
- Off Campus, Emergency Services: 999
Safe Place Scheme: The Safe Place Scheme establishes a safe location on campus, providing support following a violent, hateful or harassing incident. The scheme is intended to facilitate:
- Access to emergency support/security
- Signposting to reporting & support services
- A safe place to wait – these can be found in Student Services, the wellbeing zones and LRC’s
- A Safe Space: If you cannot access one of these safe places, then try to find a space which makes you feel most comfortable and safe from harm.
- What is discrimination? You may find it useful to think about what is meant by discrimination, and examples of this behaviour.
If you are not in immediate danger, currently feel safe from harm and do not need to report an emergency – then speaking to someone about your options is a great place to start.
- Report and Support: If you submit a report with details, we will respond within 2 College Working Days. Your report will not trigger a formal complaints process, and an advisor will confidentially speak to you about both your reporting and support options. You will never be forced to submit a report to the police, or a Formal Complaint to the College- as this is your choice.
All help and advice from unions is independent of the Bedford College Group.
- Victim Support: is the independent charity for people affected by crime and traumatic events in England and Wales. Their support is free and confidential.
- Citizens Advice: give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem.
It is entirely within your right to formally report bullying and harassment. You can formally report something to the College and/or the police if it constitutes a criminal offence.
- Report and Support: If you submit a report with details, we will respond within 2 College Working Days. Your report will not trigger a formal complaints process, and an advisor will confidentially speak to you about both your reporting and support options. You will never be forced to submit a report to the police, or a Formal Complaint to the College- as this is your choice.
If you would like to speak to someone about how the incident(s) has emotionally affected you, or you would like to use some of the support services below for self-care, that is okay.
- Report and Support: If you submit a report with details, we will respond within 2 College Working Days. Your report will not trigger a formal complaints process, and an advisor will confidentially speak to you about both your reporting and support options. You will never be forced to submit a report to the police, or a Formal Complaint to the College- as this is your choice.
- Wellbeing Support Services: The College’s Student Services Teams, and Personal Achievement Tutors can support you with practical and emotional issues impacting your wellbeing or mental health and aspects of College life, including referrals for counselling support.
- Personal Achievement Tutors: if your studies have been affected by an incident, your personal tutor could help to explain your options with regards to academic and pastoral support.
I know someone who has been affected by Discrimination
If you know someone who has been affected by Discrimination, it may be hard to know what to do or how to feel. That’s okay. There are lots of ways in which you can help support those affected.
The person’s reactions can vary; they may be afraid or act in ways that seem unusual to you, even laughing at times.
Disclosures (telling someone about an experience) can come in many forms; it could be something said jokingly, it could be posed as a question, it could be said casually as part of a story. No one expects you to be a professional counsellor or therapist; however how someone responds to a first disclosure can be very important.
It is vital that you listen, believe and support them. Never pressure someone into making choices.
- Are they in Immediate Danger?
Report and Support is not an emergency reporting tool.
If anyone is in immediate danger or seriously injured:
- On Campus, during office hours, call the Safeguarding Team: For Bedford sites 01234 291888, for Tresham sites: 01536 413004
- If you are Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, please send a text message, starting the message with the word safe to 07860 097683, this is available during office hours.
- Off Campus, Emergency Services: 999
Safe Place Scheme: The Safe Place Scheme establishes a safe location on campus, providing support following a violent, hateful or harassing incident. The scheme is intended to facilitate:
- Access to emergency support/security
- Signposting to reporting & support services
- A safe place to wait – these can be found in Student Services, the wellbeing zones and LRC’s
- A Safe Space: If you cannot access one of these safe places, then try to find a space which makes you feel most comfortable and safe from harm.
- What is discrimination? You may find it useful to think about what is meant by discrimination, and examples of this behaviour.
- Listening is the most valuable thing you can do at first.
- Find a private place to talk, and tell them you are glad they are telling you.
- Be patient and let them tell you as little or as much as they want at their own pace, without interrupting. Talking about how they feel can be as helpful or more helpful than talking about the details. Take their lead on this.
- Show them that you are actively listening through your body language (e.g. nodding, facing in their direction, sitting down at eye level) and words (e.g. “I hear what you’re saying”).
- Respect their personal space, and do not touch them. Even if you think they want a comforting touch, resist your urge to do so.
- Always follow their lead. You can offer them something to keep them warm, like a blanket or your jacket (shock can involve feeling cold, shivering and shaking).
- Do not take detailed notes of what the person is telling you, or else these may be used in an investigation if the person ever chooses to report the incident. Listening and believing is key at this moment in time.
- Remember your role in this situation. It does not matter if you are someone’s best friend, a stranger, a personal tutor, a line manager or colleague; you are neither the police nor an investigating officer. You do not need to interrogate or question someone for details.
Ensure you are non-judgemental, reassuring and supportive if you ever respond throughout listening. Use phrases such as:
- “I believe you. / It took a lot of courage to tell me about this.”
- “It’s not your fault. / You didn’t do anything to deserve this.”
- “You are not alone. / I care about you and am here to listen or help in any way I can.”
- “I’m sorry this happened. / This shouldn’t have happened to you.”
- If the person you are supporting is a College student then you should signpost them to Report and Support.
- Report and Support is the College’s single online reporting platform for direct, confidential help, and no report triggers a formal complaint.
- A full list of the support and reporting options for those affected by Discrimination can be found here.
- You can support someone in reporting the incident to the College, as the online form allows you to select if you are helping someone to input a report at this time. It will then guide you through the process step by step.
- If they do not want to discuss their options at this time, that is okay. Let them go at their own pace.
- Signpost them to Report and Support– if they ever choose to look through either their reporting or support options in their own time, they can all be found here.
- Never pressure someone into reporting. Regardless of whether you believe it is the right thing to do. This is about them and their choices, not yours.
- Regardless of what they choose to do, offer your ongoing support.
- Check in periodically: The experience may have happened a long time ago, but that does not mean that the pain goes away. Check in with them, letting them know that you care about their well-being and that you believe them.
- Know your resources. You’re a strong supporter, but that doesn’t mean you’re equipped to manage someone else’s health. Become familiar with the Report and Support pages, as you can recommend to those affected.
- They may not want to report the experience to the police or College. There are a lot of reasons why someone may choose not to report. That is okay.
- They may have fear or confusion about the reporting or support options, making them too intimidating to process at this time. Signposting for later reference, is still support.
- They might be concerned about who else will be informed- that is where the FAQs section is helpful.
- Receiving disclosures and supporting others can be incredibly difficult.
- All the support available to those directly affected by Discrimination is also available to supporters.
- Do not feel like you are not worthy of support, because the experience did not directly happen to you. You will not be able to support others, without first supporting yourself.
