A range of additional support has been put in place since the beginning of last term to help students through some difficult situations which they may be experiencing.

A number of students were appointed, and attended a range of training sessions at the beginning of the autumn term, to fulfil the following positions:

• Residents’ Support Officers (RSOs): these roles are now present in most Colleges to help resolve low-level problems before they escalate.

• Student Community Champions: this is a new role, piloted in the St Michaels’ area, aimed at supporting the relationship between students and local residents in this area.

These roles complement the highly successful Street Marshal Scheme, introduced last year by the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. The scheme operates in defined residential areas with the dual aims of safeguarding students and local residents as they transit through these areas of Canterbury at night, and promoting positive community relationships by encouraging students and local residents to behave responsibly whilst walking through these areas.

A number of members of staff also received training last term to act as Sexual Assault Respondents (SARs), and be equipped to attend to anyone, at Canterbury and Medway,  who may have suffered such an assault outside of working hours (5pm-9am and at weekends) .   SARs operate on a rota and are accessed via Campus Security.

Further information on support available can be found on the Student Services webpages.