We’re committed to tackling gender-based violence (GBV) and were one of the first universities in England to engage with the EmilyTest GBV Charter pilot.
We’re one of only two English universities to have been awarded the EmilyTest Charter Award.
We will help with the adaptation of the EmilyTest GBV Charter framework for the English education system. This is in line with the Office for Students Condition of Registration around harassment and sexual misconduct, beginning on 1 August 2025.
The Charter has already proved successful in Scotland, with 13 institutions actively engaging and six officially awarded. The Charter is based on five principles: open and learning, educated and empowered, comprehensive and connected, equal and inclusive, and safe and effective.
EmilyTest was founded by Fiona Drouet after the tragic loss of her 18-year-old daughter, Emily, a law student who died by suicide following physical and psychological abuse by a fellow student while living in halls of residence.
Spiking is the act of adding a drug (pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, alcohol, etc.) to another person’s drink, food, vape, cigarette or other means (e.g. needle/injection) without their knowledge or consent. The possible scenarios for drink spiking involves:
Building on our comprehensive research, we have developed an educational toolkit designed to provide clear, accessible, and practical resources to address the challenges surrounding drink spiking, sexual violence, and related crimes. It explains the symptoms of spiking, where to find support services, and how to report incidents. The aim is to help everyone better understand what spiking is and to support those who may have been spiked to make informed decisions about what to do next.