The University and Students' Union have trained a group of staff as SVMLOs. This means that they are trained in taking disclosures and supporting people who have been affected by sexual violence. They will listen empathically to you without judgement. The SVMLO will provide you with information on your options if you have been affected by sexual violence in any way, even if it wasn't you that was directly affected.
Online
Complete our short, simple form in our secure Report and Support system.
Reports received are strictly managed with only a small number of staff having access to them. Your report will be reviewed by the SVMLO Coordinator and allocated to a member of the SMVLO team. Your information and data will be recorded and managed confidentially and in line with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations. If you would like further information about this please contact Kelly Marriot, Student Support Officer at svmlo@stir.ac.uk.
By phone
You can make an appointment with a SVMLO by calling the Student Services Hub at +44 (0) 1786 466022. You do not have to say what you want to talk about. All you have to give is your name and student number (if you have one). If you do choose to contact us this way the SVMLO Coordinator will need to contact you to get a small
You can either specify you would like to speak to a male or female SVMLO, or simply ask the SVMLO Coordinator to allocate a SVMLO to you.
When an SVMLO contacts you to arrange a time to meet you can ask to speak to via MS Teams or face to face and they will do their best to accommodate that.
Whichever way you choose to reach out to a SVMLO, you will be treated respectfully and sensitively.
An SVMLO will speak with you either via MS Teams or face-to-face depending on what is your preferred option and their availability on campus. Should you be meeting via MS Teams it is important to be in a safe, quiet and confidential space.
The role of the SVMLO is primarily to listen. They will be empathic, supportive and non-judgmental. They will ask you what you want to happen next and will provide you with information about your options.
The SVMLO will take a brief note of the meeting which they will put into a secure
The SVMLO and SVMLO Coordinator will normally keep the information you disclose
You are under no obligation to name the perpetrator(s) and will be able to receive guidance on all of your options as well as access to all University and external support if you choose not to. However, if you do choose to name the perpetrator and they are either a University student or staff member, the University will be obliged to take appropriate action to safeguard you and/or members of our community. This is likely to involve speaking to the alleged perpetrator and it may involve disciplinary action being taken.
The same will apply if you name someone who is not a student or member of staff but the information you disclose indicates that you or someone else is at risk of harm. It is rare that the University would inform the Police without your explicit consent, but if the level of risk to you or others is sufficiently high, this course of action might be necessary.
If you wish to name a perpetrator but do not want the University to take action you may prefer to engage with an external support agency such as Rape Crisis Scotland or Women’s Aid. The SVMLO will be able to help with this and refer you to other agencies that can help.
If the SVMLO considers they need to refer your case to the Academic Registrar, Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development, or the Police, a discussion will normally first be held with you to make you aware that this action will be taken and what you should expect next. This conversation would normally take place between you and the SVMLO, with an SVMLO Coordinator present if necessary.
The SVMLO will endeavour to make sure you are happy with the information in your disclosure before it is submitted. They will confirm with you any follow up actions which were agreed between those present during the conversation.
If the alleged perpetrator is a student or member of staff and is deemed to be a risk to you, themselves or others, the SVMLO/SVMLO Coordinator will discuss your case with senior staff including the Director of Student Support Services, the Academic Registrar, the Director of Student, Academic and Corporate Services, or the Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development as part of the risk assessment process.
If it is agreed that the case should be investigated under student or staff disciplinary procedures, the Academic Registrar or Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development respectively will take over the case. However, the SVMLO will normally remain your key contact in terms of organisation of support and referrals to external agencies, unless another contact is specifically requested.
For further information on the SVMLO team or role, please contact the SVMLO Coordinator by emailing svmlo@stir.ac.uk.
If you're off campus, call 999 to reach any of the emergency services.
If you're on campus, call the Security Team any time, 24/7 on extension 7999 (on an internal phone) or 01786 467999 to request the Police.
If you need an ambulance, dial 999 directly to speak to a call handler. Then call the Security Team on extension 7999 or 01786 467999 to let them know that an ambulance will be arriving.