Fife College is committed to ensuring our students feel safe, heard, and supported, and to tackling gender-based violence within our community.
Research suggests that as many as 1 in 4 female students experience unwanted sexual behaviour during their studies. Colleges and universities are working to prevent gender based violence and we want to encourage people to make disclosures and ensure they receive the support they want.
By ‘gender-based violence’ we mean a spectrum of behaviour that starts with objectification and unwanted comments and includes intimidation, harassment, domestic abuse, physical, financial and emotional abuse, stalking, sexual assault, image-based abuse, online abuse, rape and murder. The term also includes commercial sexual exploitation and so called 'honour-based' violence, including female genital mutilation, forced marriages and 'honour' crimes.
Scotland uses the term gender based violence because women and girls are much more likely to experience it as a result of continued inequality in our society. However, the term is not exclusive of other people. It does recognise that men and the LGBTQIA+ community can be victims too.
Domestic Abuse
Recognising Domestic Abuse:
Women's Aid defines "domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.
Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
- Psychological and/or emotional abuse
- Physical or sexual abuse.
- Financial or economic abuse.
- Harassment and stalking.
- Online or digital abuse.
Domestic abuse is never okay under any circumstances. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued in their relationships and at home. Abuse, whether physical, emotional, verbal, financial, or controlling behaviour, is harmful and unacceptable, and no one should suffer through it alone.
Help and support are available, and reaching out for assistance is a strong and important step toward safety and healing.
Think:
- Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can contact the emergency services on 999 (or 112 if in another country).
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere you feel safe.
- What are sexual misconduct and assault? It might be useful to think about what is meant by bullying and harassment and how these behaviours are described.
Report:
- We Hear You. Students and staff can report an incident using the College's WHY form. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can submit your name. If you choose to submit a named report, we will be able to talk through the options and support available to you, in confidence.
- If you choose to make a formal complaint to the College about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps you'll need to follow.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Find out more on the support available for 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, please contact our Guidance Team on guidance@fife.ac.uk offers confidential help and is open to students.
Talk - If someone you know has been affected, you can encourage them to seek support.
Seek Support - There are a number of specialist organisations that provide specialist support, including counselling for those affected by harassment. You could encourage the individual to reach out to such support.
A list of organisations can be found here
Sexual Misconduct and Assault
Any form of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment is never okay.
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual misconduct is a form of harassment and is unacceptable behaviour of a sexual nature. It can include: sexual harassment; sexual violence; intimate partner violence; sexual assault; grooming; coercion or bullying with sexual elements; sexual invitations and demands; comments; non-verbal communication; creation of atmospheres of discomfort; and promised resources or advancement in exchange for sexual access.
The term ‘sexual harassment’ captures only some of the possible abuses of power that may occur. Sexual misconduct more specifically raises issues of unequal relationships, consent, and the prevention of equal access to education, opportunities and career progression.
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is a criminal offence and contrary to the university grievance and disciplinary procedures. A person commits sexual assault if they intentionally touch another person, the touching is sexual and the person does not consent.
It involves all unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature and ranges from pinching, embracing, groping and kissing, to rape and sexual assault which involves penetration without consent.
Consent is agreeing by choice and having the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
A person is free to make a choice if nothing bad would happen to them if they said no.
Capacity is about whether someone is physically and/or mentally able to make a choice and to understand the consequences of that choice.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is unwanted and unwelcome words, conduct, or behaviour of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, embarrassing, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the recipient. It is a misuse of personal or institutional power and often based on a person’s gender although it is rarely about sexual desire.
For the purpose of this policy whether or not the harasser intended to be offensive is irrelevant. The limit of acceptable behaviour as described by this policy is up to the recipient to decide. A single incident or persistent behaviour can amount to harassment.
Sexual harassment can range from behaviour that stems from obvious to anyone or subtler behaviour less obvious to either the person responsible for the behaviour or to the recipient. Often the impact is not felt or witnessed immediately. The impact may go beyond the recipient to people who see or hear what happens or who try to offer support.
Sexual harassment can include but is not limited to: catcalling, following, making unnecessary and unwanted physical contact, sexual jokes and comments, giving unwelcome personal gifts, wolf-whistling, leering, derogatory comments, unwelcome comments about a person’s body or clothing, unwelcome questions about a person’s sex life and/or sexuality, engaging in unwelcome sexual propositions, invitations and flirtation, making somebody feel uncomfortable through displaying or sharing sexual material. Sexual harassment does not necessarily occur face to face and can be in the form of emails, visual images (such as sexually explicit pictures on walls in a shared environment), social media, telephone, text messages and image based sexual abuse, such as revenge porn and upskirting.
If you think you have been the target of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, it may be hard to know what to do or how to feel. What happened was not your fault. What you do next is your choice.
Sexual misconduct is never acceptable in any setting or circumstance. Every person has the right to dignity, respect, consent, and personal safety. Any form of unwanted sexual behaviour, harassment, coercion, or abuse can have serious emotional and psychological effects and should always be taken seriously.
No one should feel ashamed to seek support, report misconduct, or ask for help, and those affected deserve to be listened to and supported with compassion and respect.
Think:
- Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can contact the emergency services on 999 (or 112 if in another country).
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere you feel safe.
- What are sexual misconduct and assault? It might be useful to think about what is meant by bullying and harassment and how these behaviours are described.
Report:
- We Hear You. Students and staff can report an incident using the College's WHY form. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can submit your name. If you choose to submit a named report, we will be able to talk through the options and support available to you, in confidence.
- If you choose to make a formal complaint to the College about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps you'll need to follow.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Find out more on the support available for 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, please contact our Guidance Team on guidance@fife.ac.uk offers confidential help and is open to students.
Financial Support
If you have been affected by gender-based violence (GBV), you are not alone.
You may decide that you need time away from your studies. If so, we can support you to understand your financial options, what happens to your student funding and what support is available during a break. The Student Funding and Guidance Teams can explain:
How a break from study affects your funding
What financial support you can access
How we can help you with forms and applications
External organisations that can support you
Who to contact for confidential help.
Talk - If someone you know has been affected, you can encourage them to seek support.
Seek Support - There are a number of specialist organisations that provide specialist support, including counselling for those affected by harassment. You could encourage the individual to reach out to such support.
Stalking
Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention or behaviour directed at a specific person that causes them to feel afraid, threatened, or unsafe. It’s not just a one-time incident, it usually involves ongoing actions over time.
Common forms of stalking
- Repeatedly following someone or showing up where they are
- Sending unwanted messages (texts, emails, DMs, letters)
- Monitoring someone’s online activity or using tracking devices
- Making threats or intimidating gestures
- Contacting friends, family, or coworkers to get information
- Leaving unwanted gifts or notes
Types of stalking
- Physical stalking: following or appearing in person
- Cyberstalking: harassment through social media, email, or other digital means
- Obsessive or fixated stalking: often involves someone known to the victim (ex-partner, acquaintance, etc.)
Stalking is never acceptable and should always be taken seriously. Everyone has the right to feel safe and free from fear, intimidation, or unwanted attention. Repeated behaviours such as following someone, excessive contact, monitoring, threats, or harassment can have a serious impact on a person’s wellbeing and sense of safety. No one should have to face stalking alone; and support, protection, and help are available for those affected.
Think:
- Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can contact the emergency services on 999 (or 112 if in another country).
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere you feel safe.
- What are sexual misconduct and assault? It might be useful to think about what is meant by bullying and harassment and how these behaviours are described.
Report:
- We Hear You. Students and staff can report an incident using the College's WHY form. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can submit your name. If you choose to submit a named report, we will be able to talk through the options and support available to you, in confidence.
- If you choose to make a formal complaint to the College about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps you'll need to follow.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Find out more on the support available for 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, please contact our Guidance Team on guidance@fife.ac.uk offers confidential help and is open to students.
Financial Support
If you have been affected by gender-based violence (GBV), you are not alone.
You may decide that you need time away from your studies. If so, we can support you to understand your financial options, what happens to your student funding and what support is available during a break. The Student Funding and Guidance Teams can explain:
How a break from study affects your funding
What financial support you can access
How we can help you with forms and applications
External organisations that can support you
Who to contact for confidential help.
Honour Based Abuse
Honour-based abuse (also called “honour-based violence”) is a type of abuse that happens when someone is harmed, controlled, or punished by family members or a community because they believe the person has brought “shame” or “dishonour” to them.
It’s based on the idea of protecting a family’s or group’s reputation, often linked to cultural, social, or religious expectations about behaviour.
Examples of honour-based abuse include:
- Controlling who someone can date, marry, or be friends with
- Forced marriage
- Threats, intimidation, or emotional abuse
- Physical violence
- Restrictions on clothing, education, or freedom
- In extreme cases, so-called “honour killings”
Honour-based abuse is never acceptable and cannot be justified by culture, tradition, family expectations, or beliefs. Every person has the right to live safely, make their own choices, and be treated with dignity and respect. Any form of control, threats, intimidation, violence, or abuse carried out in the name of “honour” is harmful and wrong. People experiencing honour-based abuse should be supported without judgement, and help is available to protect their safety, wellbeing, and independence.
Think:
- Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can contact the emergency services on 999 (or 112 if in another country).
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere you feel safe.
- What are sexual misconduct and assault? It might be useful to think about what is meant by bullying and harassment and how these behaviours are described.
Report:
- We Hear You. Students and staff can report an incident using the College's WHY form. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can submit your name. If you choose to submit a named report, we will be able to talk through the options and support available to you, in confidence.
- If you choose to make a formal complaint to the College about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps you'll need to follow.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Find out more on the support available for 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, please contact our Guidance Team on guidance@fife.ac.uk offers confidential help and is open to students.
Financial Support
If you have been affected by gender-based violence (GBV), you are not alone.
You may decide that you need time away from your studies. If so, we can support you to understand your financial options, what happens to your student funding and what support is available during a break. The Student Funding and Guidance Teams can explain:
How a break from study affects your funding
What financial support you can access
How we can help you with forms and applications
External organisations that can support you
Who to contact for confidential help.
Honour-based abuse is never acceptable and cannot be justified by culture, tradition, family expectations, or beliefs. Every person has the right to live safely, make their own choices, and be treated with dignity and respect. Any form of control, threats, intimidation, violence, or abuse carried out in the name of “honour” is harmful and wrong. People experiencing honour-based abuse should be supported without judgement, and help is available to protect their safety, wellbeing, and independence.
What can you do?
Talk - If someone you know has been affected, you can encourage them to seek support. Alternatively you can make an anonymous disclosure which will allow us to investigate if there are multiple instances in one area.
Seek Support - There are a number of specialist organisations that provide specialist support, including counselling for those affected by harassment. You could encourage the individual to reach out to such support.
There are two ways you can tell us what happened
Anonymous reports process
- You can make an anonymous report if you do not want to share your contact details.
- Because the report is anonymous, we will not be able to contact you, ask follow‑up questions, or give you updates.
- What you tell us helps the College understand what is happening, spot patterns or risks, and improve safety for our community.
- Anonymous reports are used for safety monitoring and to inform prevention work and improvements to our response to gender‑based violence.
Named reports process
- Acknowledgement: We aim to contact you within 2 working days.
- Initial support meeting: Within 5 working days, to discuss safety, options and your preferences.
- Investigation / Case handling: If you choose a conduct process, we will explain the steps and typical timescales.
- Updates: You'll receive regular updates at agreed intervals.
- Your control: You can pause or stop at any time unless there is a serious and immediate risk to you or others.