Any form of bullying and harassment is #Never OK.
For students
For students
- Student Welfare Team For emotional and practical support, for personal issues impacting on your wellbeing and studies.
- Hall Wardens/Mentors If you are a student in University Halls you can ask to speak to your Warden or Hall Mentors. They are available weekday evenings and weekends if you wish to talk things through.
- Counselling & Wellbeing The University’s team of professional counsellors and mental health workers offers confidential emotional and wellbeing support.
- Disability Advisory Service The University’s dedicated disability advisors can provide advice, guidance and support to students on a range of practical adjustments to your work and studies.
- Chaplaincy Offering support and a safe place to talk for students of faith and non-faith.
- Reading Students' Union for impartial advice, support and information
- Exceptional Circumstances. If you feel your studies have been affected by what has happened.
For employees
- Harassment Peer Support Network is made up of employees of the University from any staff group who have volunteered their time to provide confidential support and information to colleagues who are experiencing unwanted behaviour, bullying or harassment. They are there to listen, talk through options available and, if appropriate, signpost to other sources of support and advice.
- Employee Health and Wellbeing These pages will offer information and resources to fully support employee wellbeing in day-to-day life.
- Employee Assistance Programme The University provides an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is an independent, free, confidential support and counselling service which is run by CIC and is called Confidential Care.
External support
If you would prefer to seek help and support outside of the University, here are some contact details of relevant organisations.
For anyone
National Bullying Helpline: offer both free online resources and advice as well as a helpline for both adults and children.
The Mix: Offers support to anyone under 25 about anything that’s troubling them. Email support is available through their online contact form and they also offer a free short-term counselling service.
Cybersmile: provides information on cyberbullying for adults.
Shout: Provides free and confidential text support service for moments when you are dealing with bullying and need support to get to a calmer place.
For children and young people
Childline: helps anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through, including bullying. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.
Act against bullying: offer free advice for children and young people experiencing bullying, as well as providing a range of resources.
Family Lives: provide free online resources around bullying of children and young people for parents and families – including cyberbullying. They also provide helplines for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life.
EACH Education: offer advice and support for under 18s who are the target of homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic bullying.
YoungMinds: are a charity supporting children and young people’s mental health. They offer bullying information for those under 25.
For those with a learning-based disability (SpLD)
Mencap: Information and advice for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Services include an online community.
Training and awareness
Anti-bullying alliance: provides information and training on anti-bullying.
Training and awareness
Anti-bullying alliance: provides information and training on anti-bullying.
The Diana Award: is an anti-bullying ambassador programme empowering young people to change attitudes and behaviours amongst peers towards bullying.
Bullies out: provide e-mentoring support and anti-bullying workshops and training programmes.
Cybersmile: provides information on cyberbullying for adults.
Helpline Mental health support
If you are concerned about any impacts on your mental health and need in-the-moment support, you can call:
NHS 111 for medical help that is not an emergency (24/7 support). For life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance.
NHS Mental Health Crisis Service on 0300 365 2000 or 0300 365 9999 (out of hours 9pm -9am)
The Berkshire Healthcare NHS Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can provide advice, assessment, support for all ages and conditions, to help you avoid going into hospital.
Call 0800 129 9999 (calls charged at local rate)
Samaritans: are open 24 hours a day for anyone who needs to talk. This is a confidential and free service.
Phone: 116 123
HopeLine UK by Papyrus: 0800 068 41 41 | Text: 07786 209 697
Muslim Community Helpline: A national service for anyone who identifies as Muslim seeking support with their mental health. Helpline open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 1 pm, with extended service hours available. Male and female operators available.