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Equally Safe in Colleges and Universities

Preventing gender-based violence in Scotland’s colleges and universities

Rape Crisis Scotland’s Equally Safe in Colleges and Universities (ESCU)
project supports colleges and universities to prevent and respond to
gender-based violence (GBV) in practical, trauma-informed ways.

We work in partnership with institutions and local Rape Crisis Centres to
deliver staff training, student resources, and engagement opportunities.
Our work aligns with Scotland’s Equally Safe strategy and is grounded in
the voices of student survivors.

What ESCU offer:

We offer training to help colleges and universities strengthen their approach to GBV prevention and response:

First Responder Training (Level 1 and 2) for staff
Free e-learning module for students on GBV, consent, and healthy
relationships
Local partnerships with Rape Crisis Centres across Scotland

Wider Benefits:

Survivor-informed, rights-based approach
Opportunities for student voices to shape national work
Long-term support to develop more inclusive, safer campus cultures

Training for colleges and universities

Staff Training: First Responder Pathway

Our training builds staff confidence in recognising and responding to disclosures of GBV in a trauma-informed, supportive way.

Level 1: Gender-Based Violence Essentials – First Response & Support

Who it’s for: All college and university staff
Focus: Awareness and basic response skills

You will learn:

- The forms and impacts of GBV in education settings
- How to recognise signs of abuse or distress
- What a safe, non-judgemental response looks like
- How to support students in line with trauma-informed practice

Level 2: Enhanced First Responder Training (for Key Staff):

Who it’s for: Staff who have completed Level 1 and who support disclosures
Focus: Deepening skills and confidence

You will explore:

More complex and ongoing disclosures
Intersectionality, power, and trauma
Barriers to disclosure and access to support
How to embed good practice across your institution

Each level includes practical tools, peer discussion, and scenario-based learning. Training is delivered in collaboration with local Rape Crisis Centres.

📩 Contact:
Andrea Lawrie, ESCU Coordinator
andrea.lawrie@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Student Support and Engagement

We also offer free resources and meaningful opportunities for student survivors to get involved.

Student E-learning Module

A short, interactive online course introducing:

Gender-based violence and consent
Healthy relationships and boundaries
How to seek support

Available free for all students in participating institutions.

For student survivors – how to get involved

We value student voices and offer flexible ways to shape our national work.

You can:

📑 Complete our Expression of Interest form - anonymously or named
📧 Email Andrea Lawrie, ESCU Coordinator directly: andrea.lawrie@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
📜 Download our flyer

For Rape Crisis Centre Staff

Rape Crisis Prevention Workers can join our Train the Trainer pathway to deliver ESCU’s First Responder Training locally.

We offer:

In-person training with ongoing national support
Peer learning and support networks
Practical delivery tools and adaptable session plans

Resources and Downloads

📄 ESCU Programme Brochure (PDF)
📄 Student Survivor Engagement Flyer (PDF)

Want to bring ESCU to your college or university?

Whether your institution is just beginning GBV prevention work or looking to build on existing steps, we’d love to support you.