Finding Help When You Need It
Please note: This page is currently in development. The content is in draft form and may change before the resource is formally launched.
If you or someone you know is in immediate physical danger, facing severe threats, or experiencing a security incident on or off campus, call 999 right away for emergency services. You can also contact your institution’s Campus Emergency or Security Line for urgent support.
Click here if you need help with managing institutional resistance or need facilitation tips.
Immediate safety, harassment and legal rights
It is common to encounter resistance during equity work, but targeted digital hate, racial harassment, doxxing, and physical threats are never acceptable. You deserve to feel safe and supported.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 999 for emergency help.
Reporting Non-Emergency Hate Crimes:
- You can call 101 to report non-emergency hate incidents to the police.
- You can also report online, either anonymously or with your details, through True Vision, the UK Police Hate Crime Reporting Portal.
Legal & Rights Advice:
- Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS): Free, expert advice on racial discrimination, human rights, and your protections under the Equality Act 2010. Helpline: 0808 800 0082 (Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm | Sat, 10am–2pm).
- Citizens Advice: Free guidance on reporting hate crimes, understanding workplace rights, and accessing legal support.
Culturally Informed & Racially Inclusive Mental Health Support
Standard mental health services may not always reflect structural racial awareness. The organisations below offer culturally informed, racially inclusive, and trauma-aware therapy and crisis support.
- The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN): The UK’s largest independent group of Black, African, Asian, and South Asian counsellors and psychotherapists. Website: baatn.org.uk
- Black Minds Matter UK: Connects Black individuals and families with free, professional mental health services and qualified Black therapists. Website: blackmindsmatteruk.com
- NHS Urgent Mental Health Services: For 24/7 NHS mental health crisis support across England and Wales: Call 111 or find your local 24/7 NHS urgent mental health helpline directly via nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health.
Institutional & Workplace Protection
If you are an HEI employee, researcher, or student experiencing workplace discrimination, press harassment, or administrative retaliation, there are institutional supports you can access right away:
- Trade Union Representation: Reach out to your local branch representative (UCU, UNISON, Unite) for confidential support, legal advice, and workplace representation. Programme (EAP): Check your institutional HR portal or staff intranet for 24/7 confidential counselling and crisis support lines.
- Press and IT Security: If you are experiencing digital harassment or media pressure, your departmental lead can help activate IT emergency spam filtering and ask the Communications Office to put extra press protections in place.
- Support for Non-Employed and Community Partners: If you are an independent freelancer, community lead, or advisor without an HEI contract, you can contact your designated institutional escalation contact to access emergency wellbeing stipends and security support.