Following the horrendous attack in Southport, Merseyside on Monday 29 July, we are seeing riots and violent disturbances take place across the UK, targeting people from ethnic minorities. We wanted to write to you at this time as we know many of us are feeling fear and anxiety in the wake of these events.
If you, or someone you know needs to speak to someone or needs any support at all, our dedicated Wellbeing and International Support teams are ready to offer guidance throughout the summer break, whether through email or online drop-in sessions.
The Multifaith Chaplaincy team and the Students' Union Advice Centre are also here for you, offering additional guidance and support.
We’re also conscious that most of you are not on campus at the moment and you may need more immediate support. If you feel that you are at risk or that others may be at risk, you can visit our Support for hate crime guidance on the student intranet, or you can also report hate crime online.
We have an incredibly diverse, global community at Royal Holloway, one which we are rightly proud of. Every one of us plays a part in supporting each other and demonstrating care and compassion. Our community is a space where everyone should feel safe and to that end we are actively engaging with our local police on any issues of concern, and we will continue to meet regularly with local community groups to continue to foster good relations and understanding in the places in which we live and work.
We are committed to ensuring the safety of our students and everyone who works at the University. There is no place for violence or hate crime on our campuses, and we would like to reassure you that any witnessed or reported behaviour of this nature will be taken extremely seriously.
We will continue to be there for those members of our community who need it most at this time.
Julie and Sharanya
Professor Julie Sanders, Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Sharanya Sivarajah, Students’ Union President 2024/25