Safe contacts are members of LSE staff who have received training and can offer a confidential 'signposting' service for staff and students who have previously or are currently experiencing some form of discrimination, bullying, sexual violence or harassment.
Safe Contacts can support students and staff no matter someone’s gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability and more.
Safe Contacts are all volunteers, who are supported by the EDI office and who are committed to supporting LSE’s inclusive working, studying and social environment.
There are two different pathways for Safe Contacts:
1. Safe Contacts who can support with bullying, discrimination, and harassment.
2. Safe Contacts who can support with bullying, discrimination, harassment, AND sexual violence/harassment. These Safe Contacts receive additional training from Rape crisis on supporting people who have been subjected to sexual violence.
What support do Safe Contacts receive?
Safe Contacts are supported by the EDI team.
Each term Safe Contacts attend a hour-long meeting online with EDI and other Safe Contacts. This meeting is a space for peer support and reflection, as well as updates from EDI on any changes to School processes, procedures or policies.
Safe Contacts also have access to external clinical supervision with a qualified counsellor at any time.
What time commitment is involved in becoming a Safe Contact?
We cannot give an exact number of how much time you may spend providing frontline support to students and staff but in addition to supporting students and staff we do have other spaces for Safe Contacts.
Each term, Safe Contacts attend an hour-long meeting.