Our Commitment
to you

At Southport College University Centre we want your time with us to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. In order to ensure this, keeping you safe is our top priority.

Equality & Diversity

Southport College is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities to all.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Southport College we are committed to valuing diversity and to promoting and implementing equality of opportunity in all of the activities and services that we provide to staff, students and visitors to the College. We aim to provide the conditions which encourage everyone to participate in learning and actively combat harassment and bullying. We value the diversity of all individuals who study or work with us and the contribution they make to the success of the College. We have a belief and a commitment to the right of everyone to be given equal access to opportunities and be treated with dignity and respect regardless of:

Age
Disability/learning difficulties
Ethnic origin
Gender
Marital status or domestic responsibilities
Religion or belief
Sexual orientation
Socio-economic background

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion applies to everyone: employees, governors, former students, students enrolled at the college, job applicants, ex-employees, contractors/partners, prospective students, clients and visitors.

Safeguarding:

We are committed to a positive policy of equality & diversity and make every effort to support our students. Through our duty of care to students and staff, we strive to ensure their health, safety and wellbeing at all times by:

Making sure all our staff are fully trained and receive regular updates on Safeguarding procedures
Increasing knowledge of welfare issues through teaching and learning
Creating a culture of being open, honest and responsible
Ensuring a safe college community through the use of staff, student and visitor ID badges, employing on-site security staff, reserving the right to search for prohibited items and having CCTV throughout the premises
Promoting the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) button on every computer
Having a dedicated team of expertly trained Safeguarding Officers if you have a concern about someone or something and want to talk

Student care

If you have a concern that you or another student is at risk in any way, please contact one of our Safeguarding Officers on 01704 392821 or email: safeguarding@southport.ac.uk

Safeguarding information

Student Mental Health Strategy

This strategy has been written in consultation with students and staff and through a review of national guidance The aims of the strategy are to:

Support students with mental health disabilities and with complex or more challenging needs
Raise awareness of what mental health is and its related conditions
Create an inclusive environment which seeks to promote resilience, social connection and growth mindset
Further develop the range of services, facilities and activities available to students which aid positive mental health
Develop confidence, knowledge and skills in all staff to assist them in dealing with student mental health difficulties and crises, providing specialist training for key frontline staff
Engage stakeholders and build strategic partnerships with mental health organisations, campaigns and specialist services
Gather and use data effectively to measure need and to monitor and manage the impact of the strategy on student mental health
Ensure relevant policies and procedures reflect best practice with regard to mental health

Prevent Strategy:

Since July 2015 specified authorities, including education establishments, are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism” This duty is known as the Prevent Strategy. The Prevent Strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing and violent Islamist groups.

As a college we:

Challenge ideologies that support terrorism and violent extremism and those who promote it through regular training for staff, facilitating open discussions with student that support British Values, organising targeted events and guest speakers from professional support organisations and by identifying those who are at risk of radicalisation as early as possible.
Protect vulnerable individuals who may be susceptible to radicalisation by working in partnership with local and national support agencies, including referring into the Channel programme in order to mitigate the risks of further radicalisation taking place.

Use the links below to view or download all of our academic policies, college policies and statements.