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47 score

47 voters

Getting Home Safe.

Submitted 3 years ago by Megan Morgan

Passed
7comments

Several students who do not feel comfortable walking home, to their required station or bus stop are dreading the looming winter and the darker nights are filling them with anxiety. I'd like to suggest a walk home number that the students can call and have a volunteer (Students could volunteer to receive said calls) who will accompany them, over the phone through their journey home or up until the point the student feels safe. As well as this, walking home groups may provide benefit for these students. An opt-in based system could allow students to connect based on their journeys to and from campus, form friendships and not tackle these journeys alone. BCUSU UPDATE:- This Idea has now passed and your executive officers will be ensuring that its implimented as policy.

Serlina Small: 9:09am on 20 Nov 21 I think this makes a really good point - especially given headline events that have occurred to women this year. It would be really helpful for the uni to consider safety beyond campus during the long dark days, and maybe even a way of reporting where you’re heading and checking in once you’re there/safe could work too. That way the uni would have knowledge of your whereabouts once leaving. I think this is something worth pushing and addressing. But I also feel that this campaign needs to be made more visible in order to get the votes it needs!
Mahdiyyah Hussain: 12:46am on 28 Nov 21 I think that this initiative is fantastic. It emphasises how much more we as a university can do to keep students safe not only on-campus but off-campus as well. There is nothing not to like as the service is hugely commendable for our own students to care about each other's safety. The helpline can be made up of peers, friends and trustworthy individuals that make sure women in particular are safe during the darker nights. The students can be tracked from the time they leave BCU to the time they get home safe, making sure they have a safe journey home.
Hannah Fieldhouse: 11:13am on 28 Nov 21 We could have a walking group of people that will walk people to their bus stop/train stop. Safety in numbers and all that. Have a mixture of boys and girls and doesnt just have to be for girls to use either. We could make posters and put them up around campus, put them up on different society boards, get the uni radio to talk about it and get volunteers to ring a number or send a text if they are interested in joining and helping out. When agreeing to volunteer they must agree to do a set amount of walks each month, etc. I really do think it would be better for everyone if people were being accompanied on these walks rather than just having a phone line as me personally, I don't feel comfortable walking the streets at night, by myself, on the phone as I feel I always have to be listening for people walking behind me, around me, etc. Just an idea :)
Deena Baskin-Atkinson: 1:27pm on 29 Nov 21 Thank you for your votes and comments. This idea has reached the 16-vote threshold and has been passed to your Executive Officers to decide next steps.
Korya Xhignesse: 8:23pm on 29 Nov 21 I think this is such a good idea. I can’t wait to see it developed.
Deena Baskin-Atkinson: 12:33pm on 3 Dec 21 Your Executive Officers have voted to make this policy, which has a lifespan of 3 years. They will update you in future with any progress made.
Union President: 12:18pm on 26 Jun 23 President and VP Voice have been attending a series of meetings with various stakeholders, including the police, council representatives, halls providers, BCU, and Aston, to address safety concerns pertaining to students residing in the Gun Quarter area and across campuses. Additionally, they’ve regularly attended the Campus Life Working Group alongside the University Executive, engaging in discussions on a range of topics such as sexual harassment, bullying, and safety.

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