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In an emergency
Report to A & E: call 999 and request an ambulance (if you are on campus, you can also call the Security emergency number 020 7882 3333), or attend any hospital A&E department.
Report to Police: call 999 in an emergency, the Police non-emergency number 101 or attend any local Police station.
If you are worried a child is at risk of, or is a victim of, FGM contact the NSPCC FGM helpline anonymously 24/7: 0800 028 3550 or email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
Specialist support available
Talk to your GP or another healthcare professional if you have physical, mental health or sexual problems that you feel may be caused by FGM, as they can refer you to special support and counselling.
In some cases, a surgical procedure called a deinfibulation may be recommended, which can alleviate and improve some symptoms.
There are also a lot of confidential and independent support organisations that can support you:
- Ashiana: refuges, advocacy and counselling which specialises in helping Black and Minority Ethnic women, in particular, women from South Asian, Turkish & Iranian communities who are impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, as well as women and girls who have experienced any form of Harmful Practice including forced marriage, honour based violence and female genital mutilation.
- Freedom Charity: aims to brings awareness, help and support with regards to forced marriage, dishonour based violence and female genital mutilation (FGM). Their helpline is available on 0845 607 0133. They also offer text message support - text the words 4freedom: to 88802. The Freedom Charity App offers help, assistance and instruction to anyone at risk of or affected by Female Genital Mutilation, dishonour-based violence and forced marriages.
- FORWARD: specialist Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) support service.
- Ocean’s Somali Community Association (OSCA): community organisation who help raise awareness of FGM and provide information to those from the Somali community – 020 7987 5833.
- Women’s Health and Family Service: specialist support in Tower Hamlets – 020 7377 8725.
This page lists services based in the UK. If you are working or studying outside of the UK at the moment and would like some guidance finding specialist support services near you, please contact:
- Students – Advice and Counselling
- Staff - Employee Assistance Programme
Queen Mary Support for Students
Report and Support: you can report an incident using the Queen Mary’s Report and Support system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can request support by filling in the form with your contact details. In the case of reporting with contact details and requesting an investigation, a member of the Academic Appeals, Conduct and Complaints team will discuss with you whether your report can be dealt with under the Code of Student Discipline. If requesting support, you will be referred to Advice and Counselling.
For Medical Students: If you experience of witness this during a clinical placement this should be reported via Report and Support. Your report will be triaged and referred to the Governance Manager and Student Academic & Pastoral Support Office within the School. Guidance on what SMD will do with such reports and the additional support available can be found on the QMPlus module here.
For Medical Students: If you experience of witness this during a clinical placement this should be reported via Report and Support. Your report will be triaged and referred to the Governance Manager and Student Academic & Pastoral Support Office within the School. Guidance on what SMD will do with such reports and the additional support available can be found on the QMPlus module here.
Advice and Counselling: the Advice and Counselling Service at Queen Mary is available for advice and guidance on further support options and for ongoing support for students. They provide a range of specialist, professional and confidential services to support students with financial, welfare, legal as well as emotional and psychological issues. You can request to be referred to them by completing a report with your contact details or contacting the team directly.
Your Student Support Officer: They are your first point of contact in your academic school/institute. They can also arrange support if your studies have been affected, or will be affected, by what has happened. You can also arrange to see your personal tutor or academic adviser in your academic school.
Residential Support: If you are living in Queen Mary accommodation you can talk to the Residential Support team who are there to support all aspects of your wellbeing in halls.
The Students' Union Academic Advice Service: the Students' Union provides a confidential, non-judgemental and free service available to all current Queen Mary Students. It is independent from the university, so issues discussed with the Academic Advice Service will not appear on your Queen Mary file without your consent. The Academic Advice Service provides specialist advice and support on academic issues such as concerns about your university experience, the student complaints procedure, appeals, disciplinary hearings, academic misconduct investigations and applications for extenuating circumstances.
Queen Mary Support for Staff
Report and Support: you can report an incident using the Queen Mary’s Report and Support system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can request support by filling in the form with your contact details. Your report will be progressed by HR and, in the case of reporting with contact details, a HR Adviser or HR Partner will discuss with you the options for dealing with your report informally or formally, under the grievance policy.
- Confidential support, which is independent from Queen Mary
- Accessible via phone, e-mail, instant messaging and website
- No cost to you
- Professional consultation, counselling, information, resources and referrals to services in your local area
- No limit to the number of issues you can get support on
Trade Unions: Queen Mary recognises five campus trade unions: Unite, UCU, Unison, BDA, and BMA. Staff who are members can contact them for support and advice.
Queen Mary Occupational Health: Occupational Health works to promote health in the workplace and forms part of the overall health and safety management system, focusing on the management of work related health risks. This can include the prevention of work related ill health, facilitating rehabilitation after illness and injury, and promoting physical and mental wellbeing. Occupational Health can provide advice signpost staff to appropriate services. Just email: occhealth@qmul.ac.uk.