Safer nights out

The University of East Anglia Students' Union (UEA SU) is proud to announce the return of the Night Bus service, set to enhance student safety and improve late-night transportation options. From 30th September, we're introducing new overnight journeys on Blue Line service 25 in partnership with the University of East Anglia, First Bus, and Norfolk County Council. It's set to run from midnight to 5 AM, six days a week, following the route that runs from UEA, along Unthank Road, through the city centre, to Norwich Train Station. Tickets will be capped at £3 per journey. New journeys will depart Norwich Rail Station every hour from 00:40 until 04:40, and from the University of East Anglia at 01:07 every hour until 05:07. The service will run six nights per week.

Download timetable

For those times when you are out in one of our SU venues, look out for our dedicated student welfare Alcohol Impact Crew in their bright orange tops. They are there to help you if you need it and run a safe space in the Hive, ready with phone chargers, biscuits, water, and a lot of sound advice. On club nights you can call them on 07754 975636 and they will come and help.

We are committed to creating safe and inclusive spaces that all students in our diverse community can enjoy. No form of harassment, discrimination, or violence will be tolerated by our SU. If you are a victim of any form of harassment at the SU please report it to a member of staff. The reported person will be removed from the venue and may face disciplinary action.

If you are feeling unwell for any reason please speak to our SU Staff members without judgement. Your safety is our priority and you will not face any disciplinary action. We also have the St. John First Aiders are available at our student club nights if you're injured or feeling unwell.

Have you downloaded the SafeZone app yet? SafeZone is the free UEA app that keeps staff and students safe across campus. Whether it’s providing medical assistance at the touch of a button, or providing a check-in if you’re feeling unsafe, the app puts you in direct touch with a member of the Security Team’s staff. They can then quickly assess your situation and location to co-ordinate helping you quickly and effectively.

The app can also be used as a preventative measure. For instance, you may feel vulnerable for any reason walking back to the car park or leaving a residency. If so, press the app help button, and your whereabouts becomes known, so an officer from UEA Security can help you arrive safely. As soon as assistance is given, your location reverts to private. If you need further support, you can call or press for help again.

Download app

If you or your friend think you have been spiked, please report it to staff.

Our Security and Venues teams are trained to support you; plus, our dedicated student welfare Alcohol Impact Crew, are on hand to operate a safe space in the Hive (we can help with getting students home if needed), alongside the marvellous St John First Aiders.

Please ask for a spikey at the bar and try to reuse it if possible. We will continue to routinely remove any abandoned drinks.

If you have been spiked its important to remember what has happened is not your fault and you're not alone. Your safety and wellbeing are the most important things right now and you can access specialist support, if and whenever you feel ready.

What to do if you think you've been spiked:

• If you think you or a friend has been spiked, it’s important to tell someone as soon as you can.
• Alert a member of staff or security if you're at a venue.
• Stay with your friend and keep talking to them.
• Don’t let them go home on their own or leave with someone you don’t know.
• Report to the police online, on 101 or, in an emergency, call 999.

Spiking hurts individuals and communities, and reporting it allows the University and the police to better understand and deal with what is happening.

If you've been made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe by a person, a process or in a UEA space, there are different ways you can tell someone about this.

• To the Police. If you want to report incidents directly to the police, you can call 101 for a non-emergency, use their online reporting form, or call 999 in an emergency.
• Report to the University and get Support. Students and staff can report an incident using the University’s Report and Support system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can request support from an adviser. If you choose to talk to an adviser they will be able to talk through the options and support available to you, in confidence.
• University Policies. If you choose to make a formal complaint to the University about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps you'll need to follow.

• Student Life Team. An adviser can talk through the University's procedures, how to make a complaint and what support is available, in confidence.
• Student Resident Life Team. Whether it is your parish Student Services Resident (SSR) or the Duty SSR, if you are living in UEA residences there is someone to talk to.
• Exceptional circumstances. If you feel your studies have been affected by what has happened you can consider applying for exceptional circumstances.

We want to make sure everyone has a safe night out, and that includes making the decisions that are right for you when it comes to alcohol and substances.

Check out our Night to Remember hub for information about alcohol, drugs and how this can impact your health. We're not here to judge, but can also signpost to support services if you're worried about your relationship with drugs and alcohol, or someone else.

Norwich is one of the safest cities in the UK, but you can feel even more secure when going to and from campus and around Norwich thanks to our Safer Taxi Scheme. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you're unable to get home safely, you can call one of the scheme’s taxi companies and get home safe and sound.

How does it work? All you have to do is call the taxi company, give them your student number (not student ID card) and name, and they will send the invoice to the Students’ Union. UEASU will pay the taxi company and we will then contact you to arrange for you to come in and pay us back.

These are the taxi companies currently taking part:

• Veezu Taxi (formally ABC): 01603 666333
• Courtesy Taxi: 01603 446644

Remember that your data will always be protected and will be used for the purpose of the initiative. When you register with the scheme it means you agree that UEASU will process your personal data to cover any costs incurred and recover costs from yourself.