Sexual Violence Liaison Officers

We’re here to listen, support, and guide you – at your pace

SVLOs provide a safe, non-judgemental space for students of all genders and backgrounds to talk about experiences of sexual violence or sexual harassment – whether recent, non-recent, or if you’re unsure how to name what happened.

You decide what you want to share, and there is no pressure to talk about anything you don’t want to.

Our role is to listen, help you understand your options, and support you in making the choices that feel right for you. You do not have to report to the police or to the University to access SVLO support. 

About SVLOs

The University of Surrey and the Students’ Union have four Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs). SVLOs are trained to listen and discuss the options with you that are available through external services as well as university services and you can talk to them about recent or non-recent incidents.

The role of the SVLO is to support you and to listen empathically and without judgement. You can tell an SVLO as much or as little as you want to about what happened, and in your own time.

SVLOs can also support you if:

  • You’re not sure what happened but want to talk.
  • You’ve experienced harassment, unwanted contact, or anything that made you feel uncomfortable.
  • The incident happened before you came to university.

Our Approach

We are a student-led service, which means you control the pace, guide the conversation and decide the next steps.
An SVLO can discuss:

  • Talking about what happened (if and when you feel ready).
  • Accessing specialist services, including those offering longer-term support.
  • Reporting to the University or Police.
  • Choosing not to report at this time.

We will never pressure you into making decisions before you’re ready.

Confidentiality

Everything that you tell an SVLO stays within the SVLO Service, which sits in the University’s Health and Wellbeing Team.
We only share information without your permission if there is a serious and immediate risk to you or someone else, and we will always aim to involve you in that process wherever it is safe to do so.

If you request a referral to another organisation, we will share only the relevant information needed using a referral form.

How to access the SVLO service

You can book an appointment with an SVLO here.

  • Choose an SVLO and an hour time slot that works for you.
  • You will need to complete all ‘required’ questions to book in with an SVLO.
  • You will receive an e-mail confirmation with the date and time of your meeting, the SVLO that you have chosen to meet with and your meeting link.
  • This will also populate in your outlook calendar.
  • Your first meeting will usually be online via Microsoft Teams – if you’d prefer face-to-face, let us know.
  • If you have any immediate concern, please contact us to let us know.
  • You should receive an e-mail reminder a couple of hours before your appointment. 

If you find forms difficult to complete or need adjustments to book your appointment, please email the team directly at svlo@surrey.ac.uk. We’ll do our best to support you to book in a way that works for you.

What to expect in your meeting

  • The SVLO will explain their role and may ask you some questions to gain a better understanding your current situation.
  • You can take breaks, and you do not need to go into detail. You can share as much as you feel comfortable.
  • In some instances, there may need to be more than one meeting especially if you need to take breaks and would prefer to break up meetings to protect your wellbeing.
  • We can connect you with internal or external services and explain your reporting options.
  • We can offer practical support and information tailored to your needs.

Our Student Journey Map gives you an idea of what to expect from SVLO support, from the time a referral is made, through to the end of support.

Student Journey Map 50 KB

Meet our SVLOs

We are a small and dedicated team. You can find out more information about the team below. 

Richard (he/him)

Richard Carroll

Hello, I’m Richard and I’m here to support you at such a difficult time. As your appointed SVLO I can draw upon my experience as a student counsellor and my past experience as sexual health specialist counsellor. These roles mean I am familiar with helping individuals cope by sourcing the best practical advice, guidance, and support which I combine with a non-judgemental approach and grounding strategies to help bring life back into control.

Personally, I enjoy the outdoors and am trained as an outdoor therapist, being outdoors can help us all to feel part of something bigger and remind us that nature thrives even in the harshest conditions - which can help sustain us when life is tough

Zoe (she/her)

Zoe

I’m Zoe and I manage the Students’ Union Support and Advice team. I have a background in youth work and have been in different roles that support young people with various needs and difficulties.

It’s important to me that survivors of sexual violence have a safe space to talk about their experiences with no pressure and I wanted to become a SVLO to support as many people as possible.

Outside of work I love pole fitness, lino printing, as well as lots of hiking and travelling.

Corinne (she/her)

Corinne

Hello, my name is Corinne, and I am a Programme Coordinator within Academic Registry.

I became an SVLO because I want to be able to provide a safe space for students who have experienced sexual violence to be able to talk and receive support. I want to be able to give them choice in what support they would like and a space to feel listened to. 

Having worked at the university for a number of years, I feel very strongly that there should be support for all students.

In my spare time I like to knit and crochet and play computer games.

Hannah (she/her)

Hannah

Hello, I am Hannah and I am a Disability Adviser at the university.

I’m here to offer a safe, supportive space for students who have experienced sexual violence. I want to make sure you have the support, information, and options you need to move forward in your own way. 

In my full-time role as a Disability Adviser, I support students in accessing adjustments and navigating any challenges during their studies. Both roles are about making sure students feel heard, understood, and able to get the right support.

Outside of work, I love musical theatre and spending weekends with friends!
 

Comprehensive information

You can read the University’s full guidance on policies, procedures, and support relating to sexual violence and harassment here.

Other Support

Surrey Solace Centre SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre): 

The Solace Centre is a 24/7 free service for anyone in Surrey who has experienced sexual violence or abuse. They offer forensic and medical support and can store forensic evidence for up to two years without requiring you to report.

You can call them here: 0300 130 3038 or you can look at their website here: https://www.surreysolace.org/ 

If you feel you need to visit the SARC, the Students’ Union and University are able to pay the costs of your taxi fare. Students should not have to cover this cost alone. Please email the Centre for Wellbeing with your name and your bank details, then attach proof of your journey such as a receipt or Uber screenshot.

RASASC Guildford (Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre):

RASASC offers free, confidential support to anyone in Surrey who has experienced rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse — whether recent or historic. Services include:

  • Specialist counselling
  • Support groups
  • Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) to help you understand your options and guide you through processes such as reporting to the police.

You do not have to report to access their services, and you can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable.

You can call them here: 9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday on 01483 568000 or you can look at their website here: https://www.rasasc.org/ 

The SVLO service is not a crisis service but if you are experiencing a mental health crisis, are feeling suicidal or require urgent medical support: 

  • Call NHS 111
  • Go to your local Accident and Emergency Department
  • Contact your local Mental Health Crisis Team. In Surrey this is: 0800 915 4644, it is free to call and open 24/7, 365 days a year.
  • In an emergency, call 999
  • If you are on campus, you can call Campus Safety on: +44 (0)1483 683333.

The University of Surrey offers a wide range of wellbeing support to all those who need it.

Visit our Centre for Wellbeing Support Page for more information. 

The Surrey Students’ Union offer a variety of peer led services: 

  • Nightline 

Nightline is a listening service run by trained student volunteers, for Surrey students. Nightline is open from 7pm - 7am Monday - Saturday through term time, and you can call Nightline about anything that is on your mind. You can view further information here: SU Nightline 

  • Talk Together

Talk Together is a student-led mental health service which runs 1:1 peer support sessions for students. Sessions run Tuesday evenings 6pm-8pm in the Students Union Building. You can view further information here: SU Talk Together

  • Welfare Watch

On a Wednesday & Friday night at Rubix there are student heroes. Welfare Watch is there to help you if you have gotten too drunk, lost your friends, cant find your way home or just it is all got too much and you need to come have a cry.

You can find Welfare Watch by finding any volunteer in the pink high-vis, speaking to Rubix or security staff or going to the Welfare Watch base in the SU building.

You can view further information here: SU Welfare Watch 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How long do I have to wait for someone to contact me?

To book in a time to speak to an SVLO, you will need to use our booking page. If you contact us via e-mail, we aim to respond within 1-2 working days. We may take longer to respond during busier periods. 

Will I have to report to the university or the police if I access the SVLO service?

No. SVLOs will support you to explore what next steps feel best for you. If that does not include reporting to the police or the University then we can still support. We want you to be informed and will talk you through each reporting and support option. 

If I contact the service, will that mean a formal report to the University is made?

No. If you decide to contact the team this would mean a disclosure is made. This is only to the SVLO team. If you do wish to make a formal report, you can do so by completing the Report+Support Form: https://reportandsupport.surrey.ac.uk/. If you do make a formal report, you can still access support from the SVLO team. 

I’m not sure what happened, can I still use the service?

Yes. The team can still support if you are not sure what has happened or do not feel able to name your experience. We recognise that everyone understands and describes their experiences in their own way. 

I would like to remain anonymous; can I still use the service?

Yes. You can choose how much identifying information that you would like to share. We’ll need basic contact details so we can arrange a meeting, but you don’t have to provide more than you feel comfortable with. Everything that you tell us will remain confidential to the SVLO service  unless there is a serious and immediate risk to you or someone else. If you are worried about confidentiality – An SVLO can talk you through your concerns. 

Do you support people that have experienced Domestic Abuse?

Yes. If you have experienced domestic abuse the team can still support. Whilst our team are trained in supporting survivors of sexual violence/misconduct we can still have a conversation with you about what support you are looking for and support a referral for specialist services within the community. 

Can I access support in my own language?

Yes. We understand that for students for whom English is not your first language – you might feel comfortable accessing support through a translator. If this feels like something you need – please let our team know by contacting svlo@surrey.ac.uk and we can try to arrange support for you. In this instance it may take slightly longer to schedule a meeting for you. 

I’m supporting someone that has experienced harm, can I use the service?

Yes. We know that you may be supporting a friend, loved one or been a bystander and may require support from the team. If you would like a conversation with an SVLO to talk about the impact that this has had on you or would like some guidance/advice, then you can use our booking page or send an e-mail. 

You can find further FAQ’s and support on the University of Surrey Report+Support page here: https://reportandsupport.surrey.ac.uk/ 

MySurrey Help has a range of FAQs on relationships, sexual health and abuse, including our SVLOs service.

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