The University has launched its first fully fledged student safety campaign, Stay City Safe, as part of its ongoing commitment to support students to feel safe in London.
Created by the Student Communications team with input from City St George’s safety experts and local partners, the campaign brings together advice, resources, and support. It aims to encourage students to prioritise their personal safety, navigate city life confidently, and know where to get help if needed.
A dedicated page on the Student Hub offers practical safety tips and guidance on what to do if something goes wrong. The campaign focuses on six themes including personal safety, safe relationships, bullying and harassment, spiking, online safety, and support services.
One of its most popular resources is the pocket-sized booklet, Your guide to staying safe in London, featuring engaging illustrations and concise tips. It covers a range of relevant topics such as staying safe on nights out, protecting your belongings, and staying safe against spiking or online scams. More than 1,000 copies have been distributed, and students have praised it as a valuable resource to have throughout their time at university.
The campaign highlights the importance of community and collaboration in keeping everyone safe. This was demonstrated at its annual student safety events, held in both 2023 and 2024, which brought together University support teams, the Students’ Union, and key partners such as the Metropolitan Police and Islington Council. Held in the Pavilion, the events had high footfalls, with students engaging in conversations about safety and visiting eye-catching stalls to identify potential risks such as cryptocurrency fraud. Students also learned about local support schemes, including Ask for Angela and Safe Havens. Free safety resources (personal safety alarms, reflective bands, mini torches) were available, alongside free bike security marking offered by Islington Council. Building on the success of the first ever safety event, the Student Communications team continue to promote the campaign at regular stalls throughout the year.
With the library open 24/7 assessment season in January, the campaign introduced a new theme to help students stay safe when studying late. Posters and bookmarks with safety tips and details of services like Strut Safe are now on display in libraries and study spaces, encouraging students to prioritise their safety when travelling home at night.
There can be potential risks living in a large city like London, such as opportunistic theft, spiking and online scams. The Stay City Safe campaign aims to address both London-specific and nationwide student safety concerns in ways that resonate with our university community.
Looking ahead, the campaign continues to evolve, exploring new and creative ways to engage students and raise awareness about potential risks. It has a presence on the Student Hub and social media, where key messages are shared throughout the year at relevant times. Staff can play an important role by resharing resources from the campaign and encouraging students to reshare its advice.
For more information, visit the Stay City Safe section on the Student Hub.