University News Last updated 05 October
Birmingham City University (BCU) has become one of only three universities in England to be awarded the EmilyTest Gender-Based Violence Charter in recognition for its approach to preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
The award follows a two-year pilot scheme where the university worked collaboratively with EmilyTest and other pilot members to shape the Charter’s minimum standards to apply to the English Higher Education sector; before making an award submission which required BCU to demonstrate that its policies, practices, and procedures meet the standards designed to prevent harm, improve responses, and ensure support for students and staff.
EmilyTest was founded by Fiona Drouet MBE in memory of Emily Drouet, her 18-year-old daughter and Scottish university student who was subjected to a sustained campaign of gender-based violence (GBV) from a fellow student and later tragically took her own life.
She said: "I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Birmingham City University for its commitment to our shared vision of ensuring campuses are safe places for students to live, work and study.
"As one of our Pilot institutions, BCU has played an important role in shaping the GBV Charter within the English higher education context. Through its openness and collaboration, the University has helped drive meaningful change across the sector and encourage other institutions to adopt the Charter framework.
"The Panel was particularly impressed by the University's Report and Support platform and its commitment to ensuring students affected by Gender-Based Violence can easily access reporting options and support.
"Achieving the Charter is no small feat, and the University's ongoing commitment to strengthening its approach to preventing and responding to gender-based violence is evident throughout. BCU has embraced the Charter with openness, dedication and a clear determination to make its campus as safe as possible."
BCU was formally presented with the Charter Award by EmilyTest Founder and CEO, Fiona Drouet MBE, on Wednesday 30 September 2026.
Professor David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University, said: “Achieving EmilyTest Charter status is an important moment for BCU. The Charter acknowledges the sheer amount of work and determination our dedicated staff and students have put in to ensure that our community and campus is of a high standard for safety and support.
“We look forward to working closely with the EmilyTest team in the years ahead and continuing to build confidence and trust to make BCU a safe place to be for all.”
To achieve Charter status, BCU evidenced alignment with the Charter's core principles, including being open and learning, educated and empowered, comprehensive and connected, equal and inclusive, and safe and effective.
Richard Booth, Associate Director of Student Services, said: "Emily Drouet’s experience is a terrible, visceral example of the impact that GBV can have on the life of a student.
"Securing the Charter Award reflects the significant work BCU has undertaken to help ensure that no student within our community goes through what Emily went through and underlines the strong commitment BCU has made to eliminating GBV at our institution.
"We are extremely grateful to everyone at EmilyTest for their continued support and patience during the submission process, and we look forward to working with them on an ongoing basis as we continue to develop best practice in this space."
Over the next 12 months, EmilyTest will work with BCU to progress plans and provide further opportunities for development, including strengthening support pathways for diverse student groups and expanding GBV training across all staff and departments.
Image (L-R): Kara Stewart, Training and Project Development Manager at EmilyTest, Professor Marcia Wilson, Pro-Vice Chancellor Education and Student Experience at BCU, Bethany Whitaker, Charter & Network Officer at EmilyTest, Professor David Mba, Vice-Chancellor at BCU, Fiona Drouet MBE, Founder and CEO at EmilyTest, Alice Wilson, Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing at BCU, and Richard Booth, Associate Director of Student Services at BCU.