ASRA News
Creativity with a Cause: ASRA Raises £3,000 for EmilyTest at Conference 2025
ASRA’s Ongoing Commitment to Charitable Giving: Supporting EmilyTest at Conference 2025
At ASRA, we are proud to support meaningful charitable causes through our annual Conference. For Conference 2025, we were honoured to partner with EmilyTest, a charity dedicated to tackling gender-based violence in education.
During our popular Stressbusters session, delegates enjoyed a refreshing outdoor walk under the sun before channelling their creativity into a collaborative art project. Each delegate designed a unique personal piece, which was later assembled into a stunning collective artwork, symbolising unity and support.
This one-of-a-kind artwork was auctioned during the Conference Dinner, with all proceeds going directly to the charity. Thanks to the support of the ASRA community, and the incredible generosity from Homes for Students, Housing Hand, NSP Security, Roome, and Sovereign Conference, we are thrilled to share that we raised £3,000 for EmilyTest!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed their time, creativity, and donations to support such a vital cause...
EmilyTest at ASRA 2025: Kara Stewart Reflects on Conference 2025
Kara Stewart
Training & Project Development Manager
As this was my second year attending the ASRA conference, it was lovely to see many familiar faces, as well as make new connections. It was an honour, as always, to share Emily’s story and deliver our Aware & Empowered Educational Session. Sharing Emily’s story is never easy, however, the support of attendees was immediately clear. It was heartbreaking to hear that many attendees had encountered similar situations within their roles. It is a stark reminder why our work is so important for the wellbeing of staff, as well as students.
After a day of heavy topics and meaningful discussion, it was refreshing to spend the evening with other speakers and delegates at the dinner and Charity Auction. The Auction itself was a real highlight for me, as again I was blown away by the support of all in attendance, particularly following Fiona’s address to the conference.
We are enormously grateful for the support of ASRA, including Sovereign Conference, Housing Hand, Homes for Students, Roome and NSP.
Fiona Drouet MBE CEO, EmilyTest“I was so heartened by the generosity of everyone who attended the ASRA conference. To be chosen as your charity of choice is a great privilege. Your support helps us to continue our efforts in ensuring no other student is left to suffer alone and in silence like Emily. It could and should have been different for our daughter, and with your help and support we can ensure this never happens again. We look forward to our continued partnership and, once again, send a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you.”
More about EmilyTest
EmilyTest is the only charity whose sole focus is tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in education. EmilyTest is committed to improving GBV prevention, intervention and support at universities and colleges across the UK and Ireland.
EmilyTest was founded in 2016 in memory of Emily Drouet, an 18-year-old law student who was subjected to a sustained campaign of GBV from a fellow student while attending a university away from home. Emily sought support from her university on several occasions, however, staff were not equipped with the tools and knowledge to respond appropriately or accurately assess risk. Shortly after the perpetrator’s last visit to her student accommodation, Emily took her own life.
Emily’s experience, alongside the findings of extensive research carried out by EmilyTest, identified significant gaps in knowledge, understanding and practice around GBV within higher and further education institutions. EmilyTest has since worked with institutions across the UK and Ireland to address this gap through the world’s first GBV Charter for colleges and universities, and various training programmes.
On EmilyTest’s website, you can find more information about the GBV Charter, training programmes and support resources, such as their signposting stickers.
Applications to sign up to the GBV Charter are open in Scotland. As of August 2025, EmilyTest will be opening applications for universities in England to join their Charter Community and engage with the Charter framework, please register your interest here to be a part of this crucial work.
Joining ASRA
If you or your organisation are thinking of joining ASRA just go to our Membership Section for all the details on types of membership and how to connect with one of the biggest networks of student accommodation professionals in Europe.
