ASRA News

Helen's Blog: Bystander Intervention Training at Conference 2025

ASRA were thrilled to be joined by Helen Munro, Student Casework Manager at Bangor University to talk about ASRA and Conference 2025...

Helen Munro

Helen Munro

Student Casework Manager

What are you most looking forward to about Conference 2025?

I’m looking forward to attending conference and meeting colleagues involving in student housing, as it falls outside my normal area of work, as a Student Casework Manager. I’m looking forward to learning the perspectives of those who work in this area of work and learn as much as I can about the world of student housing.

Why do you feel this conference is important to the sector?

I think student housing is such a vital area of the Higher Education Sector and stands very distinctly as a critical aspect of a university education. Having a conference of this nature provides colleagues from across the sector with a space to discuss and share themes, experiences and practices.

Can you give us a brief overview of your talk/topic(s) for ASRA 2025?

My talk will be centred around the area of Bystander Intervention Training and the role this plays in fostering inclusive and safe communities for students. The emphasis of my talk will be on helping delegates learn about Bystander Intervention and the skills this can provide to everyone, not just students in creating community cohesion. I’m keen to share my experiences and anecdotes of delivering this training to groups of students over the last four years at Bangor and the impact that this initiative has had. I would like to inspire colleagues to consider implementing Bystander Intervention training in their own settings and champion the power of this evidence-based training.

What excites you most about delivering a training session at ASRA?

The ASRA Conference is a nationally recognised event, bringing together colleagues from across the sector, with a focus on housing, a critical aspect of higher education. I am proud to have been invited to present my experiences with Bystander Intervention training at this national and significant event.

How does the topic of your session reflect current trends or challenges?

Bystander Intervention training offers an impactful solution to tackling sexual misconduct, violence and harassment, critical issues which students experience across the sector. There has been a cultural shift in this area, across university campuses in the UK in recent years, with learning opportunities being highly sought after and valued.

ASRA Training Session

A big 'thank you' to Helen for sharing her views and opinions with ASRA - we look forward to learning more in Helen's session 'The Role of Bystander Intervention Training the Prevention of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Universities' at Conference 2025!

To hear more from industry experts like Helen via dedicated training & development sessions, join us at De Vere Cotswold Water Park, Cirencester, 6th - 9th April for the ASRA Conference 2025 - book your place here!

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.

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