CST launches new 24/7 antisemitism helpline for students in higher education
New initiative designed to give 'every student access to immediate support, day or night'
CST has launched a 24-hour, seven days a week helpline to support victims of antisemitism on UK campuses, with a spokesperson for the Jewish security organisation saying “no student should be facing antisemitism alone”.
The new service, announced by CST ahead of the beginning of the academic year for many universities, is intended to give “every student access to immediate support, day or night”. Adding to the charity’s existing reporting mechanisms, the new service, the organisation said, “means CST and our many partners will be better able to give students the care, advice and protection they deserve.”
In December, a CST report showed an increase of 117% in antisemitic incidents on university campuses in the past two academic years. The 272 antisemitic incidents recorded for 2023/2024 were the highest total ever recorded for a single academic year, with CST saying the rise could “primarily be attributed to the wave of anti-Jewish hatred following the 7 October Hamas terror attack in Israel and the subsequent ongoing war in the Middle East that has led to a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide.”
This summer, the Union of Jewish Students won a £1 million government contract to deliver antisemitism training across university campuses in England. UJS will work with the Department for Education to deliver training to both staff and students over the next three years, with the organisation describing how the grant “underscores the government’s commitment to tackling antisemitism in higher education.”
Key features of the new CST initiative include a continuous support line staffed by trained professionals, a better reporting method and a collaborative care network, in which CST will “work closely with partner organisations to triage cases and connect victims with specialist support services, including mental health care, campus advocacy and assistance with reporting complaints to authorities.
“This initiative aims to empower students to speak out, seek help, and feel safe in their academic environments”, the organisation said.
“CST’s priority is to ensure that Jewish students can go about their day-to-day lives, free from harassment and anti-Jewish hatred.”
Students can access the helpline by calling 07578201999
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