Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s Sexual Misconduct and Harassment Liaison Service provides specialist, confidential support for current Guildhall students affected by sexual misconduct, harassment or related experiences. This service is delivered by Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs), trained staff who offer confidential, trauma‑informed support. You do not need to be certain about what happened or ready to make a formal report to access support; we are here to listen, offer guidance, and help you consider options and practical adjustments when you are ready.
SVLO is the formal job title used in training. We use the public-facing name Sexual Misconduct and Harassment Liaison Service to reflect the full range of issues covered and to keep the language clear and inclusive. After this introduction, we use SVLOs throughout the page to refer to the staff who provide support.
Who Can Access Support?
SVLOs support students who have experienced sexual misconduct or harassment. We use the term sexual misconduct and harassment to describe unwanted behaviour that violates a person’s boundaries, dignity or consent. Such behaviour may breach Guildhall policies and, in some cases, amount to a criminal offence. Examples include (but are not limited to):
- Non-consensual sexual activity (for example, rape or sexual assault)
- Sexual coercion (being pressured or manipulated into sexual activity)
- Sexual harassment (for example, unwanted sexual comments, advances or messages)
- Image-based abuse (for example, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images)
- Stalking or persistent unwanted contact
- Intimate partner abuse (emotional, physical or sexual abuse within a relationship)
SVLOs can support current students who are disclosing non-recent experiences, including incidents that happened before joining Guildhall or outside a university setting.
SVLOs also support students who have been named in a report or are facing an allegation, offering guidance on Guildhall procedures and signposting to internal wellbeing and support services. SVLOs do not provide legal representation or legal advice.
What Does a Sexual Violence Liaison Advisor (SVLO) Do?
SVLOs are trained staff members who offer trauma-informed, non-judgmental support. With your consent, they act as a primary point of contact within Guildhall and can assist with:
- Explaining your reporting options, both internally and externally (e.g. the police)
- Guidance on institutional policies and procedures
- Signposting and referrals to internal and external services
- Liaising with your course team (e.g. if you need time away from studies)
- Advising on assessments and mitigating circumstances
- Liaising with existing external support
- Acting as a point of contact for the police
- Acting as a point of contact for internal disciplinary and investigations teams
SVLOs can explain reporting options but do not provide legal advice.
SVLOs do not investigate reports. Their role is to support and advise. Investigations, where undertaken, are carried out by the relevant disciplinary teams.
How Can I Access This Support?
You can submit a named report through Report + Support, and a member of the team will follow up with you. Alternatively, contact the service directly via SVLO@gsmd.ac.uk. A dedicated service email address is being developed and will be published when ready. Support can be offered in person, by phone, by email, or online, whichever feels most comfortable for you. You can also ask a member of staff to contact the service on your behalf.
We aim to respond to named reports and direct emails within 5 working days.
For in the moment support you can contact the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line and speak to a specialists at any time of the day or night. Call free on 0808 500 2222 or go to the website to start a free online chat
If your situation is urgent or you are in immediate danger, call 999 (UK emergency services).
Who Are the SVLOs?
Guildhall’s SVLOs are a team of trained staff drawn from across the institution, led by Guildhall’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Manager. All SVLOs complete LimeCulture’s Sexual Violence Liaison Officer Development Programme. A “Meet the SVLOs” section will be added soon to help you learn more about the team.
Prevention and Response Work
In addition to direct support, the service contributes to wider prevention and awareness-raising efforts across Guildhall, including training and workshops (consent, active bystander intervention, responding to disclosures), awareness campaigns, policy development and review, and community engagement with student groups and staff networks.
Confidentiality Notice
Your privacy is important to us. The Sexual Misconduct and Harassment Liaison Service is confidential. This means:
- You do not have to provide full disclosure of the incident to receive support.
- Any notes taken by SVLOs are treated confidentially and shared only on a strict need-to-know basis within Guildhall support services.
- However, confidentiality may be broken if:
- there is a serious risk of harm to you or others;
- there is a safeguarding concern (for example, if someone involved is under 18 or is a vulnerable adult); or
- there is a legal obligation to share information (for example, if the police or courts request notes as part of a criminal investigation).
Wherever possible we will discuss with you what information needs to be shared and seek your consent before doing so unless doing so would increase risk.
Accessibility and inclusion
We are committed to providing accessible and inclusive support for all students, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion, or background. If you require any adjustments to access our service such as communication support, or physical access, please let us know when you get in touch. We will do our best to accommodate your needs and ensure you feel safe and supported.