Collaboration and Local Partnerships

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Collaboration and local partnerhsips

We work in partnership with multiple different agencies all striving towards the same goals for the Nottingham community. Read about our collaboration with Nottinghamshire Police which has increased support for our students living on and off campus and find out more about our pioneering joint strategy with Nottinghamshire City Council and Nottingham Trent University.

Nottinghamshire Police

For over a year, the University of Nottingham has been working closely with Nottingham Police to strengthen student support and safety across the city. This university-funded collaboration is dedicated to providing an extra layer of security, both on and off campus, to help students feel safe and supported as they experience life in Nottingham.

What This Means for You

Our Community Engagement Team works alongside dedicated Community Protection Officers (CPOs), Community Engagement Ambassadors, and police officers who are actively present at university events, around campus, and in local student residential areas. Together, they provide essential information and guidance on:

Personal safety
Burglary prevention
Cycle and vehicle safety
Staying safe online
Reporting harassment and hate crime
Guidance and support on disclosures

University-Funded Police Patrols

In addition to this collaboration, the university also funds weekly overtime patrols with Nottingham Police. These dedicated Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening patrols cover high-density student areas, ensuring students feel safe during late hours and offering immediate support.

These patrols also help students understand and uphold community expectations, encouraging a respectful, enjoyable environment for everyone.

Meet Paula and Nick

Nottingham Police officers Paula Hipkiss and Nick Lewis work closely with our university teams and student communities, regularly patrolling campuses and student neighbourhoods to provide a reassuring presence:

Paula Hipkiss

"I’ve had the chance to work with many students off campus, and I’m eager to engage with both students and staff across our campuses. Building connections fosters a safer, more enjoyable experience for everyone.”

Nick Lewis

“My work with students in Nottingham’s night-time economy has taught me the value of being a familiar face students can trust. I look forward to building on that in this new role.”

This partnership is part of the Nottingham Student Living Strategy. Specifically, the police partnership aims to:

Increase community support in high-density student areas
Enhance immediate and preventative safety measures
Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in student-populated areas
Strengthen positive relationships between the Police and the university community

With Paula and Nick’s visible and approachable presence, they’re available for guidance on personal and property safety, incident reporting, and supporting student wellbeing through safety campaigns.

This partnership has had measurable success in enhancing community safety, student support, and proactive engagement. Explore the impact we’ve made, including data on police and team engagement, event statistics, and case studies that showcase the positive outcomes of our work in student neighbourhoods.

Read the Semester 1 (2024) report here

Nottingham City Council & Nottingham Trent University | Nottingham Student Living Strategy

The University of Nottingham are collaborating closely with Nottingham City Council and Nottingham Trent University as part of the Nottingham Student Living Strategy (2023-2028). Developed to support harmonious community life, the strategy is centred on fostering positive relationships between students and the city’s long-term residents. By addressing student integration and prioritising responsible living, it helps to ensure students contribute positively to the neighbourhood and city.

Read the full strategy here

The strategy emphasises the importance of respect in mixed communities. By encouraging students to be considerate neighbours, it addresses issues such as noise, waste, and general neighbourhood etiquette. These initiatives promote neighbourly behaviour and reduce disruptions, helping to build stronger and more connected communities. Additionally, the strategy underscores the need for increased safety and security measures in areas with high student populations. Joint university and council patrols, along with closer work with local police, are key to making student neighbourhoods safer and more welcoming for all residents.

A notable positive aspect of the strategy is its commitment to environmental sustainability. Students are encouraged to take an active role in managing waste responsibly, reducing litter, and supporting the council’s recycling efforts. The strategy includes campaigns aimed at reducing waste during the student move-out periods and encouraging sustainable living throughout the year.

Support for student wellbeing is also a key component. The strategy promotes proactive support for students to help them understand their responsibilities, but also their rights as tenants and members of the community. This includes information on tenancy rights, support services, and resources for personal safety.

Ultimately, this strategy demonstrates a proactive and integrated approach to student living in Nottingham, promoting community cohesion and enhancing the student experience while safeguarding the interests of permanent residents. Through targeted initiatives and ongoing support, the Nottingham Student Living Strategy represents a powerful framework that addresses the challenges and maximises the benefits of having a thriving student population in Nottingham. This initiative is not only a significant step toward a peaceful coexistence between students and locals but also a positive contribution to the broader community’s social and economic vitality.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) Partnerships

The University of Nottingham is committed to ensuring that all students feel supported and connected, regardless of where they live. While we have long-established relationships with students in local community shared housing, we are now proactively working with PBSA providers to extend this same level of support to students in private student accommodations. Since launching this initiative in 2024, we have carried out 34 in-person engagements with PBSA providers. These range from introductory meetings and information-sharing visits to targeted engagements on specific issues such as student safety and wellbeing. This partnership is guided by a structured strategy that tracks communications, categorises providers by levels of engagement, and outlines clear goals for strengthening our relationships over the next year.

What This Means for Students:

• Greater access to key university services by providing clear signposting to wellbeing support, academic resources, and student societies.

• Enhanced student safety through the sharing of essential guidance, university policing contact information, and the distribution of security equipment.

• Students stay informed by working with PBSA providers to share details on university events, campaigns, and any key community updates.

• Tailored support to students living outside of traditional university-managed halls, ensuring they feel just as included and supported in their accommodation.

Supporting PBSA Staff:

We recognise the vital role PBSA providers play in supporting student wellbeing. To help accommodation teams assist their student residents, we’ve developed a PBSA Starter Pack. This includes a number of pinboard infographics, providing students with information on university services and societies; in addition to a ‘What to do if’ Guide, offering step-by-step guidance for PBSA staff on handling student queries.

Expanding Our Reach

These partnerships have already made a significant impact, strengthening the university’s connection with students in PBSA’s and ensuring they feel supported throughout their time in Nottingham. As we move forward, we are broadening our reach, refining our approach, and continuing to provide comprehensive support from all angles. If you are an accommodation provider and would love to receive the same support, please reach out to Georgia.petch@nottingham.ac.uk

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