Vigil to commemorate students announced by campaign organisers #ForThe100

Vigil to commemorate students announced by campaign organisers #ForThe100

Date: 23 February 2023

#ForThe100 to host three simultaneous candlelight vigils at 7pm on Saturday 4th March in Bristol, Edinburgh and London, all in remembrance of students who have taken their own lives while at university in the UK.

Every year around 100 students are lost to suicide at university. The vigil of remembrance coincides with the campaign’s plea to UK citizens to sign a Government petition requesting universities are made legally accountable for how students are treated. The petition currently has nearly 25,000 signatures, with under 75,000 more to go before the movement is considered for an essential debate in Parliament.

#ForThe100 is a movement launched in support of families of students who have been a victim of suicide at university, combatting the lack of any statutory obligation to care about students that currently exists in Higher Education.

This campaign believes the focus should be shifted away from student-blaming and towards university management and their failure to deliver sufficient care in providing educational and pastoral services to their students.

Helen Courtfield, a #ForThe100 spokesperson, writes:

“We’d like to see a general statutory duty of care created for Higher Education in the UK. We believe that it will help bring down the number of students who tragically take their own lives each year. The Government should legislate for this, providing clarity for HE providers, students and the wider community. This is not just about suicide prevention; everybody will benefit from improved decision-making within the sector.”

The vigils welcome everyone who supports this cause and are planned to take place at the following venues at 7pm on Saturday 4th March:

Wills Memorial Hall, Bristol

McEwan Hall, University of Edinburgh

Senate House Library, University of London

To find out more about the vigil or to sign the petition, visit: www.forthe100.org.uk/vigil

[ENDS]

https://www.forthe100.org.uk/