What is Consent Matters?

In this article:

• What is Consent Matters?
• Who needs to complete the Consent Matters training?
• Opting out
• How can I take the Consent Matters training?
• What content is covered in Consent Matters training?
• Is there anything else I need to do?
• Technical support
• Support for you
   

Consent Matters: Boundaries, Respect and Positive Intervention is an essential online training course. The course will help you understand sexual consent, promote effective communication and respectful relationships, and empower you to be an active bystander.

The training is relevant for everyone, regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, race, religion or belief. Its aim is to empower you to shape healthy, positive and respectful relationships with others.

We want everyone in our community to be able to flourish and contribute to all aspects of university life. We all play a part in achieving this by creating a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and safety.

By completing this training you’re helping play your part in understanding and respecting other members of the King’s community and helping keep all members of our community safe, in line with the King’s Community Charter.

All King’s students are expected to complete the training on an annual basis, unless you are eligible to opt out. Consent Matters is one of the King’s essential training courses, which form Stage 2 of the enrolment process. More information on enrolment is available in the following articles:

• I’m a new student, how do I complete enrolment?
• Beginning a new year at King's

We understand that those who have been impacted by sexual violence may find the content of the course difficult or upsetting and may want to opt out of the training. You can do this by following the instructions on how to take the Consent Matters course and selecting the 'Opt out' option.

If you would like to seek support, and/or make a report via Report + Support, there is help available. For an overview of the support services you can access and how they can help, read our article What student support services are available at King's?

Our Consent Matters: Boundaries, Respect and Positive Intervention training is hosted on an external website called Epigeum, so you will need to register for an account with them. Please read the following steps carefully: 

1. Register on the training website using your King’s email address and create a password. 
2. You'll be asked to enter a token. Use the code e1f8dad0
3. Go to your email inbox and open the registration email from Epigeum (technical@epigeum.com). Click ‘activate your account’. 
4. Login. Your username is your King's email address. 
5. On the 'My courses' screen, select 'Consent Matters: Boundaries, Respect and Positive Intervention (Second Edition)' training.
6. The course contains three modules, which you should work through in order. Start by clicking on 'Launch' for the first module, 'Thinking about consent', and follow the instructions. 

The Consent Matters training includes the following: 

Module 1: Thinking about consent – This module will define the meaning of consent, to help you to identify when you have been given consent, and will cover scenarios when consent can, or cannot be given, regardless of your gender or sexual orientation.

Module 2: Communication skills and relationships – This module will help you to define and recognise your own boundaries, and how to talk about boundaries with others.

Module 3: Looking out for others – This module will help you to take simple, safe, and effective steps to challenge harassment when you see it.  

Once you’ve completed the Consent Matters training, you should log in to Student Records and fill in the brief My Training section to provide confirmation.

If you are having technical difficulties accessing the Consent Matters training, you can contact technical support at the Epigeum technical support page or by email. Support is available between 09:00 and 17:00 (UK time).

If you have been impacted by sexual violence or any other form of bullying, harassment or assault, you don't have to suffer alone. There is a wide range of support available, including our team of Faculty Wellbeing Advisors who are on hand for an initial supportive conversation and who can guide you to other sources of support as appropriate.

You can report any incident of sexual violence, bullying, harassment or assault using our online Report + Support tool. More information about how to report, what happens after reporting and what further sources of support you can access is available on the Report + Support website.