Let’s be honest: they probably haven’t put safety considerations at the top of their university to-do list. After a lifetime of you silently watching over them, they probably feel invincible.
Now that they’re heading off on their own, it’s time to move from being their 24/7 security guard to being their distant advisor.
Use these practical steps to build a safety net that supports their independence without stepping on their toes.
Mental health and isolation
Academic pressures and loneliness can lead to anxiety and depression.
Agree on a low-pressure check-in schedule, like a Sunday evening catch-up, so you can spot changes in their mood without pestering them daily.
Nudge them to register with a local GP. Having a doctor already assigned saves vital time if a crisis hits.
Social safety
Drinking, drugs, spiking and peer pressure are real risks to the uninitiated.
Admit your own youthful mistakes or those of your mates to share learning experiences.
Be clear that their safety is more important than your disapproval. Ensure they know they can call you any time, regardless of the situation, without fear of a lecture.
Discuss an untouchable ‘get home’ fund, perhaps on a separate digital card, for a taxi if they lose their wallet or feel unsafe.
Get them to familiarise themselves with the local area. Ask them who they would call if they were lost or in trouble. Ask what their plan is if their phone dies and they get separated from their mates.
Gift them a small medical kit. They won’t have your cupboards to hunt for emergency medical supplies when they’re shivering with fresher’s flu.
Ask for Angela is a national safety initiative used in shops, cafes, bars and venues. If your young person feels unsafe, vulnerable or threatened on a date or night out, they can discreetly ask staff for ‘Angela’. Staff will then provide immediate help, such as calling a taxi or alerting security.
Accommodation and campus security
When you help them move in, you have a one-time window to audit their environment.
Check the window and door latches and ensure they haven’t covered smoke alarms with posters.
Check walking routes from halls to the rest of the campus to ensure there are well-lit walking routes with lots of footfall.
Check if your own home contents insurance covers their laptop while they are away, or help them set up a student-specific policy.
If they’re using a bike on campus, they’ll need a secure D-lock, helmet and lights for when it is dark.
Get them to register their phone and laptop on Immobilise.com (the UK National Property Register). It’s free and is the first place the police check when they recover stolen goods.
Digital safety and scams
Students are primary targets for sophisticated phishing and fraud.
Warn them about texts appearing to be from Student Finance England asking for bank details.
Explain the risks of ‘quick cash’ offers on social media. These often involve laundering money through student accounts and carry heavy legal consequences.
Make them aware of fraudsters who sometimes target students on the streets, offering fake job opportunities or ‘too good to be true’ offers designed to scam them out of money.
The digital safety net
A phone is their most important safety tool.
Ensure your young person has a direct link to help that doesn't rely on them remembering a phone number in a moment of stress.
Ensure they list you as the primary Next of Kin on the university portal.
Help them set up their phones' built-in Medical ID and emergency information features. These will allow anyone to view emergency contact details from the lock screen without needing a passcode or biometric login.
Check out Apple’s guide on setting up a Medical ID.
SafeZone is a free app that gives your young person a direct, one-tap connection to Coventry University's 24/7 campus security team, instantly sharing their GPS location so help can reach them exactly where they are if they ever feel uneasy or have an emergency. It also allows them to ‘check-in’ to quiet buildings when studying late.
