Welfare Resources & Contacts

The Student Union has many groups for students to join, some of which you need to meet certain criteria to lead. To do this, you may be wondering how to self-define your identity.

Have Your Say

Do you want to make your voice heard in welfare and wellbeing? Find out how to share your ideas in the Welfare and Community Zone here: https://studentsunionucl.org/make-change/have-your-say/your-ideas/welfare-community-zone

Financial Support and Advice:

Hardship Funding

If a lack of funding is affecting your studies, causing stress or damaging your mental health, then you can apply for financial support here:

https://studentsunionucl.org/help-and-advice/money/hardship-funding

Postgraduate Funding

If you are a postgraduate student, there is a range of resources and advice available to support your funding. See more here:

https://studentsunionucl.org/help-and-advice/money/postgraduate-funding

Financial Advice

Navigating finances can be difficult, so we have put together information to help you navigate.

For general money and debt management: https://studentsunionucl.org/help-and-advice/money-and-debt

For managing debt: https://studentsunionucl.org/help-and-advice/money/managing-debt

For budgeting: https://studentsunionucl.org/help-and-advice/money-and-debt/budgeting-and-managing-your-income

For general financial support: https://studentsunionucl.org/help-and-advice/money/student-financial-support

External Resources:

Samaritans – mental health support

Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like about whatever’s getting to you. They can help you explore your options, understand your problems better, or they can just be there to listen. You can call the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Website: https://www.samaritans.org/branches/central-london/

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 020 7734 2800

Mind – mental health support

Mind is the UK's mental health charity. Mind provides a wide range of resources and guidance for those wanting to explore mindfulness, how to practice it and how it can help with mental health problems. They have information on anxiety, panic attacks, depression, mindfulness, self-harm, sleep problems & stress.

Website: https://www.mind.org.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 020 8519 2122

Student Minds – mental health support

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity, empowering students and members of the university community to look after their own mental health, support others and create change.

Website: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/

Tel: 0808 189 5260, 7 days a week from 3pm to 12am.

Text 'STUDENT' to 85258 for support.

The Havens – sexual abuse support

Website: https://www.thehavens.org.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 020 3299 6900

Rape Crisis

Website: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0808 802 9999

Nightline

Nightline is an out-of-hours listening service for students. Their advisers are students themselves who have had extensive training to help them support their peers. You can speak to someone from Nightline over the phone every night of term from 6pm to 8am. They also offer support online, through text and through email.

Website: https://nightline.org.uk/contact-us/

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: (+44) 207 631 0101

Hub of Hope

Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database, in the form of an app. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.

Website: https://hubofhope.co.uk/

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

CALM is a - charity leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. Their helpline is for men in the UK who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.

Website: https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support

Students' Union UCL Resources:

Students' Union Advice Service

Website: https://studentsunionucl.org/help-and-advice

Address: 1st Floor Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street WC1H 0AH

Services available:

Academic: extenuating circumstances, student complaints, interrupting or withdrawing from studies, disciplinaries, academic misconduct and the OIA (Office of the Independent Adjudicator).
Housing: tenancy agreement checks, council tax, disputes with landlords or housemates, disrepair and return of tenancy deposit.
Money: applications for student funding, applying for grants, welfare benefits advice, help with budgeting, income maximisaion and managing debt.
Hate Crime Reporting Centre: confidential platform to report hate crime/hate incidents and independent advocacy support.
And more, including employment rights, consumer advice, personal support and wellbeing (including referral to specialist services).

Role of Welfare Officers in Clubs & Societies

Role descriptions for compulsory officers are set out in the Students’ Union Club & Society Regulations.

The Welfare Officer

Shall hold office from the day after the end of term 3 until the last day of term 3 in the following academic year.
Shall be the only officer of the club or society with access to the welfare officer funding pot and is responsible for applications and initiatives using that funding. Note: expenditure authorisations are the responsibility of the Treasurer.
Shall be responsible for the activity specified within the welfare officer remit including collaboration with other welfare officers in creation of demographic specific activity, recording of demographic specific membership and aware of the wider Union campaigns relevant to their club or society, specified or otherwise, on the welfare officer campaign timeline.

Union Officer Contacts List

The Union has a large number of officers, both full- and part-time who are available to contact. Their details are here:

https://studentsunionucl.org/make-change/your-elected-leaders/officer-contacts-list.

Active Bystander Programme

The Students' Union and UCL run the Active Bystander Training to tackle unacceptable behaviour at UCL and beyond. Find out more about the programme here.

Student Union Language and Writing Support

If you need language and writing support, the Union has a Language and Writing Support Programme to help. Find out more by reading the frequently asked questions or book an appointment.

Heads Up

Every year the Union run a mental health campaign known as Heads Up. Reach out to the Union’s Welfare and Community Officer to see what’s going on this year and how you can get involved: [email protected].

Student Activities Resources:

Health and Safety: Make sure your club and society activities protect the health and safety of yourself, your members and comply with Union guidelines: https://studentsunionucl.org/content/president-and-treasurer-hub/health-and-safety.
Making Your Events Accessible: Find advice on how to make your events more accessible for higher engagement and more inclusivity.
Running a Project Active Session: Activity is a great way to stay healthy and happy. Is your club or society interested in running a project active session? Find out more here.
Start a Club, Society or Volunteering Programme: If you want to start a club, society or volunteering programme, you can find out more about that here.
Diversify your Activities: If you want some help diversifying your activities and making sure that they are inclusive, check out this page.
Run a Free Taster Session: Free taster sessions are a great way for students to try something new. To find out how to run your own taster activity, check out this page: https://studentsunionucl.org/how-to-guides/running-give-it-go-activity-event.
Club and Society Additional Funding: The Student Union has created a specific welfare fund for clubs and societies. You can submit an application by using the Additional Grant form and indicating that it is a ‘Welfare Fund’ application.

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