Welfare Handbook 2011/12
imperialcollegeunion.org
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 1 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Contents Contents
2
Introduction
3
The Advice Centre
4
Your Tutors
5
Student Welfare Officers
6
Accommodation
7
Funding & Money
8
International
10
Sex, Alcohol & Drugs
11
Personal Safety, Stress & Mental Health
17
Equal Opportunities
20
Raising Concerns
23
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 2 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Introduction You’re going to have loads of great experiences during your time at Imperial, but most of you will come across a problem or two along the way. This handbook is a guide to the range of welfare services available to you whilst you’re here. It covers the services offered by the Imperial College Union Advice Centre, the services offered by the College and those offered by external organisations too. Whatever the problem, there will always be someone who can help you, whether on or off campus. Keep this guide safe and accessible, so that if anything doesn’t go quite according to plan you have the information at hand to find out exactly what to do. Make sure you seek help as soon as you’re ready to, though sooner is often better than later, before things snowball.
Nicolas Massie Deputy President (Welfare) E: dpwelfare@imperial.ac.uk T: 020 7595 8064, extension: 58064
If you feel you need more help or information please don’t hesitate to contact us or check out the information and advice on our website: imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 3 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
The Advice Centre Nigel Cooke is the Student Adviser for Imperial College Union. He is based in the Union’s Advice Centre on the 2nd Floor Mezzanine level in Beit Quad. The Student Adviser offers confidential and impartial advice on a number of welfare issues including: • Academic Issues: Appeals and complaints within your department or generally in the college. • Accommodation: Tenancy Deposit Scheme, court claims, repairs, unfair terms within contracts, tenancy agreement checking service and general advice on your housing rights. • Money Advice: Writing to credit companies to negotiate payment plans, negotiating with College over non payment of fees or accommodation rents, help with looking for extra areas of funding and advice on budgeting. • Employment Rights: Break entitlement, minimum wage, National Insurance Numbers and bullying and harassment at work. • Consumer Rights: Taking products back, internet buying, distance selling and general statutory rights on purchases in any area. • International Student Issues: Homesickness, fees and general and local information. • Legal Help: Advice with any legal situations that students find themselves in such as court summons or any other legal matter.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 4 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Opening Times 10.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday Nigel Cooke Student Adviser E: advice@imperial.ac.uk T: 020 7594 8067, extension: 48067 W: imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
• Health: Personal safety, sexual health, alcohol and drug issues. Nigel has had professional training in all these areas and can help with a multitude of issues. He also has close links with welfare services both within the College and externally. You can contact him by phone or email, or pop by his office during office opening hours. His details are in the box above. The Advice Centre also has a comprehensive leaflet library which covers areas such as Drugs, Personal Safety and Sexual Health. Also freely available to students are personal attack alarms and condoms.
Your Tutors Personal Tutors & Supervisors
Senior and Postgraduate Tutors
If you’re suffering from a problem it can often affect your studies or research. In these cases, it’s a good idea to contact your Personal Tutor, if you are an undergraduate, or your supervisor, if you are a postgraduate.
Personal Tutors report to a Senior Tutor who has overall responsibility for the academic and pastoral care of undergraduate students in a department. Within the School of Medicine pastoral care is the responsibility of the Head of Pastoral Care.
Personal tutors are members of academic staff allocated to you for the duration of your studies to offer support and follow your development throughout the course. Usually it’s up to you to organise when you meet. You can discuss anything you like, including challenges you may be encountering. If it is something they feel somebody else is better placed to help you with they will offer to refer you. Postgraduate supervisors play a similar role. Their purpose is not only to direct you in your research, but to act as a source of welfare support when necessary.
Postgraduate tutors play a similar role to Senior Turors, but for postgraduate students. College Tutors The College Tutors oversee all Senior Tutors and are also available for individual advice. They are concerned with both student welfare and College-student relationships and are happy to see any student, undergraduate or postgraduate who would like to talk to them. Go to the following link to find out more about them: www.imperial.ac.uk/students/ collegetutors
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 5 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Student Welfare Officers The Faculty Union Welfare Officers are here to help undergraduates, no matter what the problem, concern or challenge. Simply identify which Faculty you belong to. The various Faculty Unions are named slightly differently to the College structure: City & Guilds College Union (Engineering), the Imperial College School of Medicine Students’ Union (Medicine) or the Royal College of Science Union (Science). Just email the corresponding Officer listed below for a chat. Engineering Welfare Officer cgcuwelf@imperial.ac.uk Medicine Welfare Officer medic.welfare@imperial.ac.uk Science Welfare Officer rcsu.welfare@imperial.ac.uk
Postgraduates students can get welfare support from the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and the Union’s Deputy President (Welfare). The GSA President, Richard Tang, can be contacted via gsa.president@imperial. ac.uk. Nicolas Massie, the Deputy President (Welfare) can be contacted via dpwelfare@imperial.ac.uk. The Graduate Students’ Association has six volunteer Academic and Welfare Officers (AWO) who are also here to help, these are listed below. Engineering AWO awo-eng@imperial.ac.uk Medicine AWO awo-medic@imperial.ac.uk Business School AWO awo-bus@imperial.ac.uk Humanities AWO awo-human@imperial.ac.uk Life Sciences AWO awo-lifesci@imperial.ac.uk Physical Sciences AWO awo-physsci@imperial.ac.uk
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 6 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Accommodation Halls
Private Sector Accommodation
The primary role of Wardens is to support the welfare of students living in Imperial College residences. Wardens, and their wardening teams, are generally the first point of contact for students with various welfare problems.
The Student Accommodation Centre at the Student Hub (Level 3, Sherfield) offers a wide range of services to help students find affordable accommodation in the private sector. These services include private housing lists, lists of estate agents’ properties, an online property search database and legal advice including detailed advice on tenancy agreements.
During term-time, students usually call on the duty warden in the evenings and at weekends. Alternatively if you prefer to talk to a specific warden, just approach them in halls, or at one of the hall events. Wardens are all members of staff at Imperial College and subwardens are usually PhD students. They all have a good knowledge of College procedures and can assist with a wide range of welfare issues including difficulties in adjusting to College life and living in shared accommodation, financial problems and dealing with personal problems. Straightforward problems are usually handled entirely within the Hall. In other cases the Warden is responsible for liaising with other College support services and external services.
Student Accommodation Centre Level 3, Sherfield Building E: accommodation@imperial.ac.uk T: 020 7594 9444 W: www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 7 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Funding & Money Money Advice One of the most important things you’ll learn as a student is how to manage your money. As long as your finances are under control you can relax and enjoy all the other aspects of student life. It might seem difficult or boring, but in the long run it’s definitely worth knowing how much you have to spend and keeping track of where the money goes. Below are the top tips of how to manage your money: • Budget! Take some time to plan your finances. List your income and all your outgoings, then work out a budget with what’s left. For a handy interactive budget planner, check out the Debt Advice Foundation’s site: www. debtadvicefoundation.org/debt-tools/ budget-planner • Save! Plan ahead and think about extra expenses such as travel or furniture in advance. • Don’t get a credit card unless you’re firmly in control of your money. If you do use a credit card, choose one with a low APR and one that is fee-free. Pay the card company’s bill in full each month so that you get interest-free credit. • Consider boosting your income with a holiday or part-time job. • Food shopping – cooking from scratch is often cheaper (and always healthier!) than buying ready meals or a takeaway.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 8 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Make a list and stick to it. • Shop around – get the best deals by comparing prices, looking out for discounts and booking well in advance. • Save the environment and your money – turn off lights when not in use, walk, cycle or share lifts. Always remember: • Cutting back on essential insurances like household and travel is a false economy and failing to get motor insurance is illegal, as is not paying for your TV Licence. • If you think you’re going to get into financial difficulty, don’t delay getting help. Creditors are more likely to be sympathetic if you contact them early and explain the problem.
Funding & Money cont... A few common problems crop up for students, often relating to student loans. If yours doesn’t come through you should contact your relevant funding authority first to try to solve the problem. If progress can’t be made there, contact the Student Financial Support team on 020 7594 8130. Alternatively, you can email them at student.funding@imperial. ac.uk If you encounter any financial difficulties there is also a number of grants and funds which you may be eligible for including the Access to Learning Fund (www.imperial.ac.uk/registry/ studentfinancialsupport/alf) for UK students and the College Hardship Fund (www.imperial.ac.uk/registry/ studentfinancialsupport/hardshipfund) for EU and overseas students. For more advice on how to manage your money whist studying at Imperial contact the Union’s Advice Centre.
Employment A part-time job is a great way to get some extra cash. For help on writing a CV, completing application forms, interviews or obtaining a National Insurance Number contact the Careers Advisory Service on 020 7594 8024 or at careers@imperial.ac.uk Places to find jobs: • For work in the Students’ Union visit: imperialcollegeunion.org/jobs • The online Careers Advisory listings service, JobsLive: www.imperial.ac.uk/ careers/resources/jobslive • Jobs 4 Students: www.jobs4students. co.uk • Your local job centre www. jobcentreplus.gov.uk • Local newspapers • Directly approaching employers Your rights • The minimum wage as of 01 October 2011 will be £3.68 per hour if you’re aged 16-17, £4.98 if you’re 18-20 and £6.08 if you’re 21 or over. Don’t get underpaid! • Non-EU students may work for up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full-time during the vacation period without having to obtain any particular permission to do so. • If you feel that your employer is mistreating you in any way, get in touch with the Union’s Advice Centre.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 9 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
International Leaving your family and friends to come to university can be a daunting prospect, which is why the Union and College offers a wide range of support services and activities to help you settle in as quickly as possible. For all general enquiries or questions relating to student visas, visit The International Office located on Level 3 of the Sherfield Building, open Monday to Friday 10.00 to 17.00 except for Thursdays when it is open 10.00 to 13.00. International Office Level 3, Sherfield Building E: international@imperial.ac.uk T: 020 7594 8040 W: www.imperial.ac.uk/international.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 10 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
If you would like to brush up on your English, the English Language Support Programme (Department of Humanities) on Level 3 of the Sherfield Building offers classes to students and members of Imperial College London who are not native speakers of English. Most of the lessons are free. Contact the ELSP on 020 7594 8748 or at elspadministrator@ imperial.ac.uk for more details. To socialise with students from your home country or culture, check out the Clubs, Societies & Projects Handbook 2011/12 or the Clubs & Societies section of the Union website, home to a wide range of active and friendly international societies for you to join. Or, if you would like to talk to a student, contact Hao Gan, the Union’s International Officer at international-officer@imperial.ac.uk.
Sex, Alcohol & Drugs The whirlwind of alcohol, hectic timetables, shared accommodation and ready meals means that students can pick up bugs fairly frequently. The Imperial College Health Centre is located in Princes Gardens and all students living in halls in their first year are encouraged to register there. As a student at Imperial, even if you choose to register elsewhere you are able to make an appointment during surgery hours to see a doctor or nurse, although they may not have access to all your notes. The Health Centre has a number of staff including general practitioners (doctors), nurses, physiotherapists, counsellors and complementary therapists. You can also get travel injections, although you’ll need to pay for some of these. Contraceptives are available after consultation with a doctor, including the pill, diaphragm, IUD or almost any other contraceptive you’d like. Free condoms are available to all students registered there. The Health Centre is open Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 18.00 except for Tuesday afternoons. Appointments can be made online, by phone or in person. Walk in appointments are available with a doctor or nurse daily. If you’re not sure whether you need to consult a doctor, NHS Direct has an excellent website with answers to common health enquiries and nurses
available online and over the phone 24 hours a day. Remember to make sure you get yourself vaccinated against Meningitis C and have the MMR jab. You may have had them already but if you can’t remember, ask your parents or your home doctor. Sexual Health Sex Whether you’re a virgin or a love don, when consenting to sex you need to be aware of the risks involved and how to minimise them. Unprotected sex can result in more than you bargained for – five minutes of fun can lead to months of discomfort and even permanent damage. If used correctly, male condoms are 98% effective. Consider carrying one with you as you never know when you might need it. They’re available from vending machines in toilets, and are free from the Union Reception, the Deputy President (Welfare), the Student Advisor, the Imperial College Health Centre and the Chelsea and Westminster GUM (GenitoUrinary Medicine) clinic, so there really is no excuse for not having one. Whatever you do, don’t feel embarrassed to get them or to suggest using them, after all, you will almost certainly regret not using one.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 11 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Sex, Alcohol & Drugs cont... Pregnancy Worrying about being pregnant can be extremely stressful for any person. The most significant sign is a missed period, although many women also experience nausea, painful breasts and frequent urination. You can have a pregnancy test one week after your missed period – this is free at the Imperial College Health Centre or local GUM clinic. Alternatively you can buy a kit at a chemist but it is a good idea to have the result verified by a doctor. It is important to realise there are options available to you. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service offers impartial and confidential advice and a range of services if you choose not to go through with the pregnancy. You can discuss this and anything else sex-related at your local GUM clinic (the nearest GUM clinic is the John Hunter Clinic on Fulham Road). Check on the website before you turn up; some services are simply drop-in and some you have to book in advance. Sexually Transmitted Infections As much fun as sex can be, there is also a serious side to consider. In a student community infections can spread very quickly so it is a good idea to protect yourself by using a condom – remember the pill won’t protect you against any infections. Although most STIs are treatable, some have permanent consequences and not all have immediately visible symptoms.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 12 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Sexual health is an issue for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender. There are a number of things you can do to play it safer. First off, ask yourself if full sexual intercourse is what you really want. If you feel you are being pressured into anything or that things are ‘moving too fast’, it’s probably a good idea to step back and have a rethink. Also, if you’re too embarrassed to talk about using contraception, you may need to consider whether you really are ready for sex at all. Similarly, it’s a good idea not to get so drunk that you’re no longer in control of your actions and can’t remember what you did and with whom. Otherwise your morning after may end up even less pleasant. It is always a good idea to use a condom, as it is the only form of contraception that can help protect you against STIs. If you are sexually active, it’s good for your health and peace of mind to have a regular check at a GUM clinic. If you have caught an STI which doesn’t have any early symptoms, you can be treated before it affects your health and you can take steps to prevent passing it on to anyone, but you need to be tested for it to be diagnosed. Chlamydia Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and is the most prevalent STI in the UK. It does not have any symptoms and often people
are unaware that they have it. If left untreated, it can cause pain in the pelvis, infertility and ectopic pregnancies. It can be treated very easily with one antibiotic pill available on prescription. To get tested you just need to give a urine sample. You can get a free and confidential test from the Imperial College Health Centre or go to the National Chlamydia Screening Program website to get details of where to get a test in your area. HIV and AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that develops into AIDS. It damages the body’s immune system and is transmitted through the exchange of
certain bodily fluids (such as seminal and vaginal fluid, and blood). It is important to remember that, while there is no cure for AIDS, it is no longer the death sentence it once was. Much research has gone into developing treatments, and those who are HIV positive can go on to live long and meaningful lives. To reduce the risk, use a condom during sex and avoid sharing needles if you use injected drugs. If you have exposed yourself to the risk of HIV, PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) is sometimes available. It’s a treatment that may prevent HIV infection after the virus has entered the body. Whilst PEP could stop someone getting HIV, it has many
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 13 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Sex, Alcohol & Drugs cont... side effects and is not guaranteed to work. PEP is available from sexual health clinics or the A&E departments of many hospitals. More information is available from the Terrence Higgins Trust website. The best way to reduce the risk of contracting an STI is to limit your number of sexual partners. Remember, your friends are probably lying about the number of people they’ve slept with and it’s not supposed to be a competition! More information on sexual health is available from the following places: NHS Sexual Health: www.nhs.uk/ Livewell/Sexualhealthtopics/Pages/ Sexual-health-hub.aspx Brook: Extensive and confidential sexual health advice for under 25s: www.brook. org.uk or calling 0808 802 1234 Terence Higgins Trust: Support and information for young people living with HIV and AIDS: www.tht.org.uk or calling 0845 122 1100
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 14 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Alcohol Like everything in life, drinking is best done in moderation. Of course, big nights out will undoubtedly occur but there is a fine line between being ‘merry’ and ‘bashed off your nut’. It is recommended that for healthy consumption women should drink no more than 14 units per week and men no more that 21. When you exceed these recommended guides, alcohol starts to impact both your health and safety. A really handy units calculator is available at www.unitcheck.co.uk. Use it to keep tabs on how many units are in the alcohol you drink, if the amount you’re drinking is bad for your health and how much you drink compared to other students. The NHS offers a similar drinks tracker as an app for the iPhone. Download it from www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/iphonedrinks. aspx. While binge drinking may sound like tremendous fun, the diminished sense of judgement might result in you doing something you regret. It’s really important that you’re aware of your surroundings and how you can get yourself home safely come the end of the evening. Make sure you plan your route home before you’ve had that first pint, and don’t travel home alone.
Drugs Drugs come in three classes: A, B and C. Class A drugs include Heroin, Cocaine, Speed (prepared for injection), Ecstasy and LSD. Class B includes Speed. Class C includes cannabis resin, herbal cannabis, prescribed drugs and tranquilizers. The Union does not condone the use of illegal drugs, and if you are found in possession of them we will have to inform the police and College. The whole of College operates a zero-tolerance approach, particularly in Halls of Residence. It’s also important to look after your drink – in London and across most of the country drink spiking is on the rise. Make sure that you leave your drinks with trusted friends or take your drink with you wherever you go. If you think you might have a problem with drink then the Union’s here to help. Don’t feel pressurised into drinking – you’ll learn to understand your limits soon enough at university. Come to the Union’ Advice Centre if you need advice on cutting down. If your drinking is interfering with your life and studies, if you need a drink to get up in the morning, of if your friends have expressed concern, it might want be an idea to get in touch with Alcoholics Anonymous. While alcohol is legal in the UK, it is still a drug and so can also be problematic if not used sensibly.
If you take illegal drugs, the offence you are most likely to get convicted for is possession of a controlled drug. This includes joint possession of a common pool of drugs and past possession. Supply and intention to supply, which includes giving and selling drugs to a friend, are more serious. People who say the drugs found on them are for a friend are not helping themselves by admitting to supply. With all this out of the way, it is probable that given the amount of personal freedom you are given at university, at least a few of you will choose to take drugs. If you do intend to do this, ensure you take all possible precautions. Keep in mind that drugs affect people differently, and just because your friend is having a great time, nothing guarantees that you won’t end up in hospital. Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 15 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Sex, Alcohol & Drugs cont... Minimise the risks: • Make sure you know where your drugs came from and that you trust the people you are taking them with. • Tell a friend what you’re taking so that they can help if an incident occurs. • Don’t be tempted to take more of anything just because you’re not experiencing the effects straight away. • Keep hydrated but don’t drink more than one pint per hour or you could do more harm than good. • Eating something before taking a drug can help, as food provides energy and lines the stomach. • If you have a pre-existing mental health or heart problem you are at risk of experiencing increased side effects. • If you’re feeling depressed or anxious, it’s best to avoid drugs as they could make you feel worse. With all drugs, including alcohol, the onus is on you to be sensible. In addition to the illegality of taking drugs, you may be more likely to get into other trouble while on them as your perception may be altered.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 16 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
• Also, if you’re on drugs and look like you’re about to get lucky with someone, remember to be safe. It may feel wonderful now, but tomorrow when the hangover kicks in or the drugs wear off you may not want to be left with an extra bonus gift of an STI or an unwanted pregnancy. • Do not drug drive: your sense of perception will be altered greatly making driving very dangerous. Drug driving is just as illegal as drink driving. • If you feel that you or someone you know has a problem with drugs or you want legal advice regarding drugs Talk to Frank is a great government service (www.talktofrank.com or by calling 0800 77 66 00). • If you find yourself needing help due to previous drug use, or simply want to talk to someone, we offer a confidential advice service at the Union’s Advice Centre where we can find the right source of support for you.
Personal Safety, Stress & Mental Health Although the West London campus has a very good safety record, inevitably some students here are still victims of crime. It’s important to take a few small steps to keep yourself safe. The most common problems facing students tend to be theft and assault. The Union’s Advice Centre has free personal attack alarms that students can carry when walking alone in the dark is unavoidable. Below are a few quick tips to stay safe: Walking • When walking around look confident, be purposeful and alert to your surroundings – people who look confident are less likely to be attacked. • Try to avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys or parks – stick to the well-lit routes. • Try not to draw attention to your valuables – keep mobile phones and other electronic devices well hidden. • Avoid walking past parked cars with their engines running and people sitting in them. • Don’t be tempted to cross Hyde Park after it has closed – the number of muggings there has increased in recent years. Bus or Tube • If you are going out make sure you know where you are going and that you have a planned route. It is also a good idea to tell someone you live with where you are going if you are travelling on your own.
• If you are travelling by bus try to sit near the driver or if by train try to sit in a busy carriage. Taxi or Cab • It is also important to remember when you are trying to get home late at night to be aware of the transport you are getting into – London has quite a big problem with unlicensed mini-cabs. • If you are stranded somewhere and need to take a taxi, ensure that you use a licensed mini cab or licensed black taxi. You can get the number of one taxi and two licensed minicab firms in the area you are in by sending a text to Cabwise on: 60835. • It is always better to book a taxi in advance than trying to hail one late at night. • If you can, try to share a cab home with friends. • Confirm the details of the cab driver before entering the car to ensure it is actually your cab. • Make sure you sit in the back if you are on your own and ensure that you leave all doors unlocked. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust (www. suzylamplugh.org) provides good information on reducing the risks of being a victim of crime. Remember to lock the door of your room and most importantly get contents insurance. Alternatively check whether your parents’ insurance policy covers you while you’re at university.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 17 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Peronsonal Safety, Stress & Health cont... If you do happen to be the victim of crime it is important that you contact the police to report this, or if it occurs on campus then to contact college security. For any help or advice on these issues, don’t hesitate to contact the Union’s Advice Centre. Mental Health Study Stress What can I do? • Talk to someone. If you are stressed ensure that you get it off your chest. Talk it through with someone you trust: friends, relatives, Personal Tutors, the Student Adviser or in some cases a Counsellor. This can be a great way of alleviating stress and worry. • Believe in yourself! You were offered a place on the course so if you’re good enough to be here then people believe you have the ability to complete the exams. If you prepare properly you should do fine. • If you don’t understand something, ask! If you’re finding it difficult to get your head around some of the revision notes, then talk it through with the course lecturer or with course mates. If that doesn’t help, approach your Personal or Senior Tutor to try and resolve the matter. • Take time out. Revision is of course important, but too much ineffective study can have adverse effects and increase stress levels. Take time out to do something you enjoy for a day Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 18 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
or a night – go and see friends or do something that helps you relax. • Don’t make unrealistic goals. If you believe that anything less than top marks is a failure on your part, then you are creating unnecessary stress for yourself. Set targets that you feel are realistically achievable. • Try not to compete with others. They often appear to do better than they do. It’s natural to remember our failures while remembering other people’s successes. Focus on yourself and if you feel you’re slipping, speak to someone. If you are feeling stressed and feel you would like to talk to someone about this then a good person to contact is your Personal Tutor, Faculty Welfare Officer (if you are an undergraduate) or your supervisor. Alternatively, the Student Counselling Service, Chaplaincy Centre and the Imperial College Health Centre can help. The Health Centre also runs exam stress workshops, more details of which are on their website. Other Issues With all the highs that come with university life, the occasional low is to be expected. With the combination of an intense workload, living away from home and the added pressure of making new friends it can seem like too much. Often it helps to talk things through with friends or family, but for many this is difficult, which is why there are a number of people and services at Imperial to help.
Peronsonal Safety, Stress & Health cont... Students Against Depression (www. studentdepression.org) is an organisation set up in conjunction with students to share stories and discussions related to the topic of depression. The Central London Samaritans (www.cls.org. uk) offer time and space for people to express their feelings, help them to talk through their options and find a way to face the future. Finally, Nightline (www. nightline.org.uk) provides a number to call to discuss anything at all: 020 7631 0101.
There are male and female counsellors. The Service is available by appointment at the South Kensington Campus, Hammersmith Campus and at Kings Corner Surgery, Sunninghill for students at the Silwood Park Campus. Student Counselling Service Level 4, Sherfield Building E: counselling@imperial.ac.uk T: 020 7594 9637 W: www.imperial.ac.uk/counselling Pastoral Care
In any circumstances it is important to ask for help early on – the longer you ignore your feelings the worse it can get. If you’re finding it difficult to decide who to talk to, contact the Deputy President (Welfare) or the Union’s Advice Centre and they’ll be happy to help. Student Counselling Service The Student Counselling Service offers confidential short-term counselling to all Imperial students. The counsellors are experienced and professionally trained and the service is free of charge. A counsellor seeks to help you focus on and understand more clearly any personal, emotional or academic problems that are concerning you. If appropriate they can suggest other people who might be helpful to you.
Should you have any questions or issues regarding your faith, or you simply want to further explore your faith, the Chaplaincy is the place to visit. The team supports every religion. For the large Muslim community at Imperial, there is a prayer room located on the north side of Princes Gardens. Additionally, prayer sessions are held in the Union on Fridays. The Islamic Society (islam@imperial.ac.uk) should be contacted for opening hours and prayer times. Similarly, the Jewish Society (jsoc@imperial.ac.uk) holds midday prayers near campus too. Chaplaincy East Basement, Beit Quad E: chaplaincy@imperial.ac.uk T: 020 7594 9600 W: www.imperial.ac.uk/chaplaincy
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 19 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Equal Opportunities Every student at Imperial College has the right to equal access and equal opportunities. The Union and the College fully advocate the equality of all students and staff members regardless of their gender, age, faith, race, sexual orientation or disability. Both the Union and the College seek to create a healthy environment, so everyone can live, work and relax together in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect. The Union’s Equal Opportunities Officer is charged with monitoring equal opportunity issues and coming up with initiatives to promote them as well as implementing the policy. This year’s Equal Opportunities Officer is Dolan Miu and can be contacted at equal-opportunitiesofficer@imperial.ac.uk. Dolan can be contacted by any student if they feel they are being discriminated against on any grounds or to talk about any equality issues. Disabled Students The Disability Advisory Service is located on Level 5 of the Sherfield Building. The team advises individual students no matter what their disability and ensures that they have the support they need. The service also act as the first point of contact for prospective students or their parents, seeking information about disability support for students within Imperial. It is both confidential
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 20 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
(information about the individual is only passed on to other people in the university with their agreement) and personal in that any support is tailored to what the person needs. Some of the sorts of things the service can help with are: • Being an advocate on an individual’s behalf with others in the College such as your Liaison Officer, Senior Tutor or exams officer, the accommodation office or the estates department. • Checking that evidence of disability is appropriate and up-to-date. • Screening for those who may think that they have an unrecognised study difficulty such as dyslexia. • Arranging a diagnostic assessment for specific learning difficulties. • Help with applying to the College for the cost of an assessment. • Help with applications for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). • Helping students not eligible for the Disabled Students Allowance in negotiating support from other sources. • Help with arranging extra Library support. • Supporting applications for continuing accommodation for your second or later years. Disability advisers are available to assist with queries in relation to disabled access to the College environment and reasonable adjustments for study. They can also help people obtain suitable
Equal Opportunities cont... evidence of their disability including arranging diagnostic assessments for specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia ADHD etc). For more information contact the Disability Advisory Service on 020 7594 9755 or email disabilities@imperial. ac.uk. Alternatively, to talk to a student representative about your disability, contact Charlotte Ivison, the Union’s Disabilities Officer at disabilities-officer@ imperial.ac.uk. LGBT Students Imperial College strives to be a safe space for you to be yourself. No matter what your sexual orientation you should always feel able to tell whoever you want without the fear of homophobia or any forms of discrimination. Most forms of homophobia are outlawed and the UK is generally an accepting place; however, there will always be those who don’t fully agree with the freedom we have in this country. Be careful: London is a very accepting and forward-thinking city, but there will
always be those who aren’t. Because of our diverse culture at Imperial and throughout the city, there’s always the chance that people won’t see eye to eye. Homophobic hate crime in Kensington & Chelsea has risen in the past year which means it’s more important than ever that victims of hate crime report it, so that positive action can be taken against offenders. In the UK, it is illegal to discriminate against a person based on their sexual orientation. This includes everything from provisions of services (i.e. refusing a double room in a hotel to a same sex couple) to all forms of homophobic hate crimes. Charities such as Stonewall (www.stonewall.org.uk) have been campaigning for many years for equality and their website has plenty of information on equality law in the UK. Whether you’re having a problem with homophobia, want help coming out or just want to meet more like-minded people, there are plenty of ways to get support at Imperial. IQ is the Imperial College LGBT society and they run all sorts of social events throughout the year, from a monthly book club to targeted recruitment events to help you find an LGBT-friendly employer. To find out more, contact iq@imperial. ac.uk.
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 21 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Equal Opportunities cont... IQ also produce an annual guide called Out & About (A new student’s guide to Gay London) which contains loads of information about great LGBT pubs, clubs and other support outside of College, such as sexual health clinics and LGBTspecific counselling and support groups. Copies are available from the Union reception.
friends and engage in discussion with other faiths without feeling singled out. Interfaith holds many events throughout the year, including debates, talks, cultural and social events, charity work and trips overseas. For more information, contact our Interfaith Officer, Sayinthen Vivekanantham at interfaith-officer@ imperial.ac.uk.
If you would like to talk about your sexual orientation with a student representative, our LGBT Officer Christopher Schlumberger-Socha is here to help, via email at lgbt-officer@imperial.ac.uk.
Female Students
Faith In addition to the services that the Chaplaincy offers, Imperial College Interfaith, a student group, offers a platform for all students to discuss their faith and other faiths within an open and tolerant setting, with the aim of fostering that environment within the student community. The group offers a chance to meet students of other faiths, make new
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 22 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
With female students only making up 36% of the student population at Imperial, if you’re a female student it is possible that you’ll sometimes have feelings associated with being in the minority. Women in Science, Engineering and Technology is a great student group offering support to female students at Imperial. Activities they organise range from panel discussions and networking events through to workshops focused on CVs and job applications as well as fantastic social events. To get involved, email women. set@imperial.ac.uk.
Raising concerns In the most extreme circumstances, you, as a College student, could stumble across information that, while not prejudicing you personally, nevertheless raises some concern because it may affect the College, its members and/or the general public. The College has policies which cover some of these situations. If you feel that the situation falls within the remit of these policies, then the procedures set out within them should be followed.
In other cases where concern is raised, you should speak to your Personal Tutor, Supervisor, Head of Department or the Academic Registrar (or to the Health Centre where the matter concerns student health issues). If you wish to find an alternative route to voice your concerns, you can find an extensive list of individuals who will be able to help across a variety of areas at the following website: www.imperial.ac.uk/hr/procedures (under R for Raising Concerns).
Porcedures for Allegations of Scientific Misconduct or Public Interest Disclosure – more well known as ‘whistleblowing’ (in cases of malpractice or wrongdoing), can be found online at www.imperial. ac.uk/secretariat
Welfare Handbook 2011/12 Page 23 imperialcollegeunion.org/advice
Imperial College Union Beit Quadrangle Prince Consort Road London SW7 2BB
Tel: 020 7594 8060 Fax: 020 7594 8065 Email: union@imperial.ac.uk Twitter: @icunion imperialcollegeunion.org