International Student Safety Guide

This booklet was made possible thanks to The UK Council for International Student Affairs, the Manchester Student Safety Tactical Action Partnership and student volunteers from The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

WELCOME TO MANCHESTER

GUIDE HISTORY

MESSAGE FROM UKCISA

This guide is a key part of the Manchester International Student Safety Campaign. The campaign was created following discussions with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and international students.

These discussions highlighted the crimes which international students were most likely to be victims of and identified the best methods of presenting our safety information.

One of the ideas was a safety guide.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs is the UK’s national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them. We have almost 500 members including all UK Universities, many Further Education Colleges and Students’ Unions.

Following this MSH was awarded funding for the campaign from The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) and the Manchester Student Safety Tactical Action Partnership.

Working in collaboration with University partners and student volunteers the International Student Safety guide was completed. This guide covers: • • • • •

Personal and Household Safety Fire Safety Health and Wellbeing Community Involvement Finance

This guide has been created, designed and approved by international students to help you stay safe whilst you study and live in Manchester. We hope you enjoy your time here!

Our aims are: • To increase support for international education and raise awareness of its values and benefits.

• To promote greater student mobility and reduce obstacles and barriers to it.

• To encourage best practice, professional development and the highest quality of institutional support for international students throughout the education sector.

Our website www.ukcisa.org.uk has a range of valuable information for international students and for advisers and staff working in institutions. In particular, we are the key source of advice and information on the student immigration rules.

We also initiate and encourage projects and research to enhance our understanding of international student education in the UK.

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MANCHESTER STUDENT HOMES

WHO ARE MSH?

All our landlords and private halls that have been awarded the Standard have agreed to the following conditions:

Manchester Student Homes (MSH) offers a FREE housing service to students. We are jointly managed by The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University and we also work in partnership with The University of Salford, The Manchester College and The Royal Northern College of Music. We accredit landlords and private halls of residence who meet our required standards.

• No requirement for guarantors to be UK based.

• No requirement for full rent to be paid upfront for the year, instead rent will be paid on either monthly or termly payment schedules.

We promote quality accommodation, and an advice service to students who choose to live off campus.

• Clear and easy to understand information on any additional fees or charges that may be applied is provided to the student/s ahead of the tenancy.

MSH is also a hate crime 3rd party reporting centre. Individuals who have been the victim of a hate crime can come to our office and speak to a trained member of staff to receive support and guidance. For more information about Hate Crime, visit www.stophateuk.org or ring 0800 138 1625

• Orientation to the area and a welcome pack which includes key information such as emergency contacts and what to do in an emergency, local transport information, safety information etc.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY STANDARD The International Friendly Standard has been created by MSH to recognise landlords and private halls who provide a fair and transparent service to international students as well as going that extra mile.

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Pictured: You can find the MSH offices opposite Tesco in Fallowfield

Sponsored by: GMP

PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD SAFETY Greater Manchester is one of the safest places to live and work. It is highly unlikely that you, or someone you know will be a victim of crime, however do not be complacent. By taking a few simple precautions, you can reduce the risk of being targeted by criminals:

• The police and your students’ union provide Safe Zones - places for you to go to if you are at risk or need assistance when you are out in the community. All Safe Zones will display the logo or will have a sticker clearly visible. To find your nearest one visit: www.gmp.police.uk/safetyzones

• Remember to lock all outside windows and doors even when you are at home. 1 in 3 burglaries are a result of an open or unlocked door or window.

Greater Manchester Police has teams that patrol all over campus to help keep you safe

• Don’t leave your valuables on view and if you’ve got an alarm use it.

• Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you when you are out.

They regularly hold talks and events to share crime prevention advice and they are always happy to speak to anyone who needs help, whether it’s hints and tips or if you are a victim of crime.

• Be alert to your surroundings as well as people around you and be brief when using a mobile phone - be discreet and try to conceal it.

• Using earphones or following a smartphone’s sat nav could indicate that you have expensive personal possessions with you or may make it difficult for you to notice if someone is approaching you.

Get more information on GMP’s student teams at:

• Don’t forget, you can register any valuable property (eg laptops, mobile phones, tablets) on: www.immobilise.com free of charge.

This will help the police to return lost or stolen items to their rightful owners and also act as a deterrent to offenders.

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mcrstudentsafety GMPFallowfield GMPLongsight

Remember, you can call police any time on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Sponsored by: GMFRS

FIRE SAFETY Cooking after drinking alcohol is one of the biggest causes of fires in student houses. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) says people should NEVER cook when under the influence of alcohol, as it can put lives at serious risk.

a 22-year-old asleep. He had been drinking and started cooking oven chips before falling asleep.

One such case happened recently in Withington and was overseen by GMFRS Watch Manager Jagjit Dhaliwal.

He said: “We had to force our way into the building where the alarms were sounding and it was very smoke logged.

“It was really fortunate he had smoke alarms, as they alerted his neighbour.

The crew rescued him, quickly extinguished the fire and cleared the smoke.”

Pictured: Officers from Withington Fire service with MSH staff

“We searched the property and found

Top 10 cooking safety tips:

6. Never fill a pan more than onethird full of oil. If the oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot - turn off the heat .

1. Keep your oven, hob and grill clean.

A build-up of fat and grease can easily catch fire.

7. Swap your chip pan for an electric deep fat fryer - thermostatically controlled electrical deep fat fryers are much safer to use.

2. Don’t put anything metallic, such as tin cans, inside the microwave.

3. Keep cooking appliances in the kitchen. These rooms are designed for cooking appliances and the plug sockets are appropriately wired with the correct voltage. Bedrooms are not wired for such appliances.

4. Remember any type of pan can catch fire - this includes a wok and a grill.

5. When deep frying, always dry the food before you put it in the oil.

8. Never put water on a hot fat fire.

9. Have an escape plan if a fire does occur.

10. Finally, remember a working smoke alarm will give you those precious seconds to escape – your landlord is responsible for ensuring your property has one.

For further information and safety advice, visit: www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/fire_ safety_advice

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Sponsored by: NHS

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

After the initial excitement of moving here and beginning your course, some students may find the changes difficult and stressful. This “culture shock” is very common, and there are many things you can do to help yourself feel more settled.

CONNECT - Make friends with other students who are away from home, as they’ll understand what you are feeling.

Clubs and societies are a great way to make friends and settle in. Keep in regular contact with home, perhaps sharing news and photos of your life in the UK. LEARN & DISCOVER - Get to know your new environment. Find things in Manchester that remind you of home, such as food shops, restaurants, faith and cultural centres. Most societies run events and trips that can help you discover more about your new surroundings.

BE ACTIVE - Taking regular exercise can help lift your mood, and can also be a good way of meeting new people.

TAKE NOTICE - Look up at the world around you as you walk to campus.

Have familiar things around you that remind you of home, such as photographs or ornaments.

BE HEALTHY - Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Find shops selling familiar food if you can; perhaps cook and share a meal with other students, whether from your own or another culture.

LOOK AFTER YOUR HEALTH If you need help or advice on anything to do with your health and wellbeing, try visiting: www.choosewellmanchester.org.uk.

This website translates in to around 100 languages to make sure you can access the advice you need. Here you can find lots of information about looking after yourself, how to register with a GP (who can give you the free MMR and Meningitis ACWY vaccinations recommended by Public Health England), and where and when you should seek more urgent help.

You can also call 111 from any phone for free if you urgently need medical advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation. Translation services are available during the call.

GIVE - Student volunteering is a great way to explore and become part of your local community, as well as to meet new people who share similar interests.

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Sponsored by: International Society

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING Volunteering is a fantastic way to develop skills and talents that complement and enhance your education. It is also a fun way to build your confidence, develop your CV and make a real difference to people in your community!

There are a number of ways to get involved in volunteering.

The University of Manchester, have a dedicated Volunteering & Community Engagement Team that works to support you and your volunteering needs. The Team: • Sources volunteering opportunities locally, which are available to you online via: www.manchester.ac.uk/volunteers.

• Arranges drop-in sessions to answer any questions about volunteering.

These are held in The Atrium in University Place every Monday (12pm-1pm) and Wednesday (1pm2pm) throughout the year.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY International Society is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to provide international students with a warm and friendly welcome when they arrive in the city and to make their time in the UK a wonderful experience. We have 4,000 members from 150 different countries each year.

Among the things we do are trips around the UK during the weekend, language classes, cultural evenings, social events, cultural awareness project (Rocketworld) and hospitality scheme.

Our office is located just opposite The University of Manchester’s Students’ Union on Oxford Road. Please feel free to drop by and have a chat with us or check out our website at: www.internationalsociety.org.uk for more information.

Manchester Metropolitan University’s The Union have a dedicated team to help you find the right opportunity.

What you’ll find on offer at The Union: • A whole range of opportunities for you to choose from on our online volunteering system.

• Training and development to make sure that you get the most out of the time that you invest.

Pictured: Students at the International Society

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FINANCE

MONEY

IF ANYONE SPEAKS TO YOU... …while you’re using a cash machine, complete your transaction and put your cash away before replying.

Upon arriving in the UK, there are many things you can do to keep you and your money safe.

DON’T CARRY LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH Most shops and services accept card payments, so there’s no need to carry lots of cash.

OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT As soon as possible after you arrive in Manchester.

A SAVINGS ACCOUNT This is a good idea if you intend to keep a lot of money in your account without withdrawing it regularly.

DON’T LEAVE LOTS OF CASH AT HOME Insurance policies usually only cover a small amount of cash if it is stolen.

A CURRENT ACCOUNT This lets you set up regular payments (direct debits) without using cash, for bills such as your mobile phone. You can have a current account as well as a savings account.

KEEP CASH OUT OF SIGHT Keep your windows shut when you’re not home. Always lock your bedroom door.

International Student Calculator

A DEBIT CARD This normally comes with a current account. It lets you withdraw money from cash machines up to a maximum daily limit.

Developed by Brightside in collaboration with UKCISA, this online student lifestyle calculator: http:// internationalstudentcalculator. org/ helps international students plan and manage their money for studies in the UK. Students can use the site to build a lifestyle budget and see how it balances by week, month or over a year.

CASH MACHINES These can be found on the walls of banks, and in some shops.

KEEP YOUR PIN SECRET Don’t lend your card to anybody. Don’t write your PIN number down.

WITHDRAW CASH DURING THE DAY Or get “cash back” when making a debit card payment in a supermarket.

Don’t use cash machines at night.

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PLACE STAMP HERE

PASSPORT CHECKLIST

Plan a safe route to get you from your home to University!

Sign up with a local GP!

Create a safe place to keep your valuables out of sight!

Do you have keys to lock all your doors and windows? If not speak to your landlord!

Set-up a UK Bank account!

Take part in University Orienteering!

Join a society and get involved!

Visit www.ukcisa.org.uk for valuable information and advice!

Make sure you are not carrying large amounts of money when you are out!

Use the International Student Calculator to create a lifestyle budget http://international. studentcalculator.org/

Know the location of your University Support Services including Manchester Student Homes!

Plan a safe route when exploring the city of Manchester, avoid unlit areas and backstreets!

GREATER MANCHESTER FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE: 0161 736 5866 or 999 for emergencies.

REPORT COMMUNITY ISSUES TO THE 24 HOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD HELPLINE: 0161 275 1863 Neighbourhood.helpline@ manchester.ac.uk

HOUSING CASEWORKER: 0161 275 2877 manchesterstudenthomes@ manchester.ac.uk

THE OFF CAMPUS STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICER: 0161 275 0750

MANCHESTER STUDENT HOMES: 0161 275 7680 manchesterstudenthomes@ manchester.ac.uk @man_student_hme

www.mmu.ac.uk/sas/ studentservices/

STUDENT SERVICES www.studentnet.manchester. ac.uk/crucial-guide/ssc-contactdetails/

www2.mmu.ac.uk/counselling/

COUNSELLING SERVICES www.studentnet.manchester. ac.uk/counselling/

MANCHESTER NHS www.manchester.nhs.uk/ @NHSinManchester

MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL: 0161 234 5000 www.manchester.gov.uk @mancitycouncil

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE: Non-emergency: 101 In an emergency always ring: 999

Useful Contacts

Passport to Manchester