WELFARE
GUIDE 2016
Introduction
We hope that you have a fantastic time studying at Warwick! If this is your first time living away from home or you just want more information on the support available within the University, this guide will help you understand where to get help if you need it. We also have dedicated staff to help you navigate any challenges you face while you are a student.
The While it can be daunting arriving in a place where you don’t know anyone else, don’t forget that many others will be feeling the same! There are plenty of places to get support if you are finding it hard, so don’t be afraid to talk to your friends or peers - if you are unsure who to contact, the SU Advice Team is here to help you find the right support. Please remember that, whatever you are going through or however you feel, no-one will be shocked or sit in judgement of you. Everything is absolutely confidential, so your worries are safe with us and we will do all we can to help.
advice@warwicksu.com
024 7657 2824
warwicksu.com/advice
SUPPORT your welfare & campaigns officer
Advice/ Advice Centre
Health
Wellbeing
Info
Community
Housing
Warwick Welfare Guide 2016
List of other places to get help, support and guidance on campus: A helpful link for most support services warwick.ac.uk/services/ on campus: student-support-services/
Student Support at the University: studentsupport@warwick.ac.uk 024 76 575570
If you are living on campus, your Resident Tutor is another good place warwick.ac.uk/services/ to start: student-support-services/residential-life/
University Wellbeing Advisor: warwick.ac.uk/services/studentsupport-services/mental_health/ wellbeing/
Mental Health & Wellbeing Team: warwick.ac.uk/services/studentsupport-services/mental_health/
Disability Services: disability
warwick.ac.uk/
disability@warwick.ac.uk
024 7615 0641
Counselling:
warwick.ac.uk/ counselling counselling@warwick. ac.uk 024 76523761
Student Funding:
warwick.ac.uk/
studentfunding
studentfunding@
warwick.ac.uk
024 7615 0096
For course-related questions/problems, speak to your Department or Personal Tutor. Chaplaincy:
warwick.ac.uk/chaplaincy
chaplaincy@warwick.ac.uk 024 7652 3519
Nightline:
warwick.nightline.ac.uk nightline@warwick.ac.uk 02476 522 199 & 02476 417 668
Warwick Accommodation:
warwick. ac.uk/services/accommodation/ studentaccommodation/ accommodation@warwick.ac.uk 02476 523772
Security:
warwick.ac.uk/security security@warwick.ac.uk 024 7652 2083
Immigration Service:
warwick. ac.uk/study/international/immigration (+44) 24 765 23706 or (+44) 24 765 75229
Information about SU Sabbatical Team: warwicksu.com/democracy/officers/
Students’ Union Welfare Sabbatical Officer: welfare@warwicksu.com 024 765 72777
Students’ Union Education Sabbatical Officer: education@warwicksu.com 024 765 72777
Students’ Union Postgraduate Sabbatical Officer: postgrads@warwicksu.com 024 765 72777
Campus Health Centre:
uwhc.org.uk
024 7652 4888
Student Reception:
warwick.ac.uk/
services/accommodation/reception 02476522280
Students’ Union Reception: 02476572777
Settling in
and the
first few
days ACADEMIC matters
The first few weeks at university are always hectic and can be very busy - with so much going on it can be a little overwhelming, but it is perfectly natural to feel you need a little help or support.
UNIVERSITY Accommodation-related problems: If you are having problems settling into your campus accommodation, speak to your Resident Tutor. If you have any practical problems, please use Warwick Accommodation’s online fault reporting system.
Course-related problems: If you are having problems settling into your course, speak to your Personal Tutor.
Unsure who to speak to: Check out the various departments and people listed on page 3 or contact the SU Advice Centre.
Everyone working at Warwick is here to help you to succeed and get the most out of your time studying here. It is very important to get to know your Department and Personal Tutor so that if things are not going as well as you hoped, you will feel able to talk to them. It is also crucial that your Department knows if there are things going on in your life (e.g. illness, injury or bereavement) which may be affecting your studies, so that these can be taken into account.
warwicksu.com/pageassets/advice/academic/ WarwickAcademicProceedures2015-16.pdf
Warwick Welfare Guide 2016
A c co m m o dat i o n Hopefully before you come to Warwick you will have organised your accommodation for the year ahead – however, if you have not managed to do so, contact Warwick Accommodation to see what University-managed accommodation is available (warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation/studentaccommodation/) or see what comes up in the local area using an internet search.
The SU Advice Centre provides plenty of advice on Accommodation For information on house hunting, see our webpages:
The SU also runs a forum for people looking for Housemates:
wa r w i c ks u . co m / a dv i c e / h o u s i n g /
wa r w i c ks u . co m / fo r u m s /
When looking for accommodation through agents or via an internet search, it is important to know your rights and make sensible choices. For advice on choosing a landlord or agent, see the SU Advice Centre page: wa r w i c ks u . co m / a dv i c e /
to p i c l i s t / 6 3 0 / If you are a Postgraduate student, there is also a useful Facebook Group entitled ‘Wa r w i c k P o s tg r a d uat e s t u d e n t s
lo o k i n g fo r h o u s e m at e s ’.
housing/landlordchoice/ It is very important to see the accommodation before you fully commit to taking it, so you can be sure that it is what you want. There are also new requirements to prove that you are entitled to rent accommodation in the UK. This applies to all rental agreements, except in cases where you are renting from the University. For information on Right to Rent checks:
wa r w i c ks u . co m / a dv i c e / h o u s i n g / r i g h t to r e n t c h e c ks /
For Postgraduate students who arrive without accommodation, there will be regular information sessions running in the PG Hub from 27th September until 17th October 2016. For info outside these dates, contact the SU Advice Centre.
If you have problems with your accommodation which you cannot resolve, the SU Advice Team may be able to help - please look at our Housing pages to check out your rights and your Landlord’s obligations:
warwicksu.com/advice/housing/accommodationproblems/
MENTAL & Physical Health We all need to look after our mental and physical health, so do seek help if you are unwell. A new routine, combined with stress and worry, can cause a recurrence or upset a pre-existing condition. If you are worried that you are not able to manage your condition, make sure you talk to someone about it (e.g. your doctor, Student Support, Wellbeing Adviser and Mental Health Team or Disability Services). If you are unsure who to talk to, the SU Advice Team or the Welfare Sabbatical Officer can help signpost you to the relevant support. Early diagnosis and support for physical and mental health issues is important. If you think you might be suffering from depression, anxiety or any other problems, try not to let it isolate you and don’t be afraid to ask for help - see your doctor or sign up with the University Counselling Service.
Helping others have a
great time • Don’t force people to do things that they are not comfortable with – for example, if they don’t want to drink alcohol, respect their decisions and don’t make them feel bad for not doing so. • Think about what you post on social media – that picture of your friend in a compromising situation might be funny now, but could cause extreme embarrassment later on!
• Don’t bully others – being bullied can have devastating effects and unforeseen consequences. • If you see someone who looks like they need a friend, try and include them or make it easy for them to join your group. • Practice safe and consensual sex. • Be aware of other people’s mental and physical health.
Homesick,
LONELY
or just not
enjoying
BEING AT UNIVERSITY?
It is not unusual to find starting somewhere new difficult. If you are feeling like this, consult someone on the list mentioned on page 3 - being proactive and trying to find practical strategies to help you through a difficult time will hopefully help you to feel happier and able to enjoy being at University. However, if you feel that University life is not what you expected and you want to leave, we recommend that you talk to someone who can help make the right decision for you. Places to get support on this are your Personal Tutor, Resident Tutor, the Advice Centre Team or Student Support. Once you have all the information you need, talk it through with people who know you (e.g. your parents) to help avoid making a decision you might regret later.
Warwick Welfare Guide 2016
University R ules Drug Ta king The University has its own rules of conduct, and in particular has a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal substances including cannabis. For a first offence of cannabis possession there is a fine of £250 and, if you are in campus accommodation, a second offence will lead to you being given notice to leave that accommodation within 4 weeks. For other types of substance or drugs-related offences, disciplinary processes will be triggered and/or the Police may be involved. If you are suspected of breaking the rules or invited to a meeting to discuss your conduct and want advice, please contact the SU Advice Centre.
E vents to look out for: For Information about SU events look at the SU website: warwicksu.com
S ocieties F air Joining a society is a great way to meet like-minded people, try something new or explore existing interests. We have over 250 student-run societies here at Warwick, which you’ll be able to explore at the Societies Fair in Week 1. Head to
wa r w i c ks u . co m / s o c i e t i e s to find out more!
Sports Fair
We also have 65 Sports Clubs which cater to all disciplines and levels of ability – head down to the Sports Fair in Week 1 to see what piques your interest!
D E M O C R AC Y Get hands-on experience of helping to run your SU or find out more about the many volunteering opportunities in the local area during Week 1’s Democracy and Volunteering Fairs.
F u t u r e Accommodation One of the biggest (and most unnecessary!) stresses many students face early on is the pressure to find offcampus accommodation for future years. To help alleviate this, the SU Advice team and Welfare and Campaigns Officer are organising a Housing Information Day on Wednesday 30th November 2016. There will be talks, information stands (Warwick SU Advice Centre, Warwick Accommodation, representatives from local Councils) and an opportunity to speak to advisors who can help you consider and understand the options available to you. Warwick accommodation will also release their undergraduate offcampus accommodation for September 2017 at this event. If you are looking for accommodation, make sure you read the SU Advice Centre’s House Hunting Guide which features lots of useful information:
warwicksu.com/pageassets/advice/housing/ helpfulpublications/House-Hunting-Guide-2015-16-A5-WEB.pdf
g e t t i n g ORGANISED for the year AHEAD
1
Try not to miss any meetings your department or residential tutor ask you to attend – useful information will be given out which may help you avoid making a mistake or missing something important.
2
Know your timetable and any deadlines you have so you can organise your work/life balance.
3
Get to know as many people as you can to maximise the chance of finding good friends.
4
Organise a budget for the events and activities you want to be involved with, but try not to let finances worry you!
5
Stay in touch with family and friends from back home. If some of your friends have gone to other universities at the same time as you, chat to them and compare experiences.
6
Don’t feel under pressure to have sex, even if your friends are – and don’t pressure others. Remember, you can choose to do what you want! If you do decide you want to have sex, make sure you are protected: Nightline have supplies of condoms if you need them, and if you have any concerns about your sexual health, go to one of the GUM clinics organised by Warwick SU or visit your doctor.
7
Eat and drink sensibly – your physical and mental health will be affected if you don’t look after yourself.
8
If you have a disability, register with Disability Services to ensure you get all the support and services you need to help you succeed.
9
If you have Mental Health difficulties, contact the Mental Health & Wellbeing Team who are keen to ensure students have access to the advice, support and information that they need. Register with a doctor. 10 Get 1 1 to know your way around campus.
12
Get involved with the Students’ Union – there really is something for everyone! Check out the SU programme and attend events you are interested in such as the Clubs and Societies Fair.
13
Mistakes happen. If you make any, don’t be too hard on yourself - try to move forward and use it as a learning experience.
14
Make time for you! Relax, unwind and think. You don’t have to throw yourself into everything if you don’t want to – it’s okay to take things slowly at your own pace and explore everything in your own time.
warwicksu.com