Student Wellbeing
Guidance for supporting distressed students
Within our agreed approach to personal tutoring, the main role of personal tutors is to support the academic development of our taught students. However sometimes students may raise personal and pastoral issues and we recognise that for many members of staff this will feel uncomfortable, and may extend beyond your expertise.
Our wellbeing support page offers advice on working with students, as well as useful wellbeing referral points. If unsure how to support a student, however, please contact Student Health and Wellbeing and they will be happy to help.
Referring students who need specialist help
Our guide to Responding to Distressed Students: A Guide for Staff provides information on a range of wellbeing referral points. If you are concerned about the wellbeing of one of your tutees, please contact the Welfare Team and they will be happy to help direct you or to reach out to your tutee directly.
Telephone 0191 208 3333
Responding to disclosures of hate crime and/or sexual violence
Unfortunately, there may be occasions when a personal tutor receives a disclosure of hate crime or sexual violence. SHWS have a Hate Crime and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support team who can provide specialist support and expertise. This team can support with all forms of harassment and discrimination including but not limited to race and ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, and religion or belief.
Students can report incidents either anonymously, or with their contact details. More information can be found on the Sexual Violence and Hate Crime pages. If a student requests support, this will be provided within 2 working days to arrange an initial meeting with either a sexual violence liaison officer (SVLO), or a colleague who can support with responding to hate crimes or incidents. Reporting in this way does not constitute a formal complaint to the University or the Police. The service is person-centered, which means that we would only break a student’s confidentiality if we believed they or others were in danger.
Information about other Student Services, and how to access them, is available on the University website.
Students experiencing financial difficulties or who need help with a student finance issue
A number of scholarships schemes are available to support eligible UK, EU and international students as well as discretionary hardship funding to assist where students experience financial difficulties or face an immediate financial crisis. Help is also available for students who are interested in managing their money or who have questions about their student loan funding. Funding is also available, on a selective basis, to those students who are interested in undertaking a research project or expedition during the summer vacation.
Telephone 0191 208 5679