Welfare SOS - FAQs, Advice, and Resources
Wadham has a strong network of welfare advisors - you’re welcome to talk to any of us about anything. But here’s who we think are your best starting-points for particular issues.
What to do if...
Take a step back from your work and think about how you’re feeling.
Are you under-slept, underfed? If so, take a break to fix these things first; you might find the work much more manageable afterwards.
If you’re still struggling, then Wadham has a team of Study Advisors who can talk to you about how you’re approaching your work and managing your time. You can arrange to meet with one of them by emailing april.gilling@wadham.ox.ac.uk
It can also be a great idea to talk to your tutor(s) about difficulties with work; they are invested in your academic development. You’re very welcome to take a friend or peer supporter to that meeting if you like; or, if you’re struggling to talk to your tutor(s), you can arrange to meet the Tutor for Undergraduates. The University Counselling Service run a 'Can’t Work' workshop which they’ve also recorded as a podcast
This is a totally normal part of being at University.
Talk to somebody on your staircase - they are probably going through the same thing! Because we know how Oxford can be lonely sometimes, and transition is difficult for everyone, there are lots of casual, easy-to-access drinks and teas organised by SU and MCR Welfare reps - look out for their emails!
Sometimes, things can build up. If you start to feel isolated and stuck, make an appointment to talk to Jane or Tamina, our Welfare Advisors. The University Counselling Service website has useful podcasts for Freshers and International Students.
At Wadham, we strive to create an environment which supports mental wellbeing.
Mental health, like physical health, varies over time and can be nurtured and developed.
The Peer Supporters are a team of trained students who are great to turn to if it feels like self-care isn’t helping any more.
Sometimes, you might not feel comfortable talking to another student; in that case, Wadham’s Welfare Advisors (Tamina and Jane) will be very happy to talk confidentially with you about whatever you’re going through. Or you can talk to Wadham's Welfare Lead, Sarah O'Brien.
There’s also a University Counselling Service with forty years’ expertise in supporting students to understand their problems and make positive changes. They produce clinically validated podcasts to help you deal with all sorts of issues, including trouble sleeping, trouble with work and perfectionism, and mindfulness/self-compassion.
Of course, this is all auxiliary support; if you do have a mental health diagnosis, please stay in touch with an appropriate medical professional. You may also be eligible for support from the Disability Advisory Service.
See the Support Card for further details of professional and self-help resources.
Oxford can be expensive. It's ok if money stuff hasn't gone according to plan - there's help here if you need it.
One way to feel more in control of your financial situation is to document what's been going on. Use a spreadsheet or budgeting app to record precisely where your money has been going (you can find out from your bank statements or card records). If you're struggling to do this, then Wadham's Welfare Advisor will be happy to help you, without judgement.
Once you have a clearer picture of where money has been going, it's easier to make a realistic plan to take control of your finances.
If you're facing financial difficulties that you could not have predicted before you started your course - and you've already taken out all the student finance support you're entitled to - then you can apply for college and university hardship support. You'll need to budget, as described above, projecting the 'gap' between your income and your essential costs for the rest of the academic year, and then submit that plan along with evidence of your change in circumstances and any financial obligations.
For details of how to apply, see:
Undergraduate finance
Graduate finance
If you have an urgent financial need, you can talk it through with a Welfare Advisor (Jane or Tamina) or directly with the Finance Bursar (Peter Alsop) - we don't want financial worries to get in the way of your studies or well-being.
If you are in a dangerous situation: in College, call the Lodge emergency line [01865 77999]; out of College, call an ambulance [999] or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
You can call 111 or consult 111.nhs.uk for out-of-hours mental health support. The Support Card has details of other useful sources of help.
Not everyone who thinks about suicide or self-harm is necessarily at risk; but the thoughts themselves can be very distressing so it is worth seeking help as soon as possible.
Our Welfare Advisors have experience supporting students in this position and can help you to stay safe and access appropriate support. The same is true for the College GP at Beaumont Elms Practice.
If you are worried about somebody else, the Students Against Depression website has produced a guide for how to be helpful while also looking after yourself.
You are not alone.
It is possible to overcome eating disorders and distress around food.
Wadham’s Welfare Advisors have confidentially supported many students with difficulties around eating, and won’t push you to change unless you’re ready to.
Outside college: Oxford Student Minds run a peer support group, and there are recovery guides and telephone support at www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk.
You may find it helpful to speak to the College Nurse or your GP for support.
If your concern is for a friend, if you’re able to, gently raise your concern and see if your friend agrees that there is a problem.
They may be very aware and already working on the issue, and have suggestions for how you can help. They may be in denial, or you might be mistaken; so do remember, you can’t make someone seek help if they aren’t ready.
If you don’t feel able to talk to them, or they seem reluctant to talk to you, then you can still be supportive. If you’re worried about someone’s drinking or drug use, then you could suggest or host an event which just happens to be alcohol-free. If you’re worried about someone’s eating, then avoid ‘diet talk’ around them and try to offer low-pressure opportunities to eat together, such as going to refectory.
If you are convinced that your friend has a serious problem, but you realise that you have reached your capacity to offer useful help, you can tell your friend that you are going to have to talk to someone else. It’s best if you can give them a choice - we would suggest the Nurse or Welfare Advisors. None of these people can force your friend to get help either; but sometimes it’s important to remember that you can’t be solely responsible for your friend’s welfare.
Student Minds produce a great guide on looking after your friends.
If you are concerned for yourself and finding it difficult to change your behaviours, you may benefit from talking this through confidentially with the Nurse or the Welfare Advisors who can help you find further support that you might find helpful. We will assist you with harm reduction and help you make changes.
FRANK provides useful information about drugs and support, whereas Turning Point provides drug and alcohol support in Oxford.
If you’re in a dangerous situation: in College, call the Lodge emergency line [01865 77999]; out of College, call the Police [999].
The University Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service and its website talks you through your options. If you need to visit a Sexual Assault Referral Centre, any member of the college Welfare team (including Junior Deans and student Welfare Officers) can order a free, anonymous taxi for you. (College will pay for the taxi).
Wadham’s Welfare Advisors, Tamina and Jane, and Sarah the Welfare Lead, are available for confidential listening support about any experiences that are troubling you, and can help you think through your next steps.
The University has collected together a list of possible sources of support including specialists at the Counselling Service and anonymous telephone helplines.
Also, It Happens Here is an anti-sexual violence campaign in Oxford which has an easy, helpful way of finding support if you need it.
If you feel unsafe when you are out in Oxford, remember that most colleges are part of the safe lodge scheme, displaying a green circle to demonstrate this, and you can take refuge there.
Harassment can be a confusing, distressing, and invalidating experience.
Even a single unwanted action or interaction can count as harassment under the College’s Harassment Policy; but many don’t wish to invoke that formal approach. (Though just in case there’s any chance you might want to do this, it’s useful to keep a written record of what’s happened.)
You don’t have to decide straight away. At any point, you can consult a Harassment Advisor (informally or formally), and they can help you work out what the process might look like, without committing you to anything. There are also tutors and student reps for liberation groups like race, LGBT+, disability, and class who can help with any issues relating to targeted harassment.
Relationships at college can be very intense sometimes, because of how closely together we all live.
There may be times when you feel like you have nobody to talk to, and don’t know where to turn.
Peer supporters understand this, and can be really helpful to talk to if social stuff gets difficult. You can talk to someone from a different subject or year group (or even college) who can empathise with what’s going on without being directly involved. In addition to College Peer Supporters there are Peers of Colour, Rainbow Peers, Disability Diversity Peers, Peers of Faith, and Coffee Ambassadors.
Grief and sadness are completely normal when you have lost someone. It can be really helpful to talk to someone about it, and our Welfare Advisors are experienced in supporting people who are mourning loved ones
You can come to light a candle in the Ante-Chapel at any time as a way of remembering loved ones, an act that can be meaningful for people of any faith or none.
Cruse is a great charity offering bereavement support.
Wadham’s SU has dedicated LGBTQ+, Trans, and Women’s Officers who represent and support students across the full range of gender and sexual diversity, and are happy to listen and help, as is Wadham's Tutor for Equality and Diversity.
Wadham’s Welfare Advisors, Tamina and Jane, and the Welfare Lead, Sarah, are comfortable talking about issues you may be having around gender and sexuality, and won’t make any judgements or lay any expectations on you.
If your issues around gender or sexuality relate to how other people are treating you, you may wish to read the section about harassment.
If you think your drink has been spiked, raise the alarm with staff or security. Stay with trusted friends or staff and seek medical advice. You may want to obtain a cup cover, bottle stopper, or test kit, for reassurance. There is helpful information and advice at Stamp Out Spiking.
Wadham’s Welfare Advisors and Welfare Lead are around in vacations, other than during College closure times, so you can make an appointment to speak to them freely and in confidence. The University’s Counselling Service and Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service are also available.
Many free and confidential welfare resources are available all year.
In an emergency you should contact 999, or 111, or your GP.
There is lots of support and information available. In addition to the welfare pages of the College and University websites, Supportive Resources is a brilliant, up-to-date page full of reading, listening, or joining resources. A handy quick first step is to consult the College’s Support Card which is full of targeted support suggestions including what to do in an emergency, out of hours support, podcasts, apps, helplines, and local support.
World events and global conflicts may impact you during your time in Oxford. The University and Colleges work together to co-ordinate responses if appropriate and provide support to students including welfare, travel, academic, and financial support. The University publishes up to date information and you can talk to the College Welfare team about concerns that you have.
For parents and supporters
It can be really hard to know that your young person is having a tough time while they’re away from home at University.
If they contact you in distress, you can look at the rest of this page for ideas of who you could suggest they contact. If you are worried for your young person's immediate safety, and they aren’t willing to reach out to support in Oxford, then you can call the lodge emergency line (01865 277 999), or 999 if they aren’t living in Wadham.
If you contact the Wadham welfare team, please be aware that we can’t discuss them with you without their consent. However, we can direct you to general resources about how best to support a student in distress, such as Students Against Depression or the Young Minds Parents’ Helpline.