Our Student Welfare Team are always on hand to support you with any queries or personal matters that you may come across during your studies. Our friendly team are here to help, so do not be afraid to ask for their support and advice, no matter how big or small you think your issue is.

The Welfare team can be contacted in a number of ways:

Email: qahe.welfare@qa.com

Mental health team: qahe.mentalhealthsupport@qa.com

Phone: +44 (0)121 756 9578

On campus: In Birmingham, Manchester and London (Rosebery Avenue) campuses

Monday – Friday                 9am-5.00pm

When you’re not doing so great, one of the most powerful steps you can take is really rather simple: talk about it. Sometimes that can feel easier said than done – we feel like we’re burdening someone else with our problems, and we don’t want to come across as needy or like we don’t have our lives on track. But here’s a reality check – your friends and family care about you! Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you found out that a loved one had been going through a tough time, but hadn’t reached out for help?

Don’t forget, like any big challenge, you will get through this – future you is older and wiser and waiting for you on the other side – it may just take a couple of attempt to reach them. In addition to family and friends, there are also many external support services available detailed below, this includes our own Welfare Support Team.

In addition to the services below, we have put together a selection of helpful guides and resources, available to download to support you throughout your studies.

NHS
If you require health advice, due to current concerns or if you are not sure about an urgent medical problem, your first decision may be to head to the hospital when you may not need to.

Contact your local GP (doctor) service, or contact the NHS Helpline on 111, available 24 hours every day. You can also call 18001 111 on a textphone.

Police
For non-emergency situations, where there is not immediate danger, call 101.

Emergency Services
Call 999 to get immediate help if there is immediate danger of injury or loss of life.

 

Student welfare team support

Shelter
If you require housing advice contact an expert housing advisor on 0808 800 4444. They are open from 8am-8pm weekdays and 9am-5pm on weekends.

If your situation is urgent and you have nowhere to sleep, might be homeless soon, are at risk of harm, or feeling overwhelmed about your housing situation, then call the emergency helpline on 0808 1644 660.

You may also be able to contact your local council for advice and assistance.

Togetherall

Togetherall is a free and anonymous online community available 24/7 to all of our students looking for mental health support and a sense of connection. Share your worries and questions with others experiencing the same struggles and learn more about how to adjust to life’s challenges. Moderated by professionals to keep you safe, Togetherall is here for you. Register here for Togetherall with your student email address. Find out more here and in this video.

Samaritans
If you are feeling overwhelmed, suicidal or just need someone to talk to, you can contact the Samaritans who are open 24 hours a day, on 166 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

Alternatively, if you are already in contact with your local mental health services, then you could call them for support and assistance.

Student minds

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity. Their Student Space will be available 24/7 throughout the holidays.

Support services:

Student welfare team support

We are here for you. We have put together a handful of helpful guides to offer support to you whilst you are studying with us:

Refuge
You can speak to a member of the National Domestic Violence Helpline team. The team will provide a listening ear if you want to talk about your experiences and support you to work through your options in the short and long-term. The helpline can also help you to access refuge accommodation, or other specialist domestic violence services, if you need them

You can call at any time:
Women’s and Children’s Advice Line: 0808 200 0247
Men’s Advice Line: 0808 801 0327

Emergency services
If you or a member of your family are in immediate danger, call 999 to get some immediate help.

Student welfare team support

We have put together a Domestic Violence and Abuse Guide to offer support to any students that may be experiencing signs of domestic violence.

Rape crisis
The national Rape Crisis helpline is open 12pm-2.30pm and 7-9.30pm 365 days a year.

You can call them on:
Women’s Advice Line: 0808 802 9999
National Male Survivors Helpline: 080 800 5005

Emergency services
You may also wish to make a report to the police on 101 (non-emergency), or if you are in immediate danger contact 999.

The recent events between Hamas and Israel have been an intense escalation of the ongoing conflict.

The devastating loss of life and the continuing military action will have caused distress to students who are directly affected, indirectly affected, or concerned about the increase in conflict both in the region and here in the UK.

While peaceful protest and the ability to debate is part of the UK’s democratic society, bullying, hate speech, inciting hatred, inciting or performing violence is illegal and a crime against society.

Seek Support
If you are anxious, grieving or affected by the conflict and would like to speak to the Welfare Team for some support, or ways to cope with stress or anxiety, details to contact the Welfare Team are at the end of this newsletter.

What can I do?
If you would like to help and give assistance by having an active role in supporting the humanitarian effort, find out more information, or be a part in the call for peace, there are many ways to get involved, including supporting a number of charity appeals such as the Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, Medical Aid Palestine.

Keeping safe online
With all financial contributions online, it is worth making sure you know where your money is going first – double check the organisation is real and is being shared by a trustworthy source. We are aware of an increased number of phishing attempts via email, text and phone call to both work and personal accounts. Scammers are using the humanitarian crisis as leverage to try to con people out of money under the pretense that people are donating money to help the crisis effort.

If you receive such a call (or a similar contact by any other means, for example email or text):

  • Do not give the caller/sender any personal information or banking information
  • Do not confirm that any information they have is correct
  • Do not make any payment
  • Report it to Action Fraud

“War … is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.”
Jimmy Carter – former USA President 2002

Study Support

Some students may find it difficult to focus on their studies at this time. Anyone struggling with academic work should first talk to their tutor, who will be able to offer support and advice.

Additionally, you may wish to seek study support from our ACE team.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

Students can contact the Welfare team for support with their mental health and wellbeing, either on their own behalf or if they are worried about another student.

Financial Support

Students suffering financial hardship as a direct result of the crisis in Ukraine should apply to the hardship fund through the Welfare team.

The Welfare team can be contacted in a number of ways:

Email: qahe.welfare@qa.com

On campus: In Birmingham, Manchester and London (Rosebery Avenue) campuses

Monday – Friday                 9am-5.00pm

Take a look at this guide for more support: Financial Support