Starting a new degree and moving to a new town – or even country – is always exciting, but it often comes with or adds to anxiety, stress, and other hurdles. Cambridge life might seem quite overwhelming, especially now during the pandemic.
To help you navigate resources and identify people and services to reach out to, we put together a list of important and useful contacts surrounding college and the University. Please also reach out to our welfare officers for anything that is on your mind. While we are not trained counsellors etc., we will help you identify and/or get in touch with someone who is trained to cater to your needs.
Points of contact if you’re in a mental health crisis or just want to talk to someone
for any urgent mental health crises, please call NHS First Responder Service on 111 and select option 2!
Samaritans (24-hour helpline run by trained volunteers: Freephone 116 123; local number 033009457 (10.30am-10.00pm Mon-Sun))
Nightline (confidential night-time support service run by Cambridge students for students), open every day until 23rd June, phone open mon, wed, fri, and sat 7pm-7am (+44 1223 744444). Chat open every night and you can also email (email@cambridge.nightline.ac.uk)
SANE (offers specialist emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers; you can leave a message on +44 7984 967 708 giving your first name and a contact number, and one of their professionals or senior volunteers will call you back as soon as practicable. You can also contact them through the Support Forum, Textcare and other services.)
MIND Infoline (provides an information and signposting service, you can talk to them about mental health problems; where to get help near you; treatment options; and advocacy services. +44 300 123 3393, Email: info@mind.org.uk, Text: 86463 (open Mon-Fri, 9am -6pm)
For further resources, also see The Students’ Unions’ Advice Service
Important contacts in the UK
999: Emergency Number (Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade, Coastguard)
101: Police Non-Emergency Number
111: NHS Urgent but Non-Emergency Number (option 2 for mental health service)
Important College Contacts
Chaplain, Pastoral Tutor: Brett Gray, chaplain@sid.cam.ac.uk, pastoraltutor@sid.cam.ac.uk, Tel. +44 1223 338 837
Porter’s Lodge, +44 1223 338800
MCR President: sidneymcr-president@srcf.ucam.org
MCR Welfare Officers: sidneymcr-welfare@srcf.ucam.org
MCR Women’s Officer : sidneymcr-women@srcf.ucam.org
MCR BME Officer: sidneymcr-bme@srcf.ucam.org
Nurse: nurse@sid.cam.ac.uk Tel. +44 1223 338826
Postgraduate Tutors: gradtutor@sid.cam.ac.uk, Tel. +44 1223 3 37033
Senior Tutor: Max Beber, seniortutor@sid.cam.ac.uk, Tel. +44 1223 338870
University Contacts
Accommodation Service, accommodationservice@admin.cam.ac.uk, Tel. +44 1223 333316
Childcare office, childcare@admin.cam.ac.uk
Disability Resource Centre, disability@admin.cam.ac.uk, , Tel. +44 1223 332301
International Student Office, international.students@admin.cam.ac.uk
Office of Student Conduct, Complaints & Appeals (OSCCA), studentcomplaints@admin.cam.ac.uk
Student Advice Service, free, confidential, and impartial advice and support to all Cambridge students for any issues or problems; support provided by email, phone and video call, advice@studentadvice.cam.ac.uk, Tel. +44 1223 746999
Support for Care Leavers and Estranged Students, realise@admin.cam.ac.uk, Tel. +44 1223 333315
University Counselling Service, free service for Cambridge students offering e.g. individual and group counselling via self-referral, CBT, workshops; they also have many resources on their website, counsellingreception@admin.cam.ac.uk, Tel. +44 1223 332865
Other Information Collected by the University
Student Wellbeing: Information on resources and points of contact for particular issues from COVID-19, Bereavement, Eating Disorders, Exam Stress, Financial Hardship, Mental Health Support, Sleeping Problems, Unwanted Pregnancy…
Sexual Assault, Harassment & Consent
Break the Silence incl. an open online Moodle workshop on ‘Consent Matters’
Sexual Assault and Harassment Advisor, sexual.assault.advisor@admin.cam.ac.uk
Student-run Services
Cambridge University Students Union: new joint undergraduate and graduate Students Union
Nightline: confidential night-time support service run by students for students during term-time) +44 1223 744444; you can also email, chat, or Skype with them, Cambridge.nightline.ac.uk
Student Minds Cambridge (student-led charity group aiming to raise awareness of mental health issues), studentmindscambridge@gmail.com
Sexual Health & Wellbeing
Brook (Sexual Health & Wellbeing Guide for Under 25)
Enhance the UK, Sex and Disability
National Sexual Violence Helpline, Tel. +44 808 802 9999
Project Consent (resource page)
Sexual Consent: Do you get it?
Survivors UK: inclusive service for survivors of sexual assault which welcome anyone who identifies/or has identified as male, trans, non-binary, Tel. +44 203 5983898, help@survivorsuk.org
SXT (Sexual Health Service)
Domestic Abuse
Men’s Advice, info@mensadviceline.org.uk, Tel. +44 0808 8010327
National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 24/7, Tel. +44 0808 2000 247
Women’s Aid, helpline@womensaid.org.uk, live chat
General Services within the UK
Imkaan: national second-tier women’s organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minoritised women and girls
Galop: LGBT+ anti-violence charity, advice@galop.org.uk, Tel. +44 800 999 5428
Hopeline UK: confidential support and advice service for people under 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide or are concerned about another person; 9am-midnight, Call: +0800 068 4141, Text: 07860039967, Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Muslim Women’s Network, info@mwnhelpline.co.uk, Tel. +44 800 999 5786
NHS Self-Help Leaflets on a variety of topics incl. Abuse, Anxiety, Depression, Panic, Self Harm, Sleeping Problems
Stand Alone: Advice centre for estranged students
Switchboard: LGBTQ+ helpline; +44 300 330 0630 (10am-10pm)
More Local Services
Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre, support@cambridgerapecrisis.org.uk, +44 1223 245888
CPFT Psychological Wellbeing Service: provide NHS outside of hospitals and in the community such as physical, mental health and specialist services, self-referral possible, Tel. +44 300 0055
CSPL MIND: local mental health charity, enquiries@cpslmind.org.uk, Tel. +44 300 303 4363; unigoodlife@cpslmind.org.uk (for Good Mood and Open Space, see flyers below)
The Elms: health care and support services to people in Cambridgeshire who have experienced sexual abuse or assault, theelms.sarc@nhs.net, Tel. +44 800 193 5434
Lime Tree Clinic: integrated Contraception and Sexual Health service, +44 300 300 30 30
Further Resources
Guide to screen addiction and responsible digital use
Forest: an app that helps you to stay focused while studying
