Sidney Sussex College MCR

Welfare and Wellbeing Resources

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)

Student Counselling Service

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

NHS Self-Help leaflets

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

Careers Service

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…

UCS Self-help Leaflets

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)

The Consent Collective

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 Networkinfo@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

How to Deal with Anxiety

Forest: an app that helps you to stay focused while studying

Open Door, Calm Space. Learn skills and techniques to help you cope with stress and anxiety. Every Wedneday 3-4pm online via Zoom. Email unigoodlife@cpslmind.org.uk to receive the link to join. Visit cpslmindorg.uk/uni-good-life/.Founded by Cantab Integrated Neighbourhood and Cam Medical Primary Care Network
Good Mood Cafe. It's time to reconnect. Join our virtual cafe every Thursday 2-3pm. Meet other students, share interests, build relationshis and stay connected. Email unigoodlife@cpslmind.org.uk to receive the Zoom link. Visit cpslmind.org.uk/uni-good-life/ to find out more. Funded by Cantab Integrated Neighbourhood and Cam Medical Primary Care Network