Useful Services
We thought it would be useful to compile a list of services that come under the umbrella of welfare, both in the university and outside it. This list is large but not exhaustive - if you find a good resource then please get in touch with us and we'll add it. If a link is broken please also tell us, websites have a terrible habit of changing things around for no good reason.
Navigation tip - if you're looking for a particular topic (for example 'LGBT'), press Ctrl-F to get a search box open and you can search for 'LGBT' to highlight the relevant resources.
If you can't find what you're looking for here, try the LeicsTalk website which has a big A-Z list of university and community services - https://www.leicesterunion.com/support/leicstalk
Navigation tip - if you're looking for a particular topic (for example 'LGBT'), press Ctrl-F to get a search box open and you can search for 'LGBT' to highlight the relevant resources.
If you can't find what you're looking for here, try the LeicsTalk website which has a big A-Z list of university and community services - https://www.leicesterunion.com/support/leicstalk
Crisis Services (if you feel like you may be a danger to yourself)
- Tell a friend or a family member if you feel at risk.
- Phone your GP and ask for an emergency appointment, they can refer you to the Crisis Team if necessary.
- Present to A&E if you feel you may be an immediate risk to yourself, they can assess you and figure out what you need while they keep you safe.
- The Samaritans 24/7 Helpline - 116 123
- BMA Counselling and 24/7 Helpline, you can either get access to counselling or use their 24/7 helpline - 0330 123 1245
- Mind UK has an "I need Urgent Help" tool, found here - https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/?ctaId=/need-urgent-help/using-this-tool/slices/using-this-tool/
- Leicester University Nightline, confidential help between 8pm and 8am. Found at 01162231230.
Medical School Services
- The first people you should ask if you're in need of some help are the Medical School's Pastoral Support Unit. They are found here -https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/medicine/resources-for-staff/clinical-teaching/teaching-supporting-students/support-for-students/pastoral-support-unit
- Your personal tutor.
- Academic Support Services - https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/medicine/resources-for-staff/clinical-teaching/teaching-supporting-students/support-for-students/academic-support
- LUSUMA Welfare (more information found on this website and at welfare@lusuma.com)
- Medics' Welfare Society (student-led)
University and Student Union Services (including student-led services)
Some of these are provided through the LeicsTalk campaign, found at https://www.leicesterunion.com/support/leicestertalks/. This is a fantastic resource, it's a big list similar to ours.
Some of these are provided through the LeicsTalk campaign, found at https://www.leicesterunion.com/support/leicestertalks/. This is a fantastic resource, it's a big list similar to ours.
- Student Welfare Service - this is the webpage for all university-run support. Includes various different branches, well worth a look. It's found here - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/welfare. You can also go up to the desk in the Charles Wilson building.
- Nightline - a service that runs overnight from 8pm-8am and provides confidential support when you need it most. Found at http://leicester.nightline.ac.uk/#unique-identifier or 01162231230.
- University Self-Help Guides - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds/counselling/self-help-information
- Student Counselling Service - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/counselling
- AccessAbility, support for dyslexic and disabled students as well as those with long-term conditions including mental health difficulties - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/accessability
- Academic Representatives
- Autistic Spectrum Society - https://www.leicesterunion.com/opportunities/studentgroups/findastudentgroup/6229/
- C-Card (branch of bigger NHS initiative) - https://www.leicestersexualhealth.nhs.uk/c-card
- Chaplaincy, spiritual guidance for people of faith and no faith - https://www2.le.ac.uk/institution/chaplaincy
- Choices, a sexual health drop in clinic - https://www2.le.ac.uk/staff/community/notice-board/2014/may/choices-sexual-health-clinic
- Counselling and Wellbeing - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds/spahls
- Education Unit, academic and signposting advice separate from the university
- Headspace, a mental health drop-in clinic - https://www2.le.ac.uk/students/announcements/headspace-take-time-out-for-good-mental-health
- Healthy Living Advice, general online health advice including medical services - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/healthy-living-for-students
- Independent Sexual Violence Advisor
- Mental Health Awareness and Support Society (MHAS), student-led support and campaigning group - https://www.leicesterunion.com/opportunities/studentgroups/findastudentgroup/7337/
- LGBTQA+ Student Association - https://www.leicesterunion.com/opportunities/studentgroups/findastudentgroup/7220/
- Peer Mentoring Scheme - https://www.leicesterunion.com/peermentoring
- Pro Bono Society, free legal advice including housing - https://www.leicesterunion.com/opportunities/studentgroups/findastudentgroup/7672/
- Reporting Incidents Form - www2.le.ac.uk/offices/students-union/su-forms/incident
- Residential Advisors, found in university accommodation as well as here - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/accessability/information/current/students-with-asperger-syndrome-autism-spectrum-differences/advice-for-new-students-with-as-autism-asd/life-in-halls-of-residence/support-and-security-residential-advisers-ra
- Sexpression, sex and relationship education for young people - http://sexpression.org.uk/?leicester
- Student Learning and Development Centre, study advice and skills training via online resources, workshops and appointments - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld
- Student Minds Society, supportive and campaigning mental health society - https://www.leicesterunion.com/opportunities/studentgroups/findastudentgroup/7948/
- Student Services Centre - found in the Charles Wilson building, go here for anything regarding fees, accommodation, ID cards, visas and immigration issues and signposting. Also found online here - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssc
- Sports and Active Life, providing sports services and facilites - www2.le.ac.uk/offices/sports
- Training and Development Service, providing workshops to enhance skills, confidence, mental wellbeing and more.
Non-University Mental Health Services
- Future Learn course in managing one's mental health (supporting you to thrive at home during the COVID outbreak) - https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/managing-mental-health
- Open Mind (self-referral mental health service, primarily for low-level anxiety and low mood) - https://mentalhealthpartnerships.com/project/leicester-open-mind-service/
- Time to Change, focuses on mental health discrimination - https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/
- If you find yourself on a long waiting list and have the means to pay for therapy, find a qualified counsellor here -https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists. It’s important that you get along with your counsellor, so if one isn’t the right fit then keep trying different ones until you click.
- Anxiety UK - https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
- Rape Crisis, emotional support and telephone counselling for those who have experienced sexual trauma. Found at 0808 802 9999 between 12-2:30pm and 7-9pm
- Bipolar UK - www.bipolaruk.org/
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), support for men's mental health - https://www.thecalmzone.net/
- Headspace Meditation - https://www.headspace.com/
- Mind Self-Care - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/mental-health-problems-introduction/self-care/#.WyeyI4pKjIU
- Books on Prescription - https://reading-well.org.uk/books/books-on-prescription/mental-health
LGBT+, BAME and Equality Services
- University Equalities Unit - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/equalities-unit
- HeForShe - https://le.ac.uk/about/equality-diversity/heforshe
- Leicester LGBT Centre - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/equalities-unit/protected-characteristics/sexual-orientation-1/leicester-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-centre
- Time to Change, focuses on mental health discrimination - https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/
- Stonewall - http://www.stonewall.org.uk/
- Disability Confident Scheme - http://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
- LGBTQA+ Student Association - https://www.leicesterunion.com/opportunities/studentgroups/findastudentgroup/7220/
- Switchboard LGBT+ - https://switchboard.lgbt/
Financial Resources
- Student Beans (a discount site) - www.studentbeans.com/
- UNiDAYS - https://www.myunidays.com/
- Uni of Leicester Financial Support Website (really useful) - https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/welfare/Financial%20Support
- The Scholarship Hub - https://www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk/
- Martin Lewis the Money Saving Expert - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/
- Royal Medical Benevolent Fund - https://rmbf.org/
- Top Cashback - http://www.topcashback.co.uk/
- The Independent has a good article on saving money, click here to see it
- The BMA's money saving tips - https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/community_focus/b/student_opinion/posts/11-money-saving-tips-to-get-you-through-medical-school
Special thanks to Rosanna Holdsworth for her help in collating this (and her willingness for us to steal her ideas).
Her own list is found here - exploreroftheordinary.wordpress.com/2018/06/18/mental-health-resources/
Her own list is found here - exploreroftheordinary.wordpress.com/2018/06/18/mental-health-resources/