Close
Support for UCL students over the Christmas period
2 December 2015
As you will be aware many services across UCL will be closed from 5:30pm Wednesday 23 December 2015 until Monday 4 January 2016.
Over the Christmas period there is plenty of support still available to UCL students, read on to find out more.
Out of hours support
UCL students can access confidential emotional support, advice, and information through UCL's 24/7 Student Support Line.
Student Disability Services
There is information on the Student Disability Services website to assist students at www.ucl.ac.uk/disability.
Student Psychological Services
Students can find help and information at www.ucl.ac.uk/support-pages. For crisis support they can visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/support-pages/crisis_support.
Money Matters
For useful information regarding financial support students can visit the UCL Financial Assistance website: www.ucl.ac.uk/srs/financialassistance. "Myfamilyclub" also has some useful information regarding emergency financial support over the festive period:
Study Abroad
A student currently abroad requiring emergency assistance can contact their travel insurance provider on the emergency number + 44 (0) 1273 400 850. For further helpful information to assist them they can visit www.ucl.ac.uk/studyabroad/while-abroad.
Halls of Residence
Students staying in UCL halls of residence will be able to follow the usual lines and communications for support over Christmas. There will be a duty member of staff on call every day if they need any assistance, the staff contact details will be displayed in the hall.
Things to do over Christmas!
We encourage students to get out and get involved so they don't feel isolated. There are lots of festive activities and events and volunteering opportunities for students over the Christmas period:
The International Students' Forum is hosting a Winter Party on 23 December 2015 from 4pm - 8pm in Langton Close halls. There will be a screening of Home Alone 2, board games, soft drinks and a variety of food! The event is free and open to any UCL student but they must RSVP by emailing uclu-is.officer@ucl.ac.uk.
International Students House (https://ish.org.uk/events/) is a charity dedicated to British and International Students in London. They have lots of events on over Christmas, including Christmas Lunch on Christmas Day where they provide a full three course traditional British Christmas Dinner, Christmas movie marathon, screening of the Queen's speech and a walk in Regent's Park. For details visit: https://ish.org.uk/event/spend-christmas-day-at-our-house/
HOST (www.hostuk.org/) is an organisation which promotes international friendship and understanding by arranging for international students at British universities to meet UK residents in their homes. Over the Christmas period international students can apply to stay with a British family. They will need to pay a registration fee and cover travel costs.
Commonwealth & International Student Christmas Weekend (www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/whats-on/commonwealth-and-international-student-christmas) Cumberland Lodge, in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, holds a weekend for International Students to experience a traditional British Christmas and meet others studying in the UK. It includes a Christmas Dinner, carol service in the Royal Chapel, film screening and discussions. The cost is £85.
There are carol services and carol concerts all over London in the few weeks before Christmas, and all churches will have services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself. See www.visitlondon.com/tag/christmas-carols-and-concerts for details of services and concerts. For details of carol services near to where they live, they can contact the Reverend Charlotte Bradley at c.bradley@ucl.ac.uk or tweet her at @uclchaplain.
More things to do in London over Christmas:
www.timeout.com/london/christmas
Volunteering opportunities
Volunteering Services Unit (VSU): http://uclu.org/services/volunteering-at-uclu/one-off-volunteering-programme
Crisis: www.crisis.org.uk/pages/volunteer-christmas.html.
Christmas is a time for coming together to celebrate and have fun. If students feel alone we should encourage them to talk to a relative, friend or even call the Samaritans. The Samaritans can be contacted on 08457 909090 at any time and everything is discussed in confidence. Their website is www.samaritans.org.uk.
In an emergency, students should always phone 999 or make their way to the Accident and Emergency Department at the local hospital. The closest Accident and Emergency Department to UCL is at University College Hospital.
We would like to wish you all a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New Year and thank you for your continued support.
UCL Student Support and Wellbeing
Follow us
