Student support over Christmas closure

As you know UCL will be closed from 5.

30pm Tuesday 23 December 2014 until Monday 05 January 2015. Over the Christmas period there is plenty of support still available to students:

Student Disability Services

There are links and lots of information on the Student Disability Services website to assist students at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/disability.

Student Psychological Services 

Students can find help and information at www.ucl.ac.uk/student-psychological-services/. For crisis support they can visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/student-psychological-services/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: www.myfamilyclub.co.uk/money/family-budgeting/how-to-get-emergency-help-with-your-finances-this-christmas-5410.

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 http://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.

Library Opening Times

Details on study spaces can be found here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/sites/learning-spaces

For more information about opening times over the festive period: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/articles/2014/christmas-2014 

Things To Do Over Christmas

We encourage students to get out and get involved so they don't feel isolated. There are lots of activities and volunteering opportunities for students over the Christmas period. They can visit:

• The Volunteering Services Unit (VSU) http://uclu.org/blogs/vsu/festive-volunteering. 
• UCLU http://uclu.org/whats-on
• International Students House (a charity dedicated to British and International Students in London) https://ish.org.uk/events/
• Christmas Carol and Church services (contact Rev'd Charlotte Ballinger at c.ballinger@ucl.ac.uk or tweet her at @uclchaplain) 
• 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 http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/support