Male Welfare Officer Nick Klein

Female Welfare Officer FRANCES GLADWIN

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Welcome to the welfare section of the JCR website! These pages are jam-packed with useful information, telephone numbers and web addresses. Although this website will hopefully be a good resource for you, it is no substitute for having a chat with somebody. We're always around to talk - feel free to get in touch :-)

The role of the welfare team within college is to provide a listening service whether for information, to talk about a certain issue, or just for a chat. We hold regular drop-in hours in the welfare room (bottom floor of Hollingside, opposite the laundry room) at the following times:
- Every Tuesday 6.30pm - 8.30pm
- Every Thursday 6.30pm - 8.30pm
- Every Saturday 2pm - 4pm

You can keep up-to-date with the Welfare Officers latest news by reading the Welfare Officer Blog.

Coming to uni is a very exciting time, but it can also be really daunting and unnerving. Though most people are very happy most of the time, there are those who are not whether you are missing home, having trouble settling in or have something else on your mind. That's where the college welfare team come in. We provide a 24-hour, confidential listening service to allow you to come and talk to another student about anything whether you are simply bored and fancy a chat or there is something else is bothering you. We don't just talk to people about the big things, we are there to help with any problems of any size. We also have loads of information leaflets and we can point you in the right direction if you need contact details for hospitals, clinics or professional advice.

So, how do you find us? The team are always around college, in the bar, at bops, in the JCR or at meals, and you should be able to recognise us from the photos up on the boards around college, and on this website. We will be around during freshers week so hopefully all freshers will soon know our faces. Our numbers and email addresses are up on welfare notice boards around college. We also run welfare hours 3 times a week, in the evening/afternoon, during which anyone should feel free to drop in to talk to the team member on duty about anything that they want, in total confidence (all of the team have signed confidentiality agreements). Welfare hours are held in the Welfare Room which is located on the bottom floor of Hollingside, oppositte the laundry room. You can find out which member of the team is running the drop-ins by looking at the 'Drop-in Hours' section. They are held on Tuesday and Thursday 6.30-8.30pm and Saturday 2-4pm.

So make sure you all look out for the welfare team we are here to support you any time you need it, to make sure everyone enjoys their university experience as much as they can.

The purpose of the Welfare Team is to provide a point of contact whenever a Welfare issue arises in college. This includes a 24-hour, confidential, listening and signposting service for problems of any size, anonymous pregnancy testing and free emergency condoms (see below). The Welfare Team is also here for anyone who just needs a chat.

The Team is also responsible for communicating Welfare related information on notice boards around college, in JCR meetings, and on the JCR website. They also coordinate the running of university wide campaign weeks at the college level, such as 'Drink Safe Week' or 'Mind Your Head Week'. The Team are also compiling a Welfare File full of useful information on many issues which can be accessed by anyone, to go with our telephone helpline numbers phonebook.

The welfare officers also organise welfare related courses such as in personal protection and first aid that anyone in college has the opportunity to attend.

The University holds weekly Welfare Meetings in the DSU that the Welfare Officers from all colleges attend. The meetings allow the Welfare Officers to find about uni-wide welfare issues and relay them back to the JCR members.

The Welfare Team encourages students to let them know (anonymously or otherwise) about any incidents that may occur so that we can communicate particular issues to the Uni and back to the JCR Members. To report an incident please contact the welfare officers using the online anonymous feedback service. Click here to access this service.

Each student in college is assigned a College Tutor. This is someone who is involved in the same/similar subject as you and is well placed to advise on academic issues. They are also another person to go to with any problems or issues you may be experiencing.

The College also has a Parenting system where a fresher is paired with a student from a later year, generally doing the same subject, who acts as someone they can approach for help or advice about academic work (such as which books you really need to buy), or information on what goes on in college. They are also someone you can socialise with and who can introduce you to people in other years. Your parent will probably contact you during the holidays before you arrive and you will be able to enjoy the infamous parenting formal together in the first week.

The Vice Master/Senior Tutor, Ian Spencer (i.h.spencer@durham.ac.uk) is someone who students are able to approach for advice or help on academic or other issues. He is also someone to whom parents may address concerns about your welfare.

Each college appoints a Chaplain to provide pastoral support on a number of issues, for students of any faith or none. Our Chaplain is Simon Airey (s.c.airey@durham.ac.uk) and he can be contacted by phoning 07740 799 191.

Free pregnancy tests can be taken from the door of the welfare room at any time. The test is very simple and only takes a few minutes. Please contact a member of the welfare team if you would like them to help you or to be with you when you are taking the test.

In the same way we offer free chlamydia tests - these can be done in your own time and dropped down to the DSU. Results come back quite quickly. We have an awareness week when we encourage people to get the test done, but you can get one at any time from the welfare room.

Emergency condoms are available in locations around college: Oswald East laundry, Hollingside top floor, on the President's door in Elvet South and on the first accommodation floor of Holgate. PLEASE BUY CONDOMS FROM THE COLLEGE SHOP, BAR OR WELFARE ROOM IF YOU ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP. It's not fair to use up the emergency supplies.