Support Zone Updates

The Support Zone is here to support students and those who want to help others! Here's a selection of what your elected Support Zone Officers and Academic Advice staff have been up to so far this year.

Academic Support 

Freshdesk

Since the start of October (1st October – 19th November) we have received 174 new cases.

Extenuating Circumstances Drop-Ins

During the two weeks of mid-term assessments (11^th – 22^nd November) we have held Extenuating Circumstances Drop Ins in the Hive from 12-2pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This was a pilot drop-in to see how successful they are, in preparation for the January exams and initially was due to be one week, but extended to two weeks due to its success and feedback from assessments. Over the pilot, we received at least one student every day who was in distress and thinking about applying for ECs. We will therefore continue the drop ins in January.

Support Volunteering

Welfare Watch

Since Welfare Watch's launch in Freshers week, the project has supported 83 students on Wednesday's and Friday's (averaging 6 students supported per night). Welfare Watch is now fully student-led with 26 trained volunteers and 10 student supervisors trained to run shifts. We have received excellent feedback both on SurreyFess, from Risk Solutions, and in person with students thanking volunteers. Welfare Watch also supported the Union and University with Alcohol Awareness Week, by running a stand in the library.

Nightline

Nightline have held two training cycles in November and trained up 31 new student volunteers. As such, we have only had to close three nights in November. We can report a significant increase in students accessing the nightline service, with a particular increase in the number of students accessing the IM service.

Student Minds "Positive Minds"

Training for volunteers was postponed until 30^thNov/1^st Dec due to a lack of suitable applications (it was due to be on 9/10^th Nov). We now have 8 volunteers signed up for the training, which is two more than required to run the project. We hope that following successful training, we will be able to launch the 6 week programme on 11^th February, after reading week and January exams.

Support Campaigns and Initiatives

SHAG Week

SHAG Week (W/C 18^th Nov) saw another of Sarah's manifesto points achieved, with a sexual health nurse on campus twice this week. Free condoms and SHAG week flyers were given to students on Monday and Tuesday in the Library along with freebies for students and, on Wednesday Citrus.

Wellbeing Voice Form

We saw the first ever Wellbeing Voice Forum launch on Tuesday 19^th, during SHAG week, with panel members including Lucy Evans, Laura Smythson and Annalise Baker from Oakleaf Enterprise. Discussions were around CWB waiting times, personal tutors and how we can work better with the community.

Samaritans On Campus

After "pausing" Samaritans on Sunday, due to lack of Student engagement, we held an official launch of the Samaritans on Sunday on 10^th November, which was attended by around 30 students engaging in wellbeing activities. Since then, the Samaritans have reported an increase in student engagement on Sundays.

Additionally, Samaritans were on campus throughout week 5 from 2-4pm.

Find out more

If you'd like to find out more about what the Support Zone has been up to, you can read our reports here

October:Board of Trustees Support Zone Report - October2019.docx

November: Board of Trustees Support Zone Report - November2019.docx

 You can also check out what the other Zones have been up to below: