Support Services
Efficient and Effective Signposting
The purpose of signposting is to enable the individual you are supporting to make an informed decision about what step they want to take next, and to have the ability to contact an organisation or person who can help them.
To signpost effectively, make sure you:
Speak calmly and clearly.
Don’t guess information - only relay what you know for a fact.
Provide contact information for any services, such as an email address, website, or phone number.
Don’t say you are going to go with them - they may want to go alone, or with someone else. If you feel comfortable, though, you can make the offer.
Remember, you are not expected to undertake any responsibilities. You should not:
Adopt the role of counsellor for your peers;
Promise to maintain confidentiality when concerned for the health and safety of others;
Risk their own wellbeing, physical, and/or mental health in order to help others.
Support Services and Care Pathways
There are a number of support services available for students to access. If you are not sure where to signpost someone, or need support yourself and are not sure where to access it, speak to your link staff member at YorkSU.
In an Emergency
It’s very important that you know what to do if there is an emergency during your student group’s activities or event.
On Campus
If you are on campus and are concerned about someone’s immediate safety, call 999.
Then call University Security on 01904 323333. They will help the emergency services locate you on campus.
It is highly recommended that you put this number in your mobile phone.
If you are on campus and someone is hurt or you are concerned for their wellbeing, but they are not in serious or imminent danger, call the University Security team first. They are first-aid trained and will be able to advise the student on the best course of action.
You can also download and use the SafeZone app, through which you can contact the Security team or make an emergency call directly.
Off Campus
If you are off campus and concerned about someone's immediate safety, call 999 to get help. You may wish to download the What3Words app which can pinpoint your location for emergency services.
If you are at a venue off-campus, the staff there will be able to help you in any emergency.
After the situation has been resolved, please let us know what happened by sending an email to Jasmine at volunteering@yorksu.org and Geoff at g.ward@yorksu.org. We can help you access support if you need.
For non-emergency situations, the support services are listed below including links and contacts, and we've also linked our comprehensive signposting guide and guide for supporting students' mental health and wellbeing.
ASC's friendly advisers provide independent and confidential support and guidance to students on a wide range of issues. They work closely with other services and organisations so are well equipped to provide resources and signpost students to appropriate support.
To arrange to speak with someone at ASC, fill out a Confidential Advice Record form and email it to asc@yorksu.org. You can request an appointment or to receive advice by email. A member of the team will aim to respond to you within three working days.
Open Door is a team of professionals providing support to students who are experiencing psychological or mental health difficulties.
To make an appointment with the team, all you need to do is fill out this self-referral form. A member of the team will contact you within two working days.
If you feel unable to complete the form, let the team know by email at opendoor@york.ac.uk or on 01904322140.
The Student Support Hub is above Nisa in Market Square. They can support students experiencing all kinds of difficulties, including financial trouble, housing problems, and academic progress issues. They also provide direct support for underrepresented student groups. Finally, they can help you accessing one or more of the following services:
Open Door Team
Disability Services
Immigration and Visa Advice
Support for Carers
If you’re in need of support, you can email the team at student-hub@york.ac.uk or give them a call on 01904324140.
Alternatively, you can complete this self-referral form to access support from the Hub’s Support and Advice team.
Finally, you can attend a Student Hub drop-in session by calling the team on 01904 324140 and arranging for a member of the team to call you back during the drop-in session times, which you can find on this page.
College Wellbeing Teams
All colleges have staff teams to support their members. Each college has College Tutors who can provide confidential pastoral care.
If you’d like to request college support, fill out this form.
Unity Health is the University of York's local GP Service.
The SVLO provides specialist confidential one-to-one support for individuals who have experienced sexual violence. SVLO can talk through support and reporting options, both within the University and externally. Students can access support whether something has happened recently or some time ago. Support is confidential and students will not be pressured into taking any particular course of action.
If you’d like to speak to the SVLO, fill out this referral form. The Officer will aim to respond to you within two working days.
This University-managed tool allows you to report student misconduct as well as finding out about support available for students who have experienced misconduct. You can report an incident with contact details, which will enable a relevant member of University staff to get in touch with you about what has happened and discuss what you would like to happen next. Alternatively you can report anonymously; the University will use this information to better understand the issues impacting the community and monitor trends, as well as informing their own preventative work against misconduct.
Find the Report and Support form here.
Disability Services can discuss and arrange academic support and adjustments for students who have a disability or long-term health condition that has an impact on their ability to study.
If you’d like to discuss your situation with a Disability Practitioner, email the team at disabilityservices@york.ac.uk, or call on 01904324785.
Every student has an academic supervisor who can provide advice and guidance on issues both academic and otherwise.
You can arrange a meeting with your supervisor by email to talk through what's going on.
If you feel you cannot communicate well with your supervisor, you can contact your Head of Department. Undergraduates can change supervisors without giving a reason.
Each department now has a Wellbeing Officer, to which students can self refer (via the VLE or their department’s admin team). They are members of staff who can be a sympathetic ear, but also provide practical advice and support in regards to managing their studies whilst facing stress, difficult circumstances or health problems.
Nightline is a confidential listening, information and sexual health supplies service, run by students for students. They are open from 8pm until 8am every night of term. There are various ways you can access Nightline support:
You can email listening@york.nightline.ac.uk at any time, and receive a reply within 48 hours;
You can use their Instant Messaging service here between 8pm and 8am every night during term-time;
You can call the team on 01904 323735 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 8pm and 2am.
Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide. There are various ways you can access support through Samaritans:
They’re free to call any time, day or night, at 116 123;
You can email jo@samaritans.org and receive a reply within 24 hours;
You can write a letter to:
Chris
Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK
PO Box 9090
Stirling
FK8 2SA
You can use the Samaritans Self-Help app for free to help record your mood and see patterns in how you are feeling.
MESMAC provides a range of services for the LGBTQ community, black African communities as well as others adversely affected by HIV. They offer free and confidential HIV and STI testing drop-in sessions on campus during term-time.
The nearest MESMAC service is in Leeds:
Telephone: 01132444209
Email: leeds@mesmac.co.uk
Or you can use the general counselling contact counselling@mesmac.co.uk.
YorSexual Health provides free, confidential information about sexual health and contraception services in York and North Yorkshire. Services include contraception. STI tests (in person or postal), and counselling.
Find out more about their services in the city of York here.
Condom Corners
YUSU works closely with YorSexual Health in order to provide a range of free sexual health supplies for all students at the University of York. Our Condom Corners at YUSU Reception and Goodricke College stock condoms, lubricants, dental dams, chlamydia tests, pregnancy tests and YorSexual Health information.
If you have an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, BPAS can provide unplanned pregnancy counselling, pregnancy options, abortion treatment options, and post-abortion counselling. They can also provide advice on contraception, STI testing, miscarriage management, and fetal anomalies, as well as erectile dysfunction.
Find resources, services, and more information on their website.
You can also call BPAS on 03457 30430 or arrange an appointment at a local clinic online.
The University's Security team is responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone at the University. They operate 24/7, and should you need support out of normal working hours, you should get in touch with them in the following ways:
Non-emergency: call 01904 324444 or email security-control-room@york.ac.uk
Emergency: 01904 323333 or via the SafeZone app
YUSU_Signposting_Guide.pdf