UWTSD London Campus Survival Guide

1 | P a g e

Contents

Introduction ...... 3

1. UWTSD London: Location and Transport Links ...... 4 2. Attendance ...... 5 3. Eating and Drinking ...... 5 4. Transport ...... 5 5. Accommodation ...... 6 6. Work ...... 11 7. Health and Wellbeing...... 14 8. Student Union ...... 18 9. Faith Groups and Places of Worship ...... 20

2 | P a g e

Introduction

This booklet is intended to help you, as a student studying for an award from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), to get the most out of your time as a student in London.

London is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with hundreds of thousands of students from all over the world. UWTSD London is situated within Business Park. We are sure you will have a great time while you are studying here. We hope the information in this guide helps you to do so and directs you to sources of help and assistance.

Issues relating to your course and your academic progression are covered in the Academic Quality Handbook and the Programme of Study handbooks.

This handbook covers non academic aspects of your experience as a student. We have tried to make it as informative, accurate and up to date as possible, but you should remember that many regulations which apply to you will be updated regularly, and you should always check official websites or take advice from UWTSD London staff.

We would very much welcome your help in improving and updating this guide. Whether it’s an idea about areas where you think you or your fellow students could do with more information or explanation, a tip about living cheaply or finding work, the address of your favourite bar or café or a broken link within this guide - we would really appreciate your feedback and suggestions. You will find contact details for providing feedback at the very end of the guide.

Finally, always remember that there are staff at the University who are ready to help. We know that your academic success will be influenced by other aspects of your life here in London so it’s important to us that we provide you with any help we can.

The Student Service Centre is normally the best place to start if you do need to access any assistance from the University.

3 | P a g e

1. UWTSD London: Location and Transport Links

UWTSD London is located within Kennington Business Park which is situated at the intersection of Road and Camberwell New Road. Oval tube station () is a 150m walk away providing direct access to Waterloo, London Bridge and The City. There are also numerous bus links direct into The City and Victoria (as well as to Peckham, New Cross and Brixton, which offer a good choice of reasonably priced accommodation to rent).

The Business Park is adjacent to , a large public park and gardens which hosts a wide variety of events and also offers sports facilities , including tennis, basketball, netball, skateboarding, a fitness trail, and all-weather floodlit ‘Astroturf’ for football and hockey.

The Oval Cricket ground is five minute walk from the University campus and is home to Surrey Cricket Club and was the venue for the first test match between Australia and England. Though Lords is considered the home of Cricket- has played an integral part in the history of the game and visitors to the ground can enjoy one of the best preserved Sports and arenas in England.

Directions from local stations:

The Campus is located in Zone 2 of the network. As you leave Oval tube station (Northern Line) cross the road, walk towards Brixton Road, enter Kennington Business Park and the campus is located at Winchester House within the park.

Oval (Northern Line): 3 minutes’ walk from this station and 5 minutes’ walk from Oval Cricket Stadium.

For more travel information visit: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

If you are still having difficulty finding us, please do not hesitate to call for directions.

4 | P a g e

2. Attendance

It is a legal requirement that the University monitors your attendance and reports any breaches of your visa conditions to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).The University’s procedures for monitoring and recording attendance will be explained to you. It is important that you familiarise yourself with the requirements and inform your Student Service officer of any problems as soon as they arise. If you are unable to attend classes because of ill health you must get a medical certificate from a NHS doctor (see ‘Health and Wellbeing’ section below.)

3. Eating and Drinking

There are a number of vending machines on campus, selling hot and cold drinks and snacks. Sirena's is a well-established restaurant located at Canterbury Court within the Kennington Business Park, offering reasonably priced meals and snacks. There are a number of cafes, deli’s and pubs on Brixton Road , opposite the Business Park and a much wider choice of restaurants , cafes and take-aways on Kennington Lane and Kennington Road , about 10 minutes’ walk from campus., as well as a Café in Kennington Park.

4. Transport

Transport costs are likely to be a significant part of your living costs, particularly if you live some distance from the University’s buildings. Tickets are almost always a lot cheaper if you use an Oyster Card (a plastic smartcard on which you can load passes /season tickets (daily, weekly, monthly or annual) or cash to use for pay as you go journeys.

Oyster card

Buying a Student Oyster card, which costs £10.00, will give you 30% discount on passes and season tickets (but not on pay as you go fares).

Oyster cards are valid on all buses and trams showing the TfL symbol, on the Tube, DLR and London Overground within zones 1- 9 and on National Rail suburban services stopping at stations within zones 1-9 . Oyster can also be used on riverboat services. To use your Oyster card you need to ‘touch in’ and ‘touch out’ on the card readers at station entrances and exits. On buses, you only need to ‘touch in’ as you board the bus. Remember that failing to touch out when leaving a station will result in an automatic penalty.

5 | P a g e

Student Oyster cards can be bought online at: https://photocard.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gotoApply.do?type=student&from=home

You will need a digital photograph, your student identification number, course dates and a credit or debit card to pay the fee.

Taxis and Mini Cabs

Taxis (black cabs) have a light on the front displaying the word 'TAXI', which will be switched on when the Taxi is available for hire. You can flag down a taxi in the street, book one by phone or wait for one at taxi ranks which are usually situated at mainline railway stations, large hotels and busy shopping centres. Taxi drivers are registered with the Public Carriage Office so using a taxi is generally very safe. The fare is also regulated, the meter next to the driver should be switched on and show the fare due. Mini Cabs are less recognisable, they may have the minicab company name on the side or they may have nothing to distinguish them from private cars. They are however required to be registered and the driver should have a private hire license from the Public Carriage Office.

Minicabs must be booked in advance by phone or e-mail. Anyone offering to pick you up in the street or outside a pub or club is breaking the law and you are putting yourself at risk if you get into their car. Always use a registered minicab that you have booked in advance and check that the driver picking you up is genuine by getting them to repeat back to you the name and destination you provided their office with when you made the booking.

If you need to find a safe, registered minicab you can text CAB to 60835 - you will receive the numbers for three local registered minicab firms.

5. Accommodation

Finding good quality, affordable accommodation in London is not easy but there are many different options and lot of useful advice is available through the internet.

A good place to start is the London Student Housing Guide: (http://www.studenthousing.lon.ac.uk/) which covers the different types of accommodation available as well as providing helpful advice about the most common problems that students encounter in relation to housing.

More detailed information, including useful maps of London postcodes and the London boroughs, a list of abbreviations you will find in accommodation adverts and information about your legal rights as a tenant look at : http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Life/Accommodation/London.htm#StudentHouses

6 | P a g e

For up to date advice on legal and other issues look at the National Union of Students advice page for students looking for rented accommodation: http://www.nus.org.uk/en/advice/housing-advice/

Another reliable source of information, designed specifically for international students, is UKCISA (United Kingdom Council for International Student Affairs). They provide information on accommodation for international students here: (http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/When-you-arrive/Choosing- accommodation/

Most students who are not staying with family members during their time in London will live in some form of shared accommodation. Options include student halls (both privately owned and non-profit), homestays (with a host family), renting a room in shared accommodation or joining with friends to rent a house or flat. You will find more information on each option below.

Privately Owned Student Halls There are an increasing number of privately run student halls, which provide high quality accommodation, although this is not a cheap option with weekly rents starting at about £180 per week for self-catering accommodation. The main providers of this type of accommodation are: Unite (http://www.unite-students.com/home ) and Nido (http://www.nidostudentliving.com/home.php)

Charitable and non Profit Halls

There are also a number of non-profit student halls, which are usually cheaper. Many of these offer catered accommodation (some or all meals being included in your weekly rent) and an option of shared rooms - prices start from around £120 per week for fully catered accommodation, although most of these halls are situated some distance from TSD London, so you do need to take travel costs into account. 7 The largest of these ‘not for profit’ providers is the London Hostels Association (LHA) which operates 13 residences in London, some catered and some non-catered and offering single and shared rooms (sharing with up to 3 others). Most LHA residences are in West London (http://www.london-hostels.co.uk/)

Student Halls run by Faith Groups

There are also a number of student halls run by various faith groups. All the Halls and hostels below are open to international students from all faith groups and none, other than the accommodation provided by UJS Hillel, which is reserved for Jewish students). The Indian YMCA offers special student rates for stays of over 6 months. Accommodation is offered on a fully inclusive basis, so all meals are included in the price (http://www.indianymca.org/).

7 | P a g e

The Methodist International Centre, opposite Euston station offers single (and a few double) rooms for undergraduate students only (www.micentre.com). Also close to Euston the International Lutheran Student Centre provides accommodation for post graduate students. (http://www.ilscentre.org.uk/)

Lee Abbey is a Church of England (Anglican) student hostel in West London and is run by a resident Anglican community. Lee Abbey provides single, double and triple rooms for male and female students. The accommodation includes breakfast and evening meal during the week and full board at weekends. (www.leeabbeylondon.com) In North London, Chester House Hall of Residence is a Methodist run hall for international students aged 18 -25 (although they also consider applications from post graduate students over 25). Accommodation is on a fully catered basis. (www.chestercentre.org.uk) UJS Hillel and the Jewish Community Housing Association provide self-catered kosher accommodation in Golders Green for undergraduate students and rooms in a communal house in Brent Cross for postgraduate students. (This accommodation is available only to Jewish students.) (http://www.ujshillel.co.uk/)

House/Flat shares and other private accommodation.

Houses, flats and rooms available to let are advertised widely in local newspapers and on the internet. There are also accommodation lettings agencies in all areas of London and some estate agents also deal with rented accommodation. If you are using a lettings agency, you should to choose agencies that are part of the National Approved Lettings Scheme (http://www.nalscheme.co.uk/). Check beforehand what fees they will charge and remember that a letting agent cannot charge you anything for registering with them or for showing you accommodation they can only charge you a fee if you actually rent a property they have offered you. You may also find accommodation to rent advertised on notice boards in the windows of many local newsagents.

Gumtree (www.gumtree.com), Craigslist (http://london.craigslist.co.uk/) and VivaStreet (www.vivastreet.co.uk) are good places to start looking for accommodation, including flatshares on the internet.

You will also find accommodation and potential flatshares at: (http://www.intolondon.com/student-accommodation/).

Tenancies/License Agreements

When you rent private accommodation you are entering into a legal agreement with your landlord and creating rights and responsibilities for both parties. These rights and responsibilities and the type of agreement you have will vary, depending on the particular circumstances. This agreement will either be a ‘tenancy’ - if you have the exclusive use of the accommodation that you (and anyone you have chosen to live with) occupy and your landlord does not provide any services or a ‘license to occupy’ if you are sharing some or all of your accommodation with your landlord or someone your landlord has chosen or if the 8 | P a g e

landlord provides an additional service such as meals or cleaning. You may be provided with a written statement of this agreement, covering such matters as the weekly or monthly rent, the deposit you pay, how long you can stay in the room or property you are renting and how much notice you and your landlord need to give to terminate the agreement. Do not sign any agreement unless you are sure you understand it and are happy with what it says. If you have any concerns – get independent advice from one of the agencies listed at the end of the accommodation section of this guide. Remember that the agreement still exists and that both you and your landlord will have rights and obligations, even if the agreement is only an oral agreement. You should also remember that the law will always over ride anything in a written tenancy agreement that is not fully in accordance with it –so a written agreement that suggests you have less rights than the law provides will not have any validity. To check what type of agreement applies to you and find basic information about your rights under it, you can use the Shelter tenancy checker: (http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/downloads_and_tools/tenancy_checker) A detailed guide to tenancy agreements can be found here: (http://www.adviceguide.org.uk//index/your_family/housing/tenancy_agreements.htm)

For general advice about the rights and obligations of tenants check the government’s advice here: https://www.gov.uk/private-renting

Deposits

You will normally need to pay a deposit, usually at least one month’s rent and sometimes more. This should be returned to you when you move out of the accommodation, provided you have caused no damage and left the accommodation clean and in good order. It is important that you inspect the accommodation properly before moving in and make sure that any existing damage to the property or furniture is properly recorded. If you are asked to sign an inventory (a list of furnishings, appliances, kitchen equipment etc.), make sure it’s correct – you will be charged for anything missing or damaged when you leave the property. If you are renting a property under a Shorthold Assured Tenancy any deposit you pay, must by law, be held in a tenancy deposit scheme and your landlord must give you written information about the scheme, within 14 days of the start of the tenancy. You will find detailed information about Tenancy Deposit Schemes here: (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Privaterenting/Tenancies/DG_189120)

Council Tax

Renting private accommodation may also mean that you are liable for Council Tax, which is an annual charge levied by local authorities on houses and flats in their area to pay for local services. If you are living in a house or flat where the landlord also lives, or in any sort of hostel or student hall of residence, the council tax will normally be included in your rent. If you rent private accommodation as an individual or with a group of friends you may be liable to pay council tax directly to the council on top of the rent you pay to the landlord. If everyone living in the accommodation is a full-time student however, you will be exempt

9 | P a g e

from any charge. You will need to provide the local authority with proof of your student status (a letter from TSD London will be acceptable proof). If you are living with a spouse or partner (or other adult dependant), who is a non-EEA national and has a restriction on working in the UK or a restriction on access to public funds as a condition of their entry clearance, you will also be exempt from paying council tax, providing that you are not living with any other person who is not either full time student or an eligible spouse/partner. If you are living with non-students other than those mentioned above, there will be a liability for council tax. How much will depend on the value of property (which ‘band it is in’) and how many people live there, there is a 25% discount for households where there is only one person living there. Full-time students do not get counted when working out the number of people living in a property, so if you are sharing with other students (and their spouses/dependents as outlined above) and one non-student, the property will still benefit from a single occupancy discount.

General advice on council tax for students, provided by the government, can be found here: (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/LifeAt UniversityOr College/DG_071488)

A very detailed explanation of how council tax affects international students can be found in this UKCISA information sheet: (http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/council_tax.php)

Homestay

Living with a host family not only provides you with accommodation, meals, laundry and so on, but can be an excellent way of improving your English and learning about British culture. There are many companies offering homestay accommodation. Prices will depend upon the area and the standard of the accommodation but start at around £150 per week for single accommodation with breakfast and evening meal and a little less for shared accommodation. Some companies may offer also homestay accommodation on a self- catering basis. Two companies that offer homestay accommodation (and other rented accommodation) in areas close to TSD London are: HFS-London (http://www.hfslondon.com/default.aspx) and London Homestay (http://www.londonhomestay.co.uk/index.htm)

You will find a list of other companies offering homestay accommodation at: http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Life/Accommodation/London.htm#Homestay

Homelessness/Emergency Housing

Most students find suitable housing fairly easily and feel safe and secure in their accommodation. If you don’t feel safe and secure or if your landlord is seeking to evict you, you should get advice from one of the agencies listed below. If you find yourself without somewhere to live let the Student Services Centre know immediately and ask to be put in

10 | P a g e

touch with the Student Services team at the University- they will help you clarify what your options are and assess what help you might be able to access.

 Nightstop If you are under 25, contact Nightstop London – which has a network of volunteers across London who will provide you with a bed, an evening meal and breakfast and facilities to wash, on a short term basis. The service will also help you with finding advice about sorting out your housing situation. Nightstop London, 291-299 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1JG Tel: 020 7939 1237 [email protected]

 Shelter Helpline You can get advice from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (5.00 pm on Sat and Sun) from Shelter’s helpline 0808 800 4444. Calls are free from UK landlines and most mobile networks.

 Advice on Housing Problems Most local authorities (‘‘boroughs’’ ) in London provide free, independent housing advice to anyone living in private accommodation their area. If you live in Islington you can get advice from: Northway House Housing Aid Centre 257 Upper Street London N1 1RU Tel: 020 7527 2000 Fax: 020 7527 6307 Email: [email protected] The office is open Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4pm, except on Wednesdays when the office is open between 12noon and 4pm.

If you live in another borough, ring the council office or go into a public library to get contact details of the local housing advice or law centre. You can also access housing advice at the Law Centre, which provides a free service to anyone working or studying in Lambeth: http://www.lambethlawcentre.org/sidebar/lambeth-advice-network

6. Work

Most students at TSD London combine their studies with part-time work. When looking for work students are encouraged to consider not only the extra income that it will provide but also the opportunities any work undertaken might offer to develop their English language skills and other skills.

Eligibility to Work

Most international students are eligible to work for up to 20 hours per week (Level 4 and above) and 10 hours per week (Level 3) during term time. During university term breaks and vacations you can work as many hours as you wish. It is however extremely important that you only work if you are allowed to, and that you do not work more hours than you are 11 | P a g e

allowed. Breaches of these rules are treated very seriously by the UKVI. You can check whether you can work by looking at what your passport sticker (entry clearance or residence permit) or identity card says. You can work in the UK if your passport sticker or identity card says one of the following (or something that is very close to these examples):

 Work (and any changes) must be authorized  Able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State  Work as in Tier 4 Rules  Restricted Work. P/T term time. F/T vacations  Restricted work term time  Work limited to max 20 hrs per week during term-time  Work limited to max 10 hrs per week during term-time.

If your passport or identity card sticker says

 No work, or  Work prohibited

You must not work as this would be a breach of your immigration conditions and a criminal offence. You can find up to date information on the rules about working as an international student at: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/working_during_studies.php

Finding Work

Finding part-time work, particularly work that offers you opportunities to use your existing business skills and develop new ones is never easy, so it is important that you make use of all the different ways there are of finding work. These include the government run Job Centres, private employment agencies newspaper adverts and websites. You will find more advice on how and where to look for work at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/Helpapplyingforajob/DG_174460 .

There are Job Centres in all areas of London. You can find your closest Job Centre by visiting http://los.direct.gov.uk/default.aspx?type=1&lang=en and entering your postcode. As well as having lists of vacancies, Job Centres can help you with applications and offer advice on improving your chances of getting the kind of work you are looking for. It’s also a good idea to register with one or more private employment agencies. The largest and most reputable agencies include:

 Manpower (www.manpower.co.uk)  Reed (http://www.reed.co.uk/)  Brook Street Bureau (http://www.brookstreet.co.uk/)

12 | P a g e

You will also find part time work advertised on websites such as:

 www.totaljobs.co.uk  www.monster.co.uk  www.gumtree.com  http://london.craigslist.co.uk/  www.vivastreet.co.uk  http://www.e4s.co.uk/

Application Forms and Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Some job advertisements may just provide a phone number for you to call - with an initial interview taking place over the phone (particularly for bar work or other jobs in very small businesses) but it is far more usual that you will need to fill in an application form or send in a CV. Your potential employer’s first impressions of you will be based on these documents so it is worth taking care about how they are set out, spelling and what information you include. You will find useful advice about preparing a job application or CV and about job interviews: http://www.nases.org.uk/students/content/16818/how_do_i_get_that_job/ http://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/careers/

You can also get advice on all aspects of job hunting and career planning from the University’s Careers Advisor base on campus. You can get details of her availability from Reception .

Getting an National Insurance Number (NI Number)

If you are working in the UK you will need a National Insurance Number. A National Insurance number looks like this: AB 12 34 56. You can apply for a National Insurance Number if you have the right to work in the United Kingdom and you are looking for or starting work.

Contact Jobcentre Plus on 0845 600 0643, who will arrange an Evidence of Identity (EOI) interview for you or send you a postal application. Jobcentre Plus will confirm the date, time and location of the interview and will tell you what information/documentation is required for your interview or to support your postal application. This will normally include your passport, a letter confirming that you are studying at TSD London, two pieces of evidence to show where you are living (eg a bank statement or utility bill sent to your home address) and evidence that you have been offered a job or are actively seeking work (eg a letter offering you a job or a copy of an job application). Jobcentre Plus will use this interview or postal application to check your identity, and where applicable, your eligibility to work in the United Kingdom. If you have been offered a job, you can start work as soon as you have made an appointment for this interview, you do not need to wait until you have attended it

13 | P a g e

or received the NI number. You will find more information about the process of applying for a NI number here: http://www.nases.org.uk/students/content/index.php?page=235103

Tax, NI and National Minimum Wage

Depending on how much you earn, you may be liable to pay National Insurance Contributions and Tax. The starting point for NIC’s (as of Jun 2014) is £153 per week, the starting point for tax for most single people with no dependents (as of Jun 2014) is £192 per week- but these figures are subject to change on at least an annual basis. You can get the up to date tax and NI rates at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/e12.pdf If you are employed to work for a business or another private individual, you are entitled to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. The rate is reviewed on an annual basis – as of Oct 2013, the minimum hourly rate that you should be paid is £6.31 per hour (unless you are aged 18 to 20, when a lower rate of £5.03 applies). The only exception that might apply is if you live as part of your employers family (e.g. if you are living with a relative and work in the family business or if you are living with 16 another family and working as an au pair). In any other employment you are entitled to the minimum hourly rate, even if you have signed a contract or other agreement that specifies a lower rate.

Help with Employment Related Problems

If you believe that your employer is paying you less than the minimum rate you can get advice on what to do at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage/DG_175 112

You can also get advice on the national minimum wage and all other employment problems from the Advice, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1902

7. Health and Wellbeing

Looking after your health while you are away from home and living in a new country is important. Having a different diet, dealing with different weather and being away from your friends and family and having to deal with lots of new experiences and unfamiliar ways of doing things can impact on your health and well-being. You will find a lot of useful information and ideas about looking after yourself in the UKISA information sheet on keeping health: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/keeping_healthy.php

14 | P a g e

Accessing and Paying for Medical Treatment.

International students are able to access healthcare through the National Health Service. There is no charge for visiting a NHS Doctor (or for a home visit by a NHS doctor if you are too ill to attend a surgery) or for treatment at a NHS hospital. If your doctor provides you with a prescription for a particular medicine, you will have to pay the pharmacist or chemist for each item on the prescription. The charge as of April 2011 is £7.40 per item. If you are receiving ongoing treatment and need two or more prescription medicines each month, it may well be cheaper to buy a Prescription Prepayment Certificate which can be purchased for a 4 month or 12 month period. The certificate covers all prescription charges over that period. There is no charge for any medication you are prescribed of you are an in-patient at an NHS hospital or for medication prescribed for a sexually transmitted disease at a STD or GUM (Genito –Urinary Medicine) clinic.

You will need to pay for any dental treatment from a NHS dentist (other than emergency treatment at a Dental Hospital)

Registering with a General Practitioner (GP)

Most NHS services, other than emergency services, are accessed through General Practitioners (also called Family Doctors) based in local communities. In order to register with a particular GP Practice, you need to live in their catchment area (the geographical area that the GP practice serves). It is a condition of your registration at TSD London that you register with a GP as the university can only accept medical certificates from an NHS doctor if you are absent from college due to ill health. You can get a list of GP’s in your local area from any chemist or pharmacy and usually from your local public library. You can also find a GP by entering your post code at: http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/pages/servicesearch.aspx

Medical Emergencies

If you are taken ill or suffer a minor accident while you are away from your home area and not able to visit your GP (or if you have not yet registered with a GP), you can visit a NHS walk in centre where you will be able to see a doctor who can deal with any issue that your GP would normally deal with. The closest walk in centre to the London campus is at Junction: The Junction Health Centre (http://www.careuk.com/the-junction-health-centre). It is open from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday and 9.00a.m to 6.00 pm on Saturday and Sunday and Bank Holidays. You can simply walk in and wait to be seen or telephone for a same day appointment with a GP. For more serious injuries you should attend an A & E department (accident and Emergency Dept.) at your local hospital. If you need advice about whether you should go to a Walk in Centre or A & E, or for details of local services, you can call 111 and speak to an experienced NHS nurse.

15 | P a g e

Emotional or Psychological Problems

Students studying at UWTSD London who need help with emotional or psychological problems, including difficulties in adjusting to living in a new country or being away from your family for the first time, can get help and support from a number of places, including a trained counsellor based at the London campus, on-line and telephone services and various local facilities. You will find information about the University’s counselling service, including a description of what counselling is, how it can be helpful and how to contact the counsellor on our website.

Urgent or Serious Problems

For more serious and urgent problems you should see your GP (doctor). You could also contact the North Lambeth Community Mental Health Team on 020 3228 6940 between 9.00 am and 4.45 pm. You can also access mental health support by attending the Accident and Emergency department at either Kings College Hospital (http://www.kch.nhs.uk/) or St Thomas’s Hospital (http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/Home.aspx).

The Samaritans (www.samaritans.org ) operate a walk in centre in central London at 46 Marshall Street, London W1 in central London. This centre offers a face to face listening and support service every day of the year from 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 pm. The Samaritans also provides confidential nonjudgmental emotional support over the phone, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. Samaritans: 08457 909090 20 The Maytree Sanctuary in Finsbury Park offers a short stay in a safe residential setting for any one experiencing suicidal thoughts. You can refer yourself to this service by calling 0207 263 7070. You can also call this number if you are concerned that another person is having suicidal thoughts. You will find more information about the Maytree Sanctuary here: http://www.maytree.org.uk/index.php

In addition you may wish to access any of the following: Drinkline: national alcohol helpline - 0800 9178282 Eating Disorders Helpline: 01603 621 414 Lesbian and Gay Switchboard 020 7837 7342 National Aids Helpline 0800 567 123 National Drugs Helpline 0800 7776 600 Victim support line 0845 3030 900 Rape/sexual abuse support centre 020 8683 3300

Sexual Health and Contraception For many students, living away from their families for the first time provides an opportunity to form new relationships which may well include sexual relationships. Looking after your sexual health is an important part of looking after yourself. There are many internet sources of information about relationships, sex, sexually transmitted infections and contraception.

16 | P a g e

These include: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/studenthealth/Pages/Sexualhealth.aspx http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/sexual_health/index.shtml http://www.fpa.org.uk/helpandadvice

Advice and information specifically targeted at members of the black and ethnic minority community in London is provided by the NAZ Project London (NPL). NPL provides sexual health and HIV/AIDS prevention and support services to South Asians (including Bangladeshis, Indians and Pakistanis), Muslims (including Middle Easterners and Africans), Horn of Africans (Eritreans, Ethiopians, and Somalis), Portuguese speakers (including Angolans, Brazilians, Mozambicans, and Portuguese), and Spanish speakers (mainly Latin American). More information about NPL can be found here: http://www.naz.org.uk. Advice and information for anyone worried about HIV and AIDS can be found here: http://www.tht.org.uk/ Advice and information about sexual health for gay or bisexual men can be found here: http://www.gmfa.org.uk/sex/index

Sexual Health Clinics (GUM clinics)

GUM (genito-urinary medicine) clinics provide free and confidential testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. You can make an appointment at any GUM clinic in London and see a specialist doctor in absolute confidentiality. No one outside the clinic is informed of your visit or any tests or treatment you have there- not even your own GP. Staffs at GUM clinics are non-judgmental and interested only in protecting your health and that of any sexual partners. For an overview of services at health clinics (genito –urinary medicine clinics) and what to expect when you attend an appointment look at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Sexual-health- clinics/Pages/Definition.aspx?url=Pages%2fWhat-is-it.aspx. To find a GUM clinic near you look at: https://www.drthom.com/gum_clinic/london

Personal Safety

On the whole London is a pretty safe place and most students will not experience any problems in relation to personal safety during their time studying here. It is important however to take basic precautions and to avoid making yourself a target.

Tips for security

At all times:  Avoid conspicuous use of your mobile phone on the street – especially if it is an expensive one.  Always keep your bag where you can see or feel it – even on university premises and especially on public transport, in restaurants, cafes, cinemas, clubs.  Never carry large sums of cash on you.

17 | P a g e

 Keep a secure record of any credit/debit card numbers so you can cancel them immediately  If you are given change in a shop or at a station, put it securely in your bag before going into the street  Try to look like you know where you are going – walk at a steady pace, try not to keep looking at a map  Never accept a lift from a stranger, including unsolicited mini cabs  If hailing a taxi, only use a black taxi (see the ‘Transport ‘ section above)  Always lock your doors and windows when you leave your accommodation Keep your laptop out of sight especially in ground floor rooms Insure your belongings

After dark:  Avoid unlit or poorly lit areas including parks, alleys, housing estates.  Stick to main roads  On buses that are relatively empty, sit near the driver or downstairs if it is a double- decker  If travelling home late at night, travel with someone else or take a taxi – a black cab or a pre-booked mini cab from registered company (see ‘Transport ‘ section above).  Remember the underground stops at 12.30/12.45am.  Night buses run all night.  Late underground trains and night buses are generally busy  If you see a person/situation that makes you uncomfortable on the street, cross the road or go into a late night shop/garage/café  You will always be more at risk when you have been drinking alcohol  In an emergency you can call for help (Police, Fire Service and Ambulance service) by calling 999. Calls to 999 are free from any telephone including public phone boxes.

8. Student Union

National Union of Students (NUS) and Students’ Union Resources UWTSD Students’ Union

As a registered student of the University you are automatically a member of the UWTSD Students’ Union (unless you choose to opt out of membership). Membership of the Students’ Union is free. The Students’ Union is run by an Executive Committee made up of students elected on an annual basis. As a member of the Union you are entitled to vote in SU elections and to stand for election for a variety of posts, although UKBA rules mean that London students cannot serve as a sabbatical officer (that is, as a 23 one of the four officers who take an year out from their studies and are paid by the Union to work full time for it during their period of office). The Students’ Union offers advice and representation to all its members. It also operates a variety of clubs, societies and associations (CSA’s) which organise social and sporting activities on the Lampeter and Carmarthen campuses. Students

18 | P a g e

at TSD are eligible to join any of the CSAs and to apply for support and funding to set up CSAs on the London campus. For more information about TSD SU look at the website: http://www.tsdsu.co.uk/ As a member of TSD SU, you are also eligible for associate membership of the University of London Union. This costs £20 per annum (the membership card will be valid for one year from the date of issue) and entitles you to use the extensive facilities at the ULU building in central London and to join the ULU clubs and societies. Details of how to apply are at: http://www.ulu.co.uk/about/membership/associate and full details of the facilities and activities that ULU offers are in the ULU Guide which you can download here http://www.ulu.co.uk/about/guide/

The facilities include an Olympic size swimming pool and a modern well equipped fitness centre.

Other Students’ Unions around London

Most students’ unions in London are affiliated to NUS and usually offer discounted entry to gigs and other events for members of other NUS affiliated students’ unions. They may also offer discounted membership to their fitness centres or other facilities. Many of their commercial facilities (shops, bars, cafes will be open to any member of the public and often offer better value and a more student friendly environment than high street equivalents. The clubs and societies in many students unions (particularly those societies aimed at students from particular countries, faith groups or cultures ) often organize social events that are open to students from other colleges and you can often join their e-mail mailing lists so you receive regular updates on any activities you could join in with. Check the websites for individual students unions for details of their events and contact details of specific clubs and societies.

NUS – NUS Extra

NUS represents students at a national level and provides support and services to students’ unions across the country. It does not normally provide support directly to students, but where appropriate TSDSU will be able to direct you to any help you could get through NUS. NUS no longer provides a ‘NUS Card’ which identifies you as a student. It does provide a card (NUS Extra card) which also provides you with a range of discounts. You can find full details here: http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/ If you decide to buy an NUS extra card, you will need to do so online.

19 | P a g e

9. Faith Groups and Places of Worship

London’s cosmopolitan community means that whatever your religion or faith you will find an appropriate place of worship and other members of your faith group easily. It also makes London a great place to learn about and experience other people’s religions and to share in some of their religious festivals. You will find comprehensive listings of places of worship near TSD London at: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/open-data/places-of-worship

Disclaimer: The information in this guide is provided to help students to get the most benefit from their time studying in London. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the guide is accurate and up to date, students should always check with the relevant authorities and not rely solely on the information provided here. The University is not responsible for the external services referred to in the guide or for the content of external websites. If you have any feedback or suggestions for further information that could be included in this guide, please email [email protected]

20 | P a g e