It’s a challenging time of the year, but Student Support is on hand to help.
You’ve kicked back over Christmas, but now the pressure’s on with coursework and assessments. It’s winter, it’s cold, the days feel shorter, it gets darker sooner, money’s tight and – well, let’s just stop there, eh?
Whatever you’re feeling, whatever challenges you’re facing, don’t worry. Whether you’re studying at Futureworks or you’ve applied for a course and would like support, the Student Welfare Officer, Hazel Sewell, and the Student Support Team are always on hand to help.
Your Student Life
If you’re struggling with issues in your personal life, talking through them will help. Whether it’s getting to grips with living away from home, managing your finances, dealing with physical disabilities, your mental health, or something else that’s troubling you, we’re here to support you.
In a recent interview with Hazel Sewell, Futureworks’ Student Welfare Officer, she mentions that:
“Keeping concerns and issues to yourself does nothing but cause even more anxiety and stress because there’s no outlet; you haven’t shared your problem, and it will build up.”
Whatever challenges you’re facing, Hazel provides confidential one-to-one support meetings to help you discuss your issues and find a solution. You can arrange a meeting by emailing her at [email protected] or visiting Student Services at our Riverside Campus.
Your Student Finances
Money worries don’t help when you’re trying to focus on your studies; that’s why we have various options available to help you. We can support you with your student loan application and provide other means of financial support, including:
- A Hardship Fund
Available to give you some relief from unforeseen financial hardship, for example, to help you pay for food, transport or accommodation. Find out more. - Disability Referral & Assessment Fund
We can provide you with a financial contribution towards the cost of a specific assessment or item that has been recommended, without which you’d be placed at a disadvantage when studying or you’d not be able to begin or continue your studies. Find out more. - Emergency Loan
We can provide you with an emergency loan to help with temporary financial difficulties. Find out more.
Furthermore, if you can’t afford to buy your everyday essentials, we can provide you with:
- Free Sanitary Products
- Free Toiletries Essential Packs
- Free Essential Food Parcels
- Foodbank Vouchers
Information on how to access this support can be found here.
Your Mental Health and Wellbeing
With the pressure weighing on you at the end of the academic year, some of you may feel challenged by what’s expected. Stress, anxiety and mental fatigue are just some complications that can significantly affect your studies and, if not managed correctly, can lead to more challenging outcomes.
Your mental health and wellbeing are important to us. This is why we provide a free, confidential talking therapy counselling service to all Futureworks students. Most people go through troubling and challenging times during their lifetime, but counselling with a trained professional will give you the support to cope with specific problems, improve relationships, deal with upsetting memories and experiences, and help you to develop coping mechanisms for use in everyday life.
No external referrals are made, and the wait for counselling is nothing like you’d expect from the NHS, so if you’re currently on a waiting list for support for your mental health, please get in touch.
You can access the Futureworks’ Counselling Service by emailing [email protected] or visiting Student Services at our Riverside Campus.
If You’ve Applied for a course with us
If you’ve placed an application with us and need help with finances, disability provisions, mental health support, or something else, please email [email protected], call 0161 214 4600, or come along to an Open Day and meet with a member of the Student Support team.
For prospective and new students, we also offer the following financial support:
- Open Day & Interview Travel Reimbursement Fund
for prospective students who may have difficulty attending Futureworks for interviews or Open Days. Find out more. - New Students Support Fund
To help new students transition into higher education. Find out more.
