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enquiries@hughes.cam.ac.uk

Welfare

We are here to support you

It is important to us that you can excel in your studies as well as broadening your horizons. And that you can do this with a smile, whilst feeling comfortable, secure, well supported, and surrounded by people who want you to thrive.

At Hughes Hall, we place a great deal of value on our welfare provision and have a tutorial team dedicated to your wellbeing, as well as a College nurse and College counsellor. We are always here to help you navigate the peculiarities and practicalities of the Cambridge system as well as to support you in dealing with personal challenges or wellbeing matters. The pages within this section address many issues which fall under the broad term “welfare” such as financial hardship, harassment and disability; and information below provides a number of helpful links and contacts.

We have a specific page on Living with COVID guidance at Hughes if you want to know more about the situation at College and in the UK.

For most matters, your tutor is your first point of contact for questions or concerns and can help you find the right information or report something that has happened.

Hughes Hall offers various sources of welfare advice and wellbeing support:

  • College Tutors, including specific Tutorial roles (Black and ethnic minorities; Equality and Diversity; Disability; and Harassment Support)
  • MCR Welfare and Equality Officers, including a Female and Nonbinary Welfare Officer, a Male and Nonbinary Welfare Officer, an Equality and LGBTQ+ Officer, and an Equality and BAME Officer
  • Our College nurse and counsellor are available to support your health and wellbeing needs
  • There are a number of relevant College policies on different aspects of welfare such as student grievances, student discipline and appropriate academic relationships – we are happy to guide you through these if useful.
  • This page on Discrimination and Harassment explains ways to report harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct plus how to get support and advice
  • This welfare contacts page of provides links and contacts details of a number of sources of help and advice in and around College; and in our local area.
  • The library has a range of self-help books
  • There is a list of contact details for organisations who can help; the MCR provide a similar list of contacts for welfare support
  • Our Equality and Diversity section includes specific pages on LGBTQ+ and race and gender

The University provides comprehensive information and advice:

Wellbeing and mindfulness:

  • For students finding it hard, CPSL Mind and Cambridge University offer weekly wellbeing support sessions
  • Good Mood Cafes run every Thursday at 2pm on Zoom, offer informal support and a positive and safe space to talk about student mental health and wellbeing
  • Open Door Calm Spaces take place every Wednesday at 3pm on Zoom and provide a safe space to learn self-help techniques such as breathing exercises and mindfulness
  • The University offers free mindfulness classes.
  • There are also a range of meditation sessions available for students and staff.

For urgent help:

  • If there is a real emergency, you should contact the police/fire/ambulance directly on 999
  • Then contact the Porters’ Lodge too so College is aware and so they can meet the emergency response vehicle (01223 330484 or 07917 535806)
  • For urgent, but non-emergency, out of hours’ health care advice, including mental health, please call 111
  • Remember, if life is at risk, such as: suspected heart attack, stroke, anaphylaxis, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, call 999
  • For day-to-day medical advice, all students should register with a doctor (General Practitioner or GP) on arrival in Cambridge – details of how are on the College nurse page.

Updated 28.02.22

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