Mental Health & Wellbeing
Our Team
Emma Nicholson
Student Counsellor
Counselling offers a safe and respectful environment where you can talk to a trained professional in order to enable you to explore your thoughts, emotions and behaviours in a non-judgmental, confidential space. It can help you to develop a better understanding of yourself and others. A counsellor will not give you advice, a diagnosis or prescribe medication.
I have over 15 years’ experience of working one to one with clients of varied ages, backgrounds and circumstances, including working for mental health charities, in private practice and within education settings. I have a well established private practice that welcomes everyone regardless of gender, sexual identity, age, or background. To arrange an appointment, email learner.welfare@loucoll.ac.uk or contact us via the student dashboard
Lisa Vine
LGBTQ+ Advocate, Consultant and Trainer
Our 1-1 sessions for LGBTQ+ learners are either 25 minutes or 50 minutes in length, are completely confidential, and are either in person at Loughborough College or online via Teams. They are facilitated by Lisa Vine, who’s pronouns are she/her and who has eight years of experience supporting LGBTQ+ children, adolescents and adults. To date Lisa has worked with over 400 LGBTQ+ people through 1-1 sessions.
These sessions give LGBTQ+ learners and those questioning their gender identity and/or sexuality a safe space to talk and share, as much or as little as they want to or are ready for. They are a space where LGBTQ+ learners will be guaranteed an active listening ear, positive body language and validation for who they are, what they are feeling and how they are feeling it. LGBTQ+ learners are also offered advice and guidance relating to their identity, perhaps around disclosure, transitioning gender and navigating relationships, to give just a few examples. To arrange an appointment, email learner.welfare@loucoll.ac.uk or contact us via the student dashboard.
Mental Health
Inclusion
Hi, we are Kerry and Jo the Inclusion Mentors at Loughborough College.
Our main role is to support young people who are in Care, Care Leavers, or have been Adopted. We also support Young Carers and Young Parents too.
We support learners who require regular Personal Education Plans (PEPS). Or other meetings that support a learners education pathway, health, and progression into independent living or semi-independence after leaving Care.
We can provide support and advice on housing, homelessness, being at risk of homelessness and can signpost support for pregnant young people and young parents.
We liaise with both curriculum and support staff to get feedback on how learners are progressing, attendance on their course and any support mechanisms that will help to improve the learner journey.
We hold 1-1 support meetings with learners to support their views on their course, and provide support and referrals for Mental wellbeing, exam concessions, as well as help with Finance and housing issues.
Everyone is welcome to come and see us at the drop-in session for all learners with any concern every Tuesday 12-1pm in B009.
We recognise and understand that some young people don’t always want to acknowledge their looked after status and respect that decision. However, to be an advocate, we must have learner’s feedback to support their individual education journey. This includes providing all the necessary support and equipment needed to make the learner journey a smooth and happy one!
Both Kerry and Jo are on the Safeguarding team too.
Useful links for Inclusion:
An independent charity who encourages, supports and develops individuals, groups and organisations involved in community action.
Deliver a number of specialist housing related advice, support, and assistance services and accommodation options to homeless and vulnerably housed people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Advice and guidance related to homelessness
Your Store is a social supermarket full of surplus food, local donations and purchased food, available for you at a fraction of the cost. This reduces food waste, saves you money every week and helps the environment.
A Community Pantry aiming to reduce food waste and tackle food poverty across Loughborough.
A grant if you’re expecting your first child.
If you are a mum and need some help with essential baby items or maternity items for yourself, please talk to your Health Visitor, Midwife, Doctor or any professional that you know – tell them about us – Baby Basics Leicester – and when they contact us we will be able to help.
Parenting Support from Family Help
Support with parenting from lots of different organisations, including the Family Help Service
Helpline for young carers for advice and support.
Sexual Health
Well-being
Health Checks
Crisis Support
If you need urgent help for a mental health crisis or emergency, you should seek immediate expert advice and assessment.
If you feel like you might attempt suicide, or may have seriously harmed yourself, you need urgent medical help. Please:
Call 999 or go straight to A&E
Call your local crisis team – if you don’t already have their number, you can find an urgent mental health helpline on the NHS website.
If you are a Loughborough College student, you can access mental health support for yourself or others via the NHS Central Access Point Service which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 0808 800 3302.
For more info, please visit Mental Health Central Access Point – Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (leicspart.nhs.uk)
If you don’t wish to contact emergency services, you could consider:
Call 111 or contact your GP to request an emergency appointment
111 will tell you the right place to get help. You may be able to speak to a trained mental health professional over the phone.
A GP can advise you about helpful treatments and also help you access mental health services. You may be able to refer yourself to some services.
Free listening services:
These services offer confidential support from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how difficult:
Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text “YM” if you’re under 19
If you’re under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
Access the crisis messenger service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by texting “THEMIX” to 85258 if you feel you can’t cope and need support now. Or call their free helpline on 0808 808 4994. For more information, visit themix.org.uk/get-support.
These services will only share your information if they are very worried about you or think you are in immediate danger.
Urgent Coping Tools:
Mind have some crisis resources that can be used right away wherever you are when in crisis. Please see the link below:
Finances
Funding is available for both full and part-time students, with the exception of help with travel costs, council tax, and the Residential Support Scheme, which are for full-time applicants only. Confidential information and advice is available to help you manage your money and apply for financial assistance.
Higher Education Mental Health & Wellbeing
Chantelle Bramley
Higher Education Welfare and Support Manager.
Emma Vaughn-Ginns
Higher Education Welfare Officer
Learner Welfare Referrals
If you would like a referral to the Learner Welfare Team for 1-1 support or group workshops, please speak to your tutor and ask them to make a ticket referral on the staff dashboard via ‘Learner Welfare Referrals.’
You can also refer yourself through the student dashboard or email learner.welfare@loucoll.ac.uk.
You will be put on our waiting list to see either our Wellbeing Mentors or Mental Health Coordinators. They will try to contact you as soon as they can. Please make use of the drop-ins and the MHFA’s for support whilst you wait.
If you have any questions regarding support, please email learner.welfare@loucoll.ac.uk.