Student handbook > The Student Support Service
Student Support Services works with staff and students to ensure that the individual needs of the individual student are met fully and that the University develops practices which enable students to meet their own academic objectives.
Core services:
- Counselling
- Disability Support
- Volunteering
- Welfare and Student Money Advice
All our services work at both the Newton Park and Sion Hill Campuses.
For Wessex Partnership students, we maintain close links with Student Support Service advisors in each of the partner institutions and work with them to ensure that you are getting all the support you need.
Confidentiality
We operate a confidentiality policy which means that all information and discussion that you share with an individual member of staff will remain confidential unless you give your express agreement to it being disclosed, usually on a need-to-know basis.
Your comments
We welcome your comments, suggestions and feedback on the service we offer.
Getting advice and support
We suggest that in the first instance you contact your own institution services but we welcome your enquiries and comments about issues which cannot be resolved at your institution or which relate more specifically to activities at Newton Park and Sion Hill.
We do not provide counselling services for Wessex students but will endeavour to put you in contact with a suitable service, local to you.
The easiest way to contact us is via email:
In the following pages you can read in more detail about individual services and find out more about what is on offer.
If you are unsure about who to contact, please phone the Student Support Services central administration on 01225 876215.
Disability Support
The Disability Support Office works with your institutions disability support service to enable you to get the most out of your course. Higher education students are entitled to special provisions and we aim to ensure that no student is disadvantaged by a disability.
The Disabled Student Allowance
If you have Dyslexia, mobility or sensory impairment or a medical or mental health condition that is likely to impact on your study, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
If you think you might qualify for a DSA, then we advise you to start the application process as soon as possible, to ensure that your needs are met throughout your course.
To find out more contact Disability Support at your institution. You can also phone us on 01225 875649 or 875541 or email disability@bathspa.ac.uk
We are always happy to make appointments to see students at Newton Park or Sion Hill, but if this is inconvenient, then we can arrange a telephone meeting or discuss your particular queries via email.
The Disability Support Office can provide you with information on:
- Applying for a Disabled Students' Allowance
- Sources of information about your rights as a disabled student
- Technology that will help you get the most out of your studies
All discussions are totally confidential and we will only disclose information with your express agreement.
Volunteer Challenge
- Volunteer Challenge enables students and staff to get involved
with community organisations for the benefit of both the community and
the volunteers. It includes pre-arranged placements with organisations
or student-led projects/ events. It works closely with the Student
Union Societies, especially 'Buns and Beer', the student volunteering society.
- Volunteer Challenge is based on campus. Students and staff are able to register on-line to search for suitable volunteer opportunities. We aim to provide a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, in the Bath and Bristol areas, that complement course subjects and are relevant to student and staff interests. Volunteer stories and past events can be read on the website.
- Students and staff should contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator to discuss their interests and to receive further details on volunteer opportunities.
- There is also a Resource Room on campus with information about volunteering. Training sessions throughout the year and on-going support ensure a rewarding volunteer experience.
- Volunteer Challenge offers a service at Newton Park and Sion Hill campuses. Please see the website or telephone for information on current opening hours.
- Contact: the Volunteer Challenge Coordinator
Tel: 01225 875705
E-mail: volunteerchallenge@bathspa.ac.uk
Website: www.bathspa.ac.uk/volunteerchallenge
Welfare Office
As well as being able to access the services provided by the Student Support Service at the college where you're studying, you can also make use of the Welfare Office at Bath Spa.
What Can We Do For You?
Money
- The Welfare Office administers the Access to Learning Fund (ALF). This is additional government funding for students on low incomes who may need extra financial assistance to enable them to continue with their studies. ALF can also help if you experience a financial emergency. If you’re made an award from ALF you don’t have to pay it back. You can get an ALF application form from your Student Support office, or download one from our website
- Information on funding and other financial support that may be available to you.
- Budgeting advice and guidance.
Emotional and practical issues:
- The Welfare Office can provide you with support on a wide range of issues you may come across while you're a student.
How can we do it?
- A face-to-face meeting with an adviser may not be practical due to location, but we can arrange a phone appointment.
- Welfare can give you information on a range of organisations and services in your area that work with different issues, such as health, mental health, drink and drug related matters, counselling.
For more information or to have a chat about how we can best support you, please contact us:
Phone: 01225 875521 or 876163
E-mail: welfare@bathspa.ac.uk
Remember: any enquiry is treated with total confidentiality, two heads can sometimes be better than one and there is no such thing as a stupid question!