Welcome to Van Mildert College Talk and Support!
Welcome to the best college welfare committee in all of Durham - even if we do say so ourselves! We are here to provide all Mildert students with the necessary welfare and support that they need throughout their degree. Want someone to talk to? Feeling homesick or upset? Worried about friends or things going on at home? Require free sexual health supplies? Need some guidance on the University counselling system? Weβve got you covered.
We run Campaigns throughout the year to raise awareness of certain issues, and also operate a Pastoral branch which hold regular drop-ins and reply to messages and calls on anything you want to talk about.
Talk and Support Handbook
Each year, a handbook is created for Talk and Support to provide everything that you need to know about the support that we have available, not only in the JCR, but also in college and the wider university.
If you have any questions, contact the Welfare Officer.
Drop-ins
The Talk and Support Team run drop-ins several times a week, both online and in-person. The in-person sessions are held in the Welfare Room in the JCR offices, which are located on the right hand side of the forecourt (as you face towards reception). To see when the drop-ins are taking place, keep an eye on the Van Mildert College Students Facebook group, which can be found here.
Drop-ins are a confidential, non-judgemental and non-advisory space. This means that the Talk and Support volunteers will never give you advice on how to resolve issues, but they will listen to you, and signpost you to resources that might be able to help. The volunteers arenβt trained professionals, but they are here to support you, no matter what, even if youβd just like someone to chat to.
You can also come by the Welfare Room at any time to pick up free sexual health resources, including condoms, lube, pregnancy tests, and sanitary products.
Campaigns
Throughout the year, the Talk and Support team run a variety of campaigns to provide Van Mildert Students with information and resources. This includes information on how to find housing in Durham, where to access sexual health resources, coping with loneliness and homesickness, and how to prepare for exams or where to submit a SAC (Serious Adverse Circumstances) form.
To see the campaigns, and what else the Talk and Support team are up to, you can view our instagram: @vmtalkandsupport
Contact Details:
Email: Senior Welfare Officer (Lauren Frankal) welfare@mildert.co.uk
Chat on Facebook Messenger: Van Mildert College Talk and Support | Facebook (9am to 9pm)
Follow our Instagram: Van Mildert Talk And Support (@vmtalkandsupport)
If you need to chat out of our hours, Durham Nightline is available 9pm through 7am (term time). All Night. All Term. All Ears.
You can also call a Samaritan anytime for free on 116 123 (or outside the UK/IE see Befrienders Worldwide to find your local number).
See also: College Student Support Appointments