Advice CUSU

Remember, we're here to help throughout the assessment period. We're open 9.30-16.30 Mon-Fri, and you can get in touch with us via telephone, email, live chat on our website, or you can pop in to the Third Floor of the SU.

WE'RE RECRUITING!
Are you looking for part time work and want to make a difference to student wellbeing? We're recruiting for student staff to join our Enquiry Desk Team as an Advice and Wellbeing Assistant - this is a brilliant opportunity to come and join our brilliant team (if we do say so ourselves) and make a real difference.

Apply below through Jobshop! 🌟

Advice and Wellbeing Assistant / Cynorthwy-ydd Cyngor a Lles in Students' Union (Park Place) | Core System View details and apply for this Advice and Wellbeing Assistant / Cynorthwy-ydd Cyngor a Lles vacancy in Students' Union (Park Place). Advice and Wellbeing Assistant Advert Currently recruiting multiple posts to cover our busy Student Advice enquiry desk, 9:30 – 16:30 on shift patterns 09:30pm-13.3...

🚨 INDUSTRIAL ACTION COMPLAINTS 🚨
The deadline to make a complaint about industrial action in the 2022/23 academic year, including missing marks, is the 14TH AUGUST 2023.
If you've not received your completed transcript by this date, you should still submit a complaint to detail the impact this delay has had on you up until the 14th August - you can then add to this complaint later, once you've received your completed transcript, to detail the impact since then.
Questions? Contact us via [email protected] or call 029 20 781 410.

It's HAPPENING! Tomorrow (9th Feb) 6-7pm in Room 3E in the Students' Union, we'll be welcoming the wonderful to talk all things stigma, education and the unspoken symptoms in the menstrual cycle. The first 40 signups will receive a FREE Period Positive Goody Bag! Head to the SU website to sign up, or use the link in our Instagram bio ❤

Let's get phase-ical...did that work?! 🩸
The Four Menstrual Phases are a key part to learning about the menstrual cycle; whether you menstruate, or are interested in finding out more, scroll through these pictures to learn what they are and what they do.
Thank you to for the inspiration for these posts! We can't wait to see you on the 9th February for the talk on breaking the stigma and starting the ❤ if you want to come along, follow the link in our bio to get your free ticket!

LOCATION CHANGE for today's Period Dignity Stall - come and see us on the 2nd Floor of the Students' Union for free period products (and a chance to spin the wheel and win some prizes!) 🎁
See you there 😎

This week (6 Feb - 10 Feb) is Period Dignity Week!
Expect to see us popping up around campus to give out free period products (you'll have to come along to see what we're giving away 😉...these are also available at all times from the SU though, if you can't make it), and we're SO excited to welcome back the AMAZING for a talk with us on Thursday 9th Feb at 6pm, location TBC. Tickets are FREE and available from our website - link in bio! 🤩

Have you been waiting for a sign to go to the Big Blues Buster, taking place this Sunday at the Students’ Union?! THIS IS YOUR SIGN 🚏🚥🚦🚧💡🎊🛑📛
There are free sessions on meditation, yoga, journaling, and all things wellbeing, as well as a Mental Health First Aider taster session. 🧘‍♀️🧘🧘‍♂️
Student Advice will be there too – so come have a chat with us at our stall and see if you can beat us at Connect4 🎲 We will be in Y Plas from 11am-3pm. See you there!

Sometimes, taking time for yourself is as important as spending time with your friends or family. If you're feeling overwhelmed at Christmas, taking some time to practise self care - whatever this looks like for you - is really important.

If you're struggling with the sorts of things to do to look after your wellbeing over the festive period, Mind has some really great resources on their website here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/christmas-and-mental-health/christmas-and-mental-health/.

You can also find some information on our website about the support that might be available for you here: cardiffstudents.com/advice/health-and-wellbeing/ ❤️

Student Advice are working remotely until we close on the 22nd December. If you need us, email us at [email protected] as no voicemails or phone calls will be attended to, nor will there be anybody in our office. We will do our best to get back to you before our Christmas closure, but this cannot be guaranteed.

If you're heading home for the holidays, check out the useful info on our website here about looking after yourself, your house and your studies this Christmas: https://www.cardiffstudents.com/advice/health-and-wellbeing/travellinghomeforholidays/

If you're leaving your house unattended in Cardiff over the festive break, it's important that you take provisions to keep it safe.

You might wish to leave a light on a timer, to deter anybody who might be trying to intrude. Keep your downstairs curtains drawn, and ensure all doors and windows are locked fully. Don't leave it to chance - the last person out should check every door, window and entrance fully.

If you're leaving for an extended period of time, it would be wise to notify your landlord. 👼

It's the last Saturday before Christmas - can you quite believe it?!

If you're heading home from Cardiff this weekend or in the coming week, make sure to plan ahead. There are lots of disruptions to train services and this means that the roads, buses and sleighs will be busier than normal. You can find some more information by searching up your journey in advance.

🚌🚘🚄

Stuck for something to do on a festive Friday evening? Wrap up warm and head over to the Taf at 5pm to meet Rebecca, VP Welfare, for a Winter Wonderland Walkabout! You can book a free ticket on the SU website here: https://www.cardiffstudents.com/ents/event/27878/ 🤩

See you there!☃️

Whilst Christmas can be a lovely time to spend with family and friends, for some it can also be a difficult occasion to manage. If you need support whilst you're at home for Christmas, you can find lots of information about what is available for you over on our website. You're never on your own.

https://www.cardiffstudents.com/advice/health-and-wellbeing/helpovertheholidays/

If you're worried about money at this time of year, you're not alone.

The Student Funding and Advice Team in the Centre for Student Life can provide guidance and support when it comes to managing your money. You can contact them via [email protected] or, to speak to someone about the University's Financial Assistance Programme, email [email protected].

If you're not well over the Christmas period, it's important that you know NHS services are still around to help - but, it's important too that you go to the right place.

If you're experiencing an emergency situation, head to A&E. A&E is for the most unwell, most urgent cases only.
If you're feeling poorly and aren't sure where you should go, call NHS 111.
If you're feeling poorly and have been for a few days, call your GP for guidance. They might make you an appointment, or suggest you go to the Pharmacy.
Remember that a Pharmacist has LOTS of advice and guidance for you - they'll help to signpost you to the most appropriate service, or give you some invaluable advice and guidance to help manage any symptoms.

Snow is falllinnnng, all around usssss... etc etc etc!☃️❄️
If you're in Cardiff, you've probably noticed that we've been dusted with snow over the last few days. It's understandable that you might be worrying about the cost of heating at the moment, but if you can, it's worth putting your heating on for just a few minutes to make sure your pipes don't freeze (this can be expensive and you might be asked to foot the bill), and to try to prevent any damp or mould growth in your student house.

If you're worried or want to talk about your housing circumstances, get in touch with us at [email protected].

With just under two weeks to go until the 'big day' and one week left of term, what better time to make full use of the wonderful Christmassy events our lovely city has to offer than now?!

If you haven't already visited you might want to pop down to Cardiff's Winter Wonderland and Christmas Markets, the Castle, and see the lights on St Mary's Street (and it's meant to snow this week, so even more magical)! Dylan from the Advice and Welfare Exec recommends that you take some time for yourself this Christmas break - have just that, a break! 🧘‍♀️

It's Christmas party season, and lots of us will be going out to purchase new sparkly clothes for the occasion. Did you know that one in five festive outfits will be purchased brand new and won't be worn again, totalling almost 2.5 BILLION pounds? 🫣

Before you buy new, you might want to consider shopping from a small business, or using a second hand marketplace. You can get clothes that are BNWT (Brand New With Tags) for a fraction of the price, which saves the planet and your pocket! 🌎🌏🌍

So, we're nearing the end of a stressful and tiring first term - for some, it will be the first few months away from their home comforts, and a time filled with pesto pasta and takeaways. In amongst all the fun, it can be a really tiring time and switching off when you're enjoying the Christmas break is really important for your wELFare (get it?!)

VP Welfare Rebecca is hosting a Winter WELFare event in the Lodge on Monday 12th December - if you fancy a cuppa, a biscuit and some mindful colouring as well as a chance to socialise and chat with some new people (and the lovely ArtSoc), come on down. It's totally free and we'd love to see you there!

Presents, turkey, sprouts and Elf are all words we might associate with Christmas, but something else that's really important on these cold, dark days and nights is getting enough Vitamin D!

One of Santa's helpers (also known as Maybelle from the Advice and Welfare Exec) says that as we get less exposure to sun, a lot of people find that during winter they have Vitamin D deficiency, which has been linked to feeling fatigued and down. If you are struggling with your wellbeing, don't suffer in silence - you can contact us, or the University's Student Connect team, for guidance and support.

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...an allegation of Academic Misconduct 😱

This is NOT the kind of present you want to receive this winter, so make sure you're clued up on the University's Academic Integrity Policy and check out our top tips on avoiding academic misconduct on our website at cardiffstudents.com/advice/academic/academicmisconduct. Academic Misconduct can be intentional or unintentional, and stating that you didn't know isn't likely to go down well. If you're concerned about what's expected of you, speak to your Academic School 🤓

For day 6 of the Student Advice Advent Calendar, we're talking festive food and drink!
Rosa from the Advice and Welfare Exec says: "My favourite thing to do during the colder months is to have a cup of my favourite hot chocolate, warms both your hands and your insides, and tastes good too (any other hot drink would also work!)"

Whilst many of us enjoy festive food and drink, it can be a challenging time for some. Remember that support is available for you throughout the Christmas period from various sources, relating to alcohol (DAN 24/7 is available on 0808 808 2234) and eating disorders (BEAT is available on 0808 801 0433).

Ooops! Our mischievous Elf on the Shelf decided not to post our Advent Calendar for days 5 and 6, so here they are. Let's pretend it's Monday...

The wonderful T from the Advice and Welfare Executive Committee has shared their pearls of wisdom about journalling, and the benefits this can have over the winter.

"Struggling with feeling overwhelmed this winter? You may want to try journaling! Take ten minutes out of your day, sit down with a warm cup of hot chocolate and write down whatever comes to mind. You may find that once your thoughts are out and onto a page, things seem much more manageable and the mind seems clearer. You could even use this time to make a to do list for the next day, letting you take things one step at a time!"

It's day 4 of the Student Advice Advent Calendar, and we're letting you know that the Students' Union AGM has been rearranged for TUESDAY 6TH DECEMBER at 6.00pm (doors open at 5.30pm).
If you're in a club or society, you'll have been told about your attendance, and it's CRUCIAL that we are able to meet the quoracy number of 500 members to get going with the important motions of the AGM. If you have any questions, speak to the Student Voice Team 🗳