Trigger Warning: Mention of mental health and some disorders such as eating disorders and anxiety.
The current climate has made it tough for students, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Luckily at Birmingham we have plenty of supportive societies who can either provide some advice or signpost you to the right places for support. These student groups are really welcoming, so please don’t be shy to approach them for support, if ever you need it.
Here’s a few words from some of the supportive societies you can access…
BEAT
Beat UoB is a campaigning and fundraising society for Beat - the UK's largest eating disorder charity.
Here at Beat UoB, we are doing everything we can on campus to help Beat's vision become a reality. Whether this be through holding fundraising events (such as bake sales and yoga classes), carrying out Beat's campaigns here at UoB (i.e. ‘Eating Disorders Awareness Week' in February and 'Walk and Talk in Support of Beat') or even through our socials (pub quizzes, bowling, movie nights and so many more!).
We want to get people talking about eating disorders - the more we talk, the less eating disorders win.
So, if you feel passionate about ending the war against eating disorders, if you want to get some volunteering experience or even if you just want to have some fun in a society, we would love to have you as a part of Beat UoB! Get in touch via email, Beat’s Instagram and Facebook page.
Mental Health and Well-being
The Mental Health and Well-Being Society (MHAWBS) is a society for students to connect, talk, support and learn about mental health issues whilst fighting and campaigning for a plethora of related goals.
We aim to provide open spaces for our members to talk openly and safely about mental health through our fortnightly Tea and Talk sessions and upcoming events.
This group is free to join and open to everybody. If you'd like to find out more or simply want a chat, please contact us via our Facebook page or via email!
We look forward to seeing you!
Nightline
Birmingham Nightline is a confidential, non-judgemental and non-directive listening and information service run by students for students. You can contact Nightline from 8pm-8am every night of term for email, phone and instant messaging services. Emails are also checked regularly throughout vacation periods. Contact details can be found on the back of student ID cards for students at both University of Birmingham and Aston University, or on online portals (my.bham).
Volunteering with us:
Please do not become a member through the Guild website unless you currently volunteer with us. If you would like to be kept up to date with our activities or find out more about becoming a volunteer, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or drop us an email. Please note this is to contact the committee and is not our anonymous listening address.
If you are interested in volunteering with us, come along to one of our information sessions - held early in semester 1 and 2. Here you will find out more about what volunteering entails, and will be able to complete an application form. If your application is successful you will be invited to attend our training weekend. Training weekends are held mid-way through semesters 1 and 2 and attendance at all sessions is mandatory.
Please keep your eyes peeled for more details about our upcoming information sessions, and other events that we run throughout the year.
Phab
Started in 2015, we provide a relaxed, supportive and social environment for members of the wider Birmingham community to meet and engage with UoB students.
Usually, we run weekly sessions during term in St Francis Hall on the UoB campus, including themed evenings, sports, music, dancing, crafts, baking, board games, and more! But, the current pandemic has meant our sessions have been massively adapted. So, we are planning to make arts and crafts tutorial videos to send out alongside craft packages, so our members can enjoy some of the activities we offer from home!
We are also organising weekly phone calls to our members, from which we will be making a weekly newsletter and sending it out to all members so we can keep in touch even from a distance.
We are also starting a collaboration with DAMSA (University of Birmingham Disabled and Mental Health Association) and The Guild’s Disabled Students' Officer Imogen, to raise awareness of disability rights and experiences around campus and the local community.
If you are interested in getting involved, or want to find out more information, please contact us via email or Facebook!
Safe Space Society
If you are feeling like you need a place to talk, Safe Space UOB may be able to help. We are a free peer support service within the Guild of Students who provide confidential and anonymous peer support groups. The groups are tailored for survivors but are open to anyone who feels they need it whatever their experience has been. Currently, sessions are paused while we are developing our plans for during COVID-19, but please check out our pages, become a member (it's free), and message us if you have any questions. We are not a counselling or advice service, but we are able to offer a kind and supportive community for survivors at UOB. You are not alone.
All sessions are run so as to protect people's privacy, but in order to attend we ask that you gain a membership first. This information is confidential and is required for safety reasons. Please see our group rules below:
- You need to register as a member on the Guild website ideally before you attend, otherwise you will be asked to do this on the day you attend. This is for your safety, only in case of an emergency, and will be kept strictly confidential. Other members will not be able to see this information.
- There is no obligation to share details of experiences or to speak.
- Some people may share some information relating to experiences and this may be triggering.
- Each session will begin with an icebreaker and end with a debrief, wellbeing check-ins will occur throughout.
- We ask for no political discussions in our groups to avoid conflict.
- Please be respectful of all other members.
- Abusive behaviour will be reported to the Guild.
- We cannot offer formal advice and we are not a counselling service, but we do offer peer to peer support, a kind community, and signposting.
If you have concerns or questions please contact us.
If you are interested in helping or fundraising with the society, or if you are interested in becoming a committee member in the future, please message us via email.
Autism Society
We are a society for students with Autism (including Asperger's). We run semi-regular social activities aimed at students with Autism. Activities include Indoor Socials, Trips Out & Walks.
Self-care activities:
Alongside wellbeing/mental health focused groups, there are also so many groups where you can take a break from uni work, develop a hobby and enjoy some self-care activities!
This could be baking along with BakeSoc, painting or crafting with ArtSoc or CraftSoc, or even watching a film (both bad and good) with FilmSoc and the Bad Film Society. There are so many activities you can get involved with to get some head-space, practice self-care and meet students with similar interests along the way.
Whether you’re looking for someone to talk to or just want to have some fun, it takes courage to put yourself forward, but doing so will massively pay off and help you make friends you might never have met if you hadn't joined a society! So make sure you take a minute and explore our fantastic range of student groups.