Supporting our students

Over the next few weeks, some of our students will find themselves struggling with the heightened pressure of exam season. There is plenty of support available to them, from Student Services and via their personal academic tutors.

Southampton Connects Staff spoke to Jason Varlow from Enabling Services, about the help that is available when students need some further support.

Q What support does Enabling Services provide?

A Enabling Services provides a wide variety of support for students who are struggling. We are there for students with a range of issues including anxiety and depression, dyslexia, disability, and those facing difficulties in their life or dealing with a crisis.

Our drop-in service is a daily opportunity for any student to find out more about the support we can provide. They can meet with an Enabling Services advisor who will be able to offer information and advice about the support available at the University. It’s a chance to talk through problems or worries and find out what specialist support might be helpful.

At the drop-in, students don’t have to tell us their life story, or anything that they aren’t comfortable speaking about. We might ask a few questions about how they have been feeling recently and this will help us understand what support will be helpful.

When we know a little more we can provide information on the services available at the University and how to access them. We can also provide useful information on self-help resources and groups and workshops that Enabling Services offer.

Q What sort of issues are students dealing with at the moment and how do staff support them?

A At the moment students come to us with a range of issues. It may be about feeling anxious or feeling low or depressed. It could be to find out about being screened for dyslexia or how to apply for Disabled Students Allowance. Often the drop-in acts as the first step for students who may not have asked for support before.

Q Do you provide any particular support during exam times?

A We are available every weekday from 13.00 to 15.00 throughout the term for students to visit us and talk through any worries they have about their exams, or any other issue. We also offer workshops on exam stress and relaxation techniques leading up to, and during, exams. Students can find out more about these on our website.

We also offer practical study advice for students with a specific learning difficulty, diagnosed health condition, disability or long-term mental health condition. Students can also come to see us on a drop-in basis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 14.00 and 16.00 in the study support room (2047) in the Hartley Library.

Students with a diagnosed health condition, disability, long term mental health condition or specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, can register with us for a wide variety of support. This can include additional exam arrangements, such as extra time and/or rest breaks.

Students who haven’t registered with us and think they may be entitled to extra support can contact the Enabling Services for more information.

Q How do students find you?

They just need to come along to the Student Services Centre (Building 37, on the Highfield Campus) and check in at the Enabling Services front desk (near the back of the atrium). The drop-in is from 13.00 to 15.00, Monday to Friday during term-time and Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the vacations.

To find out more about our drop-in sessions, there is a short animation that you can view here on YouTube.