STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS

There are lots of student-led support services and activities in St Andrews that may help disabled students.

Talk about your disability

A group of students run a Facebook group for disabled students where students can post about and seek advice with the difficulties they are facing with their disability from other students. Students with any kind of disability, neurodiversity, learning difficulty, long-term health condition, or mental health condition are welcome to join. Join the Facebook group here.

Peer Support

The Peer Support Network is a one-to-one meet up service open to any student looking for extra company or friendship during their time in St Andrews.

If you’d like to be matched with a peer supporter, simply email peersupport@st-andrews.ac.uk with your name, academic year, your interests, and the sort of support you would like. The student volunteer you are matched with will arrange a meetup!

Peer supporters are student volunteers trained in listening skills. They’re available for coffee and a chat about anything you might like, or to accompany you to events if this is something you would prefer. Their support is confidential, and most students meet their peer supporter about once a week (although this can be changed to suit you).

For more information, see the Peer Support web page here.

Nightline

If you need someone to talk to during the night, St Andrews Nightline provide an anonymous listening service every night halls are open from 8pm to 7am.

Nightline is a non-directive listening service, they are there to listen about anything you may need to get off your chest, nothing is too big or too small! They can provide information on the services available to you if you ask for it - they will never make you speak to someone or refer you to a service you do not want.

If you want to get in touch with Nightline, their contact details will always be on the back of your matriculation card. You can call them on 01334 462266 or Skype Voice Call them on StAndrewsNightline. They also provide an instant messaging service until midnight, which you can find on their website here. Nightline also operate an email service. They will respond to every email during term time within 48 hours, and within 72 hours outside of term time - just email them on nightline@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Get involved with the Students' Association

The Students’ Association's role is to provide information, advocacy, and support to students, as well as supporting a number of services, like the events you see in the Union, affiliated societies, and subcommittees!

Getting involved with societies is a great way to make friends and pursue interests! Many societies also support political, social, or charitable causes that students particularly care about. For details on all the societies currently affiliated with the Union see the list on their website here.

The union can also provide information, support, and advocacy if you’re experiencing a problem in St Andrews. They operate subcommittees dedicated to dealing with certain issues like accommodation, and equal opportunities, and even employ full time advocates to deal with certain issues, like problems with landlords and the university. Full details of the support the union can offer is available on their website here.

The union’s main role is in representing the students of St Andrews. They have tonnes of representatives in both the Student Representative Council and the Student Services Council. Details of all your most recently elected representatives are available on their website here.

Both the SRC and the SSC meet multiple times a semester to discuss student issues and vote on motions. Their meetings are open for anyone to attend and details of the dates and times will be in the weekly email every student receives from the union. If you would like to propose a motion or a topic of discussion, you can contact a member of the SRC or SSC, or you can submit a petition with at least 25 signatures to the Association Chair.

Particular members of councils that disabled students may like to be aware of are the Member for Students with Disabilities, the Member for Student Health, the Association President (pres@st-andrews.ac.uk), the Directors of Wellbeing (dowell@st-andrews.ac.uk), Events and Services (does@st-andrews.ac.uk), Student Development and Activities (dosda@st-andrews.ac.uk), and Education (doed@st-andrews.ac.uk), and the AU President (aupres@st-andrews.ac.uk). Reach out to them if you have any questions about what the union can do for you.

Get involved with sport and fitness

Sport is a fantastic thing to get involved with if you would like. It can be a place to make friends and keep healthy. There are a variety of sport and fitness-related activities available.

Saints Sport operate the university gym and fitness classes, as well as the student sports clubs. They offer different memberships, depending on whether you want to use the gym or join sports clubs. Details of all the services, facilities, clubs, and classes that are available are on the Saints Sport website here.