The Worcester Source

April, 2013

Campus notices

Events

Advice Column

SHU - Spotlight on the University’s sexual health

service

Larry!

Student Services—Enabling Students to fulfil their potential

ucdw@worc.ac.uk

07811458754

Last Month...

Thanks to everyone who attended our Fire Safety Campaign in main

reception. If you missed the event and would like information about fire

safety, please contact ucdw@worc.ac.uk.

April Showers!

It’s officially spring, so watch out for those April showers. We hope you’re getting on well with

your studies and home life. This month we have a range of interesting events happening

around campus, including Earth Day, Easter drop-ins and Positive Relationships.

Keep reading to find out more!

If you need any help, we are accessible through firstpoint in the Peirson Study and Guidance

Centre or you can email ucdw@worc.ac.uk

The UCDW’S

Who are we?

The University Community Development

Workers. We are part of the Student

Experience team and are here to make

your lives at University run a little bit

more smoothly.

What we deal with:

Whether you need help resolving an

issue or just feel you need someone to

talk to, we are here. We often deal with

accommodation disputes, emotional

wellbeing and bullying; however if your

query is not listed here we are more

than happy to talk to you.

How to find us:

Come to firstpoint in the Peirson Study and

Guidance Centre and ask for the UCDW

team.

Firstpoint opening times:

Mon: 09:00 - 5:00

Tues 10:00 - 5:00

Wed: 09:00 - 5:00

Thurs: 09:00 - 5:00

Fri: 09:00 - 5:00

Alternatively you can contact us via Email:

ucdw@worc.ac.uk or on 07811 458754

or 01905 542241

Thanks to everyone who attended our Drugs Awareness stand in the

Peirson building. We hope that you managed to take away some

valuable information. If you missed the event but would like to get your

hands on any leaflets, information or help, please email

ucdw@worc.ac.uk

Last Month...

Thanks to everyone who attended our Fire Safety Campaign in main

reception. If you missed the event and would like information about fire

safety, please contact ucdw@worc.ac.uk.

Thanks to everyone who attended our Drugs Awareness stand in the

Peirson building. We hope that you managed to take away some

valuable information. If you missed the event but would like to get your

hands on any leaflets, information or help, please email

ucdw@worc.ac.uk

5

Sexual Health 4 U!

The University offers a free, confidential sexual health service where you can

get chlamydia testing, advice and contraception. The service is run by the NHS

in Woodbury 78 between 12:00-2:30pm, Mondays during semester. It was

formerly known as ‘Time4U’, but is now called ’SHU’ and our new nurse,

Mandy Underhill has kindly provided us with a spotlight interview.

(See next page)

Quick Questions

Train or Plane?

Plane

City or Beach? Beach

Tea or Coffee? Tea

Starter or Des- Dessert

Spotlight

Every month a member of staff will be put under the spotlight and

asked a series of questions.

This month, we speak to Mandy Underhill, who runs the

University’s Sexual Health Clinic.

Tell us a bit about your role?

I am a qualified general nurse with the added qualification in contraception. I currently cover the role as Chlamydia screening nurse in the County as well as the sexual health clinic at the University and other clinics within the County. I am able to provide advice and support around both sexual health and contraception issues including providing contraception pills, injection,

condoms etc.

What do you enjoy most about you role?

Helping and advising people who attend the clinic, and

meeting new and previous clients. I have a passion for

people’s health and how they can look after themselves

What has been your most memorable moment so far in

post?

A previous client bringing along her friend to be seen in the

clinic, I felt that was a good recommendation.

What is the best advice you could give students; what do

you wish you’d known that you know now?

How important it is to look after your sexual health as it is

easy to forget how important it is now and in the future.

From time to time, and quite understandably, our students get

bogged down with the stresses of student life and write to us for

advice. This is entirely confidential, and if you would like to write

in, please email ucdw@worc.ac.uk or text 07811 458754 (please

note, only students who have given their consent to publication

have their queries shown on this page).

Here are some of our most recent write-ins:

Advice Column

Dear UCDWs, I have recently split up with

my boyfriend. He was in the year above

me and helped me a lot with coursework.

He spent a lot of time over at our flat but

now I just feel a bit empty. What do you

suggest? Heartbroken, first year.

Being away from home in these

types of situations is always tricky,

especially if this is your first long

term. We would suggest spending a

bit of extra time with friends,

checking out the SU and joining

new societies. With the coursework

side of things, its probably a

blessing in disguise - it might be

beneficial to have some time on

your own to experience working

independently as this will become

more important as you progress

through your degree.

Dear UCDWs...This semester is proving

very tricky within my flat. We used to be

so friendly but now it seems as though

everyone is speaking behind each others

backs and no one really speaks to anyone

else anymore for no apparent reason!.

Help! Frustrated southerner.

You probably won’t be surprised to

know that this is a common issue for

many flats. We advise that you

open the channels of communica-

tion, have you actually voiced how

you feel to members of your flat?

Try sitting down together and let-

ting everyone have an equal say

and draw up some basic communal

rules. If that doesn't work, we can

facilitate a flat meeting to get the

ball rolling. Text us on 07811

458754 or email

ucdw@worc.ac.uk.

Quiz Time!

4) What the world needs now is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _?

3) Solve this riddle: What is it that after you take away the

whole, some still remains?

2) In which South African city did a high profile murder

recently take place?

Text in with your answers and flat location for a chance to win a bundle of goodies

for your flat: 07811458754 or email ucdw@worc.ac.uk

1) Whose eye’s are these?

5) Which river runs through Worcestershire?

Did you know for example….

*Ketamine facts*

We recently obtained some useful Drug Awareness

training, which we will now be sharing with you on

a monthly basis. This month, we look at Ketamine.

Top 5 facts about Ketamine:

1. Ketamine goes by the street names ‘Special K’, ‘Ket’, ‘Vitamin K’ and ‘Kit Kat’.

2. Ketamine is can have very adverse effects on the bladder. Feeling as though

your bladder is full of crushed glass has also been reported. Jelly-like urine

caused by ketamine usage is actually parts of the bladder disintegrating. Ouch!

3. In some cases Ketamine has been known to cause Psychosis. Ketamine Induced

Psychosis can last for a few days and the symptoms include vivid hallucinations,

severe disruptions to perceptions, anxiety and in some cases self-harm.

4. Ketamine acts within the Central Nervous System - causing an effect on the

senses. This can lead to feelings of detachment from the self and the

environment. It can also affect co-ordination, leading to accidents which could

otherwise be avoided.

5. One of the short term side effects of Ketamine is Hypertension (or high blood

pressure) which is a risk factor for heart attacks and kidney disease.

If you are worried about yours or a friends drug intake, email ucdw@worc.ac.uk as they

can signpost you to relevant services

Any suggestions?Any suggestions?Any suggestions? Do you have any suggestions for us? Any ideas about an event we

could put on for you?

We are looking for input on what we could do to improve your student

life. So add us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, have a look at our

Tumblr page or just email us with your ideas.

www.facebook.com/

universitycommunity.developmentworkers

@Worcester_UCDWs

www.twitter.com/Worcester_UCDWs

www.uniofworcestercommunity.tumblr.com/

Our email: UCDW@worc.ac.uk

8

Easter Drop-Ins

From the 2nd April to the 5th April, the

UCDWs will be on hand if you have anything

you would like to talk about - from social issues

to house disputes or just a general chat, we will

be available from 11:00am - 2:00pm in

downstairs in the Peirson Study and Guidance

centre.

Please note, we are also available from

9:00 - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday and are con-

tactable through firstpoint.

9

Come along to Main Reception

Tuesday 30th April between

12:00 - 4:00 pm to buy fairtrade

goods and cakes, get information

about the Earth Day cause and

fill out an Earth Day quiz for a

chance to win a bundle of

goodies to share with your

flatmates!

E a r t h

D a y

Positive Positive Positive

RelationshipsRelationshipsRelationships 18th April

St John’s Main Reception

12pm until 4pm

Come along to see:

THINK

Drama performances.

A relationship worker on hand for

advice about healthy relationships.

Free condoms and plenty of leaflets

for you to take away.

11

Campus notices

Help Unitots Nursery to get new resources

Unitots Nursery are collecting Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers and would appreciate your

vouchers (if you are not using them) to put towards new resources. Unitots is based in the

Bredon building. Email unitots@worc.ac.uk for further information or hand in your vouchers

at firstpoint.

Information about what is happening on Campus

Worcester Award

The Worcester Award is designed as a way for you to boost your employability for

when you leave University, and stand out from the crowd. We’re now in a climate

where a degree isn’t always enough and employers are looking for that extra

something from graduates. The Worcester Award is the ideal way to stand out to

employers and show that you have the drive they want.

The Worcester Award helps you to reflect on activities you may be doing, alongside

your studies, by writing a reflective log where you will identify the skills you possess

and display them in a manner that employers will recognise.

To find out more and sign up to the award visit www.worcester.ac.uk/worcesteraward

‘Final 2013 deadline Friday 19th April’

EXTRA MONEY FOR STUDENTS

There are 1000s of Educational Trust Funds that

help students with money. The Educational

Grants Programme helps find trust funds that

are relevant to you.

Visit: www.family-action.org.uk/

educationalgrantsearch to find ones that you

can apply for.

University of Worcester Welfare and

Financial Advisers

Spectrum is a group for people who are on the autistic spectrum.

This is a way to meet up with other people who may experience similar things as you.

Spectrum is a peer support group for University students. It is informal and informative and

presents different topics each month.

Come and join us. First Wednesday of every month 1:00 - 2:00pm. Check us out on Facebook

(search ‘positive mental health’) for the venue.

Claim free prescriptions and other healthcare costs

To claim, complete a HC1 form available at the Welfare and Finance stand in the

Peirson Study and Guidance Centre.

FIRST YEARS - WOULD YOU LIKE TO STUDY ABROAD, AS PART OF YOUR DEGREE?

We have partners in many European Countries, as well as America, Canada, Australia, and New

Zealand.

(European partners are subject specific links and those outside Europe are generally most

subjects.)

This is a wonderful opportunity that can - add value to your degree - enhance your

personal development - improve your employability, - increase your cultural awareness -

and is great fun!

Come along to the Peirson Centre firspoint area for more information. We also run Exchange

Programme Drop-In Information Sessions, Wednesdays 3:00-4:00pm and Thursdays 12:00-

1.30pm, in the Peirson Centre to discuss options on a one-to-one basis. See also the

Exchange Programmes webpage :

http://www.worcester.ac.uk/community/international-exchanges.html

Or contact Lois Lewis, l.lewis@worc.ac.uk

A Week in the Life of Larry

Larry thinks he might

have an S.T.I.

He’s a bit worried!

He has no clue where to turn and

starts to get frustrated. Whilst

walking through Uni, he stumbles

across a SHU postcard. Finally! He

finds out he can get tested at Uni.

He requested that they called

him with the results. A few weeks later, Larry gets a call to

say that his results are negative!

He’s so happy that he just wants to

share the news with his friends. He invites them over for a celebration,

and Larry makes a vow to himself to

always use protection in the future.

?

?

?