Christmas Help and Support

Guild Advice

As the Guild is closed for Christmas, we will not be monitoring emails or the Advice Request form during this time. If you contact the Advice team just before Monday 22 December, they may not be able to respond to your enquiry until after the Christmas break, due to current demand.

However, please do not send them multiple emails during this time as they will be responding to all queries upon their return in the order in which they receive them.

If your concern is extremely time sensitive please indicate this in the subject line and advisors will prioritise your query as much as possible on their return.

This does mean that upon their return it may take them a little longer than their usual response time to respond to any enquiries. They will respond to you as soon as they can.

Academic Help

If you have concerns about the upcoming assessment period or coursework submission deadlines please take a look at the below information. Please also email your school regarding your concerns if you feel comfortable to do so.

Extenuating Circumstances Information.

Exam dates and timetables

For questions around academic appeals or complaints please visit the below links:

Academic Appeals (birmingham.ac.uk)
Student Complaints (birmingham.ac.uk)
Student Conduct (birmingham.ac.uk)

You can also visit our Academic Support Hub or the University’s UoBe Ready page for advice on everything from preparing for your assessments, to academic integrity and exam guidelines.

Wellbeing

The University offers a free 24-hour confidential listening service, UBHeard, available 7 days a week. Visit the University's website to learn more about UBHeard and access their online portal.

Call the Samaritans on 116 123. They operate a confidential, free to call service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Call SANEline, a national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, on 0300 304 7000.

Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7 text service), if you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support.

In a medical emergency or life-threatening situation, call 999.

If you need help, but it isn’t an emergency, call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.

Housing Support

If you experience any emergencies with your accommodation over the Christmas vacation please contact the following services;

Birmingham Citizens Advice and Shelter can provide specialist advice in a housing emergency. For opening hours please check their webpages. Birmingham City Council may also be able to help in a crisis.

You can also visit our Housing Hub for general housing information.

Foodbanks

Many agencies that provide foodbank referrals will be closed over the holidays. If you need a food voucher while the Guild is closed, you may be able to contact a local foodbank directly.

Opening hours for Birmingham Central Foodbank are as follows:

Tuesdays: 9:30am-11:15am
Fridays: 10:00am-1:15pm
Christmas opening hours are yet to be published.

Urgent Mental Health

If you are resident in Birmingham, and are:

Under 25, please contact Forward Thinking Birmingham for 24/7 urgent help

Over 25, please contact Birmingham and Solihull mental health helpline available 24/7.

If you are not a resident in Birmingham, please contact 111 (if in England) or your local Doctor, and ask to be provided with the contact details of mental health support in your area.