Welfare

Churchill MCR welfare officers

• What we do: Distribute sexual health and safety supplies, chat about personal concerns, direct you to professional resources for unresolved issues.
• Men’s: Sam Turner, mcr-menswelfare@chu.cam.ac.uk
• Women’s: Elre Oldewage, mcr-womenswelfare@chu.cam.ac.uk
• Families’: Amila Sankalpa Jayasinghe, mcr-families@chu.cam.ac.uk
• LGBT+: Jack Hughes (he/him), mcr-lgbt@chu.cam.ac.uk

More about the welfare officer positions: http://mcr.chu.cam.ac.uk/mcr-committee/committee-roles/welfare-officers/

MCR Welfare resources and additional information:

• Sexual Health and Contraception
• Mental Health
• Physical Health and Safety

General information

Click on the links below for other sources of information and advice (lists of support groups, useful phone numbers etc)

• General Welfare (GU)
• General Welfare (CUSU)
• Cambridge SU (CUSU) LGBT+ (see further down for more LGBT+ info)
• Info for Student Parents
• Info for Disabled Students
• Info for Overseas Students

Other college resources

• Porters (+44 1223 336000): First point of contact for any emergencies
• Rebecca Sawalmeh (postgrad@chu.cam.ac.uk): First point of contact for non-emergencies
• Tutor: Financial and academic issues (ask Rebecca who your tutor is)
• College nurse: Jo Livingstone (+44 1223 36133 or nurse@chu.cam.ac.uk)
  • Jo is available in the college surgery at the times advertised on the student and Porters’ pin board as well as the Nurse surgery website. Start here for any physical or mental health concerns.
• College Counsellor: Tim Ellis, counsellor@chu.cam.ac.uk who will normally reply within 24 hours. There is more information at https://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/student-hub/resources/support-welfare/counselling/
• College parents: General questions about life in Cambridge, recommendations for good pubs, etc. 🙂

University resources

• University Counselling Service (www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/studentcouns)
  • Pre-counseling form and consultation
  • Self-help leaflets
  • Individual and group sessions
  • There can be a long wait during term time, so try other resources during term if possible
• Students’ Unions’ Advice Service (www.studentadvice.cam.ac.uk/)
  • A professional listening and signposting service that provides free, non-judgmental and confidential support to Cambridge students.
  • Independent from colleges
  • Deals with mental health issues, academic issues, complaints, disciplinary issues, intermission… If you don’t know where to turn, start with SUAS.
  • Email, ring or drop-in!
• CUSU Officers
  • Welfare Officer – Micha Frazer-Carrol (welfare@cusu.cam.ac.uk)
  • Disabled Students’ Officer: Florence Oulds (disabled@cusu.cam.ac.uk)
  • Women’s Officer: Lola Olufemi (womens@cusu.cam.ac.uk)
• GU Officers
  • Welfare Officer – Mrittunjoy Guha Majumdar (part-time-welfare@gradunion.cam.ac.uk)
  • Women’s Officer – Bridget Shaffrey (womens@gradunion.cam.ac.uk)
  • International Officer – David Chukwuma Izuogu (international@gradunion.cam.ac.uk)
  • Families Officer – Aditi Vedi (families@gradunion.cam.ac.uk)

LGBT+ resources: https://www.lgbt.cusu.cam.ac.uk/

• (Public) Churchill MCR LGBT+ Facebook page for events and updates: https://www.facebook.com/churchillcollegemcrlgbt/ (NB: the page title includes “2018/2019”, but this is incorrect and we’re unable to change this)
  • We also have a private Facebook group available: https://www.facebook.com/groups/154552795413253
• Reporting LGBT+phobia
• Gay and queer club nights –
  • Glitterbomb @ Vinyl – every Tuesday from 10pm – frequented by students, especially undergrads
  • Dot Cottons @ Fez, first Sat of the month – usually more of a “townie” night
• Cambridge SU (CUSU) LGBT+
  • Cambridge SU LGBT+ run a parenting scheme (similar to college parents) at the start of Michaelmas each year, which is advertised on their Facebook page prior to the start of term
  • Cambridge SU LGBT+ have a mailing list with LGBT events. To join event listings, email: lgbt-computing@cusu.cam.ac.uk or join online
• Gay pubs – both now closed, unfortunately. Cambridge used to have the Fleur de Lys (closed 2010) and The Five Bells. Your best bet nowadays is probably in London – try looking around Soho for starters (touristy, but lots going on). Also Brighton – farther away, but well worth the occasional pilgrimage!