Coronavirus Guidance: Wellbeing and Support for Students, Staff and Parents
The wellbeing of everyone at Gloucestershire College is the most important thing. We are here to support you.
Our safeguarding team has provided some advice and top tips for staying well, managing anxiety and social isolation during this difficult period.
Background photo: Our beautiful Cinderford campus in The Forest of Dean
For the new term information, please click below
“I look on the past few months with pride in GC staff and students. Pride in how they have risen to unexpected challenges and remained positive and proactive throughout. Pride in how staff have gone the extra mile to support students and our partners; embodying our College Values. Pride in students for adapting to change and continuing to learn and thrive in uncertain times.“
Meet the Safeguarding team
If you need support or advice, please get in touch by emailing: safeguarding@gloscol.ac.uk
Contact GC's Safeguarding Team
The safeguarding team at GC is available to provide advice and guidance to all members of the Gloucestershire College community. If you need support over the coming weeks, please email: safeguarding@gloscol.ac.uk
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Covid has had a significant impact on everyone’s lives and we have found ourselves unable to see our friends and family and to go out and do the usual things we take enjoyment from.
During this uncertain time we may feel restless, frustrated, and lonely. We may also feel low, worried, anxious, or be concerned about our health or that of those close to us. Everyone reacts differently to challenging times and changes in the way that we think, feel and behave vary between different people and can occur at differing times.
It is important that we take care of our mind as well as our body and get further support when needed.
Therefore we felt that it was pertinent to share the Government’s latest guidance on mental health and wellbeing relating to Covid – this can be found here.
Useful resources from the GC Safeguarding team:
Mental Health and Wellbeing guide
How to maintain good mental wellbeing during isolation
Suicide Awareness and Prevention advice and guidance
Domestic Abuse
"At home shouldn't mean at risk."
The household isolation instruction as a result of coronavirus does not apply if you need to leave your home to escape domestic abuse.
Advice from GC's Safeguarding team:
Resouces from Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS):
- Safety planning guide for victims and survivors during COVID-19
- Safeguarding advice for professionals supporting domestic abuse victims
- Visit: gdass.org.uk for more help and guidance
Advice from the Government:
Online Safety Update
We are using the internet and online services more now than perhaps ever before, so it’s important to keep safe and follow best practice.
Advice from GC’s Safeguarding team:
Prevent
Prevent is part of the government’s strategy for preventing people becoming radicalised which may lead to extremism and acts of terrorism. Even during the Covid pandemic, the threat from terrorism has not gone away.
Advice from GC’s Safeguarding team:
Student Experience
We are committed to making sure that all our students have the best possible experience while you study. To help us to continually improve the experience that you and your peers are having, we would love to hear your feedback.
We want your feedback
If you have any feedback (positive or negative) or ideas for things that could be improved, you can also share this by emailing: david.kettlety@gloscol.ac.uk.
Student Support and Additional Learning Support
Our Student Mentor team has collated some really useful information below to support you and we will continue to develop and update this section.
Needing some extra support while working from home?
The Learning Support team are able to make sure that you get the help that you need. Depending on your preference, additional support sessions can be delivered by email, telephone or video conversations on Microsoft Teams.
If you need to access any support, please get in touch with the Learning Support team at learning.support@gloscol.ac.uk and a member of the team will be in touch.
For those of you who usually receive additional support while you are at College, support will continue and the Learning Support team will be in contact to make arrangements.
Helpful Links and Resources
You are not alone. There are so many organisations and resources available to help you. Find some helpful links below.
Look after your mental health
Happy not Perfect App - Happy not Perfect is an app that has a simple mission: to help you feel good from the inside out. No-nonsense, research-backed tools and products to care for your mind - happynotperfect.com
Headspace - There are a lot of unknowns in the world right now. But one thing is certain — Headspace is there for you. To help support you the app offers meditations you can listen to anytime - headspace.com/covid-19
On Your Mind Glos - NHS website with option to explore topics around mental and physical health for young people across Gloucestershire - onyourmindglos.nhs.uk
Every Mind Matters (NHS) - A helpful website covering Anxiety, Stress, Sleep and Low Mood, gives tips, videos and urgent support if needed - nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters
TIC Plus - TIC Plus are working remotely and remain accessible via phone and email to ensure all young people and parents are supported - ticplus.org.uk
The Blurt Foundation’s ‘Helpful Hub’ - The Blurt Foundation has created a resource to support people. - blurtitout.org/the-coronavirus-helpful-hub
Youth Support Team - Gloucestershire Youth Support Team’s priority is the safety and wellbeing of young people. - youthsupportteam.co.uk / facebook.com/gloucestershireyouthsupport
Practical support
The Mix - A useful resource to provide support on many topics. The following link provides support with tenancy-related queries - themix.org.uk/housing/renting/coronavirus
Gloucestershire County Council’s Community Help Hub
Find out more here - gloucestershire.gov.uk/helphub
Hope Support Service - Online help for young people aged 11 to 25 years-old who have a loved one with a serious illness and are worried about what the virus means for them - hopesupport.org.uk
Worried about your future or what your next steps should be?
Get in touch with GC! Our staff are all here to support you. Reach out to our student support team, and we will be able to offer you help and guidance: 0345 155 2020 / info@gloscol.ac.uk
University Concerns - UCAS has information for students worried about University applications - ucas.com
Helpful Links and Resources for Parents and Carers
Juggling your studies or work around childcare?
Worried about completing college work and having to look after your child or babysit a sibling? We have tried and tested a wide range of apps and resources to help you out.
Simple fun activities from newborn to five years-old - hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk
Audiobooks - Follow the link to hear David Walliam’s read one of his books each day at 11am - worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses
BBC Teaching live lesson - Online Lessons and Activities - bbc.co.uk/teach/primary-live-lessons
Lesson plans, activities, apps and more:
How can I keep my child safe online?
The Department for Education has provided their suggestions for helpful guidance for parents and carers to keep their children safe online:
Thinkyouknow (advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online)
Internet matters (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
Parent info (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
LGfL (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
Net-aware (support for parents and careers from the NSPCC)
Safeguarding Information and resources
The safeguarding team is available to provide advice and guidance to members of the Gloucestershire College community. If you need support or advice over the coming weeks, please email: safeguarding@gloscol.ac.uk
If you need support or advice over the coming weeks, please get in touch by emailing: safeguarding@gloscol.ac.uk
External resources
There are many external organisations who are also here to help you. Click the links below to access support:
Coronavirus Information
Read the latest Covid updates from Gloucestershire College for all students, apprentices, parents and employers.