Welfare

The Welfare Team

Oxford really shouldn’t be that much more stressful than anywhere else, or than GCSEs and A-levels, for that matter. Somebody should always be able to help if you’re feeling under too much pressure, but there are various options for you if you ever feel it’s becoming a bit too much. The Peer Support team are trained St. John’s students to whom you can talk about any issues you might be having, be they related to family, friends, work, relationships or anything else with total confidentiality. The Welfare officers and the Junior Deans are also all trained and willing to help with any problems you may have. Nightline operates from 8am-8pm, and provides confidential, non-judgemental listening and support, as well as information, over the phone (01865 270 270), or at their office in Wellington Square. For more serious or long-term issues, the Oxford University Counselling Service can offer help. Deans also play a welfare role, and are especially well equipped to deal with academic and college issues. You should never feel you have nobody to talk to.

Welfare Officer (male): Ben Harris (07948 590060)
Welfare Officer (female): Rose Malleson (07975 614321)
We are available 24/7 if you need to talk about any issue, problem or just feel like a chat over a cup of tea. Email, text, call or just drop by our rooms whenever you like. We also supply condoms and other welfare supplies by a) Email request and we’ll pidge them to you b) In person if you drop by our rooms c) Annonymous request if you leave a note in one of our pidges and we’ll leave them to be collected from the same pidge. Condoms are also available from the machine at the bottom of TW if it’s broken or empty do inform one of us so we can sort it.

Women’s Officer: Jennifer Hegarty
I have Durex condoms, personal alarms, lube and pregnancy tests stashed in my room and these are free to the JCR.
I am happy to chat about anything and to try to help with any problem.
I hold fortnightly women’s lunches with speakers, and women’s dinner will be this Hilary term.
I attend Women’s Campaign and women’s officers meetings, and represent the views and rights of women of the JCR.

Welfare Reps
As well as Ruth, Ben and Jenn, the Officers, there are also various representatives in the JCR who are concerned with particular aspects of welfare and equal opportunities:

Please do not hesitate to get in contact with any of them should you have an issue relating to any of their areas. If you are ever having an academic problem or are feeling frustrated with your treatment in college and need some advice and help, contact Uche, the JCR President, who is always there to represent you.

Junior Deans: junior.dean@sjc.ox.ac.uk
Mimi Zou and Tom Hills provide welfare support to the junior members of college, and are always happy to listen if you need a sympathetic ear. Pop in during office hours (M,W,F, 5:30 – 6pm at 15 St. Giles) or email if you need a chat. They also attend to lesser disciplinary matters, and oversee room bookings.

College Nurse: 01865 277369 or nurse@sjc.ox.ac.uk
The college nurse is available in North Quad staircase 5, from 8:30 to 10:30am, Monday to Friday 0-9th week. No appointment is necessary. Should you feel too ill to leave your room, you can send a message via friends or your scout, or leave a message in the lodge and the nurse will arrange to visit you.

College Doctors: 01865 240501
The practise is at 19 Beaumont Street. Just ring up for an appointment. OXEMS provides an out of hours service from 6pm to 8am. If you ring the Beaumont Street practice between these hours, you will be given the number to call.

The College Dentist: 01865 48460
The College Dental Practice is Studental located in the Helena Kennedy Student Centre, Headington Hill Campus, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Road, Oxford, OX3 0BP. The hours are Monday to Thursday 8 15 am until 5pm and Friday 8 am until 4pm.

College Counsellor: Usually Denise Barulis (07963 131460 or denisebarulis@hotmail.com)
If you would like to see Denise concerning yourself or someone else please email her. Unless the matter is urgent she will then arrange to see you on the next Tuesday morning when she will be in St Giles House, 16 St Giles. You find her by pressing the bell marked ‘Michael Riordan’ on the list on the side gate. Denise will be working in Michael Riordan’s office each Tuesday morning (0th week to 9th week), and will come down and meet you.

Careers Liason: Anne Dutton – anne.dutton@careers.ox.ac.uk. Contact for any information on careers, job applications, CVs and also getting recognised and tested for disabilites (dyslexia etc)

OUSU Student Advice Service: advice@ousu.org – 01865 288466
They can hep with everything from academic matters to harassment, living out and pretty much anything else you can think of. And if they can’t help you, they’ll help you find someone who can.
Information – Advice – Advocacy
Impartial – Confidential – Free

Peer Supporters
The Peer Supporters are another important part of the JCR Welfare team. Rose and Ben are also able to advise on other sources of help and support.

The Peer Support programme involves a number of students from St John’s, all of whom have undergone 30 hours of training. They provide confidential and impartial listening support, and are all very friendly and approachable! The Peer Support team help with fortnightly Tommy White teas, but are available at any time to talk.

Our current peer supporters are:

  • Helen Austin
  • Jennifer Hegarty
  • Ruth Pilcher
  • Miriam Hillyard

The Chocolate Faerie
Johanna the chocolate faerie is the latest addition to the St John’s Welfare system. If you wish to nominate a friend to be pidged some chocolate, simply send an e-mail to sjc.chocolate.faerie@googlemail.com, or find out more at Johanna’s own facebook page.

Welfare Events

Welfare events take place throughout the term in college and include Tommy White Teas and Welfare Lunches. There will be plenty of free food and welfare supplies, as well as the chance to talk to the Welfare Officers and peer supporters.

Welfare Supplies

We are able to give out welfare supplies free of charge. We can supply you with condoms (of various sorts), lubricant, dental dams, attack alarms and pregnancy tests. Just contact us and we can pidge you whatever you need, drop it off to your room, or you can visit us to pick it up. Supplies are also available at most welfare events. All requests are completely confidential. We can also reimburse students for the cost of the morning after pill. Simply show us the receipt, or pidge it to us with a note. This is also confidential.

Further Information

For further information and contact details, please check out the Welfare board in the Bar Ex! If you have any questions or want to get in contact with any of us please do not hesitate to do so.

Useful numbers

  • SJC Porters’ Lodge 01865 277300
  • OUSU Student Advice Service – 01865 288461
  • College Nurse (North Quad 5-1) 01865 277369
  • College Doctor (19 Beaumont Street Surgery) 01865 240501
  • Nightline (8pm-8am) 01865 270270
  • OUSU Safety Bus (9pm-3am) 07714 445050
  • University Counselling Service 01865 270300
  • Samaritans 01865 722122 or 08457 909090
  • NHS Direct 0845 4647
  • University Security Services 01865 289999
  • Non-Emergency Police 08458 505505
  • FRANK 0800776600
  • Reputable taxi firms 01865 240000/ 01865 775577/ 01865794000
  • College Chaplain  01865 277351
  • LGB Switchboard 020 7837 7324
  • University Counselling Service 11 Wellington Square 01865 270300 reception@counserv.ox.ac.uk
  • Reputable taxi firms 01865 240000/ 01865 775577/ 01865794000

Useful links

Check out the facebook group for more information.