Building a UWL community
Intro
Welcome to the UWL community, made up of supporting, enthusiastic and considerate staff and students.
We are committed to delivering the best student experience, and this means ensuring all students are valued, celebrated and respected. This webpage is designed to communicate UWL expectations and policies that aim to keep all students and staff safe and feeling part of the community.
The message will include topics such as using social media safely, treating people with empathy, cooperating and assisting each other, why consent is always important, and other key aspects of life at university. It is important you engage with these activities and resources, so that all staff and students can feel confident as part of the UWL community.
Please take the time to read the UWL Student Code of Conduct that sets out the standards of behaviour expected, complaint procedures and disciplinary regulations. Policies are also updated in line with government guidelines, the Office for Students and the sector, to ensure they are up to date.
Community guidance
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Resources
The resources we will be using are :
Skills for Study
- This electronic resource has been designed specifically for Higher Education and gives you access to videos and exercises to help you develop your academic skills. It allows you to track your progress so you can use this platform throughout the year to enhance your academic skills profile. Find out more via the skills for study website.
LinkedIn Learning
- This platform allows you to engage in self-study on a wide range of professional and academic skills. It also allows you to track your progress, and the platform will recommend other resources you may find useful based on the training you have engaged with. Find out more via the LinkedIn Learning website.
Workshops
- There will be workshops taking place throughout this period tailored to study skills topics. But don’t worry if you can’t attend – these workshops are also run throughout the year. Visit our Study Support page for more information.
The UWL Awareness and Inclusion Calendar
The The UWL Awareness and Inclusion Calendar promotes engagement and education on various topics throughout the year. Each month is dedicated to a specific theme, encouraging you to get involved, learn and make a difference.
November – Mental health matters
Upcoming events:
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NHS West London Wellbeing and Recovery College – online courses
The Wellbeing & Recovery College is a training and resource centre which develops and delivers education and tools to support wellbeing and the self-management of mental health difficulties that is open to all UWL students aged 18 and over.Full details and a list of resources can be found in their autumn term prospectus: WRC_Autumn_2024_Prospectus (pdf).To book a place first complete the registration under the "enrol online" tab on this page and then email: bookings.recoverycollege@westlondon.nhs.uk.Upcoming courses:- 18 November (11am - 1pm) – Getting a better night’s sleep
- 21 November (12:30pm - 1:15pm) – Forest visualisation
- 27 November (2pm - 4pm) – Understanding OCD
- 28 November (12:30-1:15pm) – Mindfulness Lunch and Learn
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Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival – Tuesday 12 November, 10am - 2pm
- Date: Tuesday 12 November, 10am - 2pm
- Location: Weston Hall (SMR)
As part of the support the University offers students, the UWL Wellbeing service would like to invite all students to join them in Weston Hall (SMR) on Tuesday 12 November for the first 'Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival', from 10am - 2pm.
Join the team for:
- Freebies and prizes
- Live music provided by JADED
- Information and advice from internal UWL teams, in addition to external wellbeing services advertising their support
Contact wellbeing@uwl.ac.uk if you have any questions. -
From boys to men: Men’s mental health across the lifespan – Wednesday 27 November
- Date: Wednesday 27 November, 12pm - 1pm
- Location: BY.01.017
This free seminar will explore the unique challenges faced by males at different stages of life, from childhood through adulthood.Key topics will include:- early emotional development
- the impact of societal expectations on mental health
- common mental health issues among boys and men (such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse)
- the importance of support systems.
The workshop will also address how gendered experiences, such as masking emotions and vulnerability, influence mental health outcomes over time. -
Mindful reading
UWLSU umbrella installation (in partnership with the ADHD Foundation)
We’re proud to share that UWLSU has teamed up with the ADHD Foundation to bring the Neurodiversity Umbrella Project to campus. This colourful display of umbrellas is more than just visually appealing – it’s a symbol of inclusivity, celebrating neurodiversity and the uniqueness of how we all think and learn.
LinkedIn Learning: Mental Health Matters collections
As part of November's Mental Health Matters Awareness & Inclusion month activity, we have put together a collection of courses that use mindfulness as a tool to support your mental health.
- Mental Health Matters - LinkedIn Learning collection: Developing Resilience
- Mental Health Matters - LinkedIn Learning collection: Mindfulness for Positive Mental Health
Supporting mental health and wellbeing through mentoring
Mentoring not only benefits students academically and socially, but it also contributes towards positive Mental Health. Whether adjusting to university life, managing the stress of assignments or simply looking to connect with your peers, Mentoring offers a sense of belonging that can enhance your time at UWL.
How are you? Five ways to wellbeing
Dr Janice Fernandes, Academic Support Manager - Library Services, shares her experience and advice.
Awareness Month highlights
October – Respect and kindness
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LinkedIn Learning Respect and Kindness Collections
We have curated two collections of courses to expand your understanding and learning. One collection focuses on different aspects of self-care and compassion to yourself, Self-kindness is important for our wellbeing. We spend more time with ourselves than anyone else and how we relate to ourselves has a huge impact on how we feel and act towards others. The second collection focuses on how we can show compassion and care to others to enrich our community.
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Mindful reading
Blog posts:
Recommended books:
- Race and Class by Akala
- Mask Off: Masculinity Redefined by JJ Bola
- Familiar Stranger: A Life between Two Islands by Stuart Hall and Bill Schwarz
Books coming soon to the Library:
- Your Silence Won't Protect You by Audre Lorde (on order)
- The Mixed Race Experience by Nathalie and Naomi Evans (on order)
- Rice & Peas and Fish & Chips: One Woman’s Story of Overcoming Racism by Pauline Campbell (on order)
- It's Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World by Mikaela Loach (on order)
- The Half of It: Exploring Mixed Race Identity by Emma Slade Edmondson and Nicole Ocran (on order)
- Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge (on order)
Contact library@uwl.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Additional resources:
- Akala x Black British History : An Introduction - Part 1 and Part 2
- The path to building an anti-racist workplace - Susan Long-Walsh (TEDxSeattle)
- David Olusoga, BBC (2017) - Black and British: A Forgotten History (content warning: references to violence and sexual assault)
- Black British culture: non-fiction & documentary programmes
- Librarians for critical digital justice (provides insights into issues affecting academia and academic libraries across the world)
Get involved in the UWL community
Our vloggers are current students or alumni who want to share their experiences and offer tips and advice on all aspects of preparing for life as a student and settling into university.
Want to get involved? Visit our student vlogs page to find out more.
Student news
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Pete Townshend unveils new studio at the University of West London to house his iconic synthesiser collection
The Townshend Studio is part of UWL’s London College of Music at our Ealing site, housing Pete Townshend's synthesiser collection, including some of the most influential instruments in the development of electronic music.
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Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Winter Graduation Ceremony 2024
On 13 November, our recent cohort of Police Constable Degree Apprentices celebrated their graduation at the University of West London’s Ealing site in Weston Hall, together with friends and family.
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Video by LCM staff and students wins World Harp Congress’ Spectrum competition
A video created by students and lecturers from London College of Music at the University of West London (UWL) has won The World Harp Congress’ Spectrum competition.
Get in touch
If you ever want support, we want you to feel able to talk to someone, here are some recommended ways of reaching out
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Report and support
Our new process allows your to report anonymously or ask for help from an adviser. Find out more via our Report + Support page.
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Speak to Student Services
Student Services will offer appropriate support and help report any issues as appropriate.
For support, talk to one of our advisers in welfare through the Student Hub, or reach the team on:
- 02082312313
- studentwelfare@uwl.ac.uk
You can also visit the support services desk on campus Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.
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Contact Security
If you ever feel unsafe call Security on 0208 231 2001 or in an emergency call the police on 999.
Students should also make a compliant if appropriate and guidance on how to deal with these issues is set out in the Guidance on Dealing with Unacceptable Behaviour.
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Student counselling
We also provide confidential student counselling, which is free and accessible to all students.
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External support
To talk to someone out of the university, call Samaritans on 116123, or sign up for free with your UWL account at Togetherall.