Welfare and Finance

Pastoral Care

Homerton College has a strong commitment to providing a high level of care for its students. The tutorial system strives to ensure that no one is forgotten, and that all students have a number of people they can ask for help or advice about all aspects of their life in college.

Tutorial

Every student on arrival is allocated to a Tutor who is concerned thereafter for their personal welfare. The Tutors hold regular surgeries twice a week where students can call in to discuss their problems. Although every student also has a Director of Studies, who is responsible for their course and their academic life, personal Tutors are there to help and give guidance on all other aspects of college life. Even on academic matters, if a student, for some reason or another, feels they cannot talk to their Director of Studies (though, of course, we hope this will be a rare occurrence) then their personal Tutor can be consulted. All tutors are Fellows or Senior Members of Homerton.

Pastoral Tutor

Unusually, Homerton also has a special Pastoral Tutor, Isobel Urquhart, who is a trained counsellor. Any student who feels they need help can contact her directly and confidentially, or if they wish they can approach her through their tutor. Isobel has been of great help to many of our students. She is a member of the tutorial team and a bye-fellow of the College.

Academic

Though this is dealt with elsewhere, it needs stressing that the Cambridge approach to academic matters is also constructed so as to give all students a large degree of personal attention. Most of the teaching in Cambridge is done by supervisions (tutorials) in small groups and by lectures. Depending on the subject there may also be practical work and seminars. Directors of Studies will help all students make a plan of work that suits them and will be appropriate for success in their chosen degree - and help ensure students carry it out. When necessary, Homerton will arrange for particular assistance with Study Skills, and we have a team that is expert in this. The Cambridge University Students Union run Study Skills courses as well as most of the faculties.

Health

The College Nurse keeps regular surgery hours in term time. Students are required to register with one of three local Cambridge practices in case of emergencies, but they may remain registered with their home doctor as well if they wish to do so. The College is in close proximity to the world-famous Addenbrookes Hospital. Students with specific problems such as severe allergies are asked to register them with the College Nurse and where there is a risk of anaphylaxis a photograph in a sealed envelope is kept in key First Aid areas. The College and staff are alert to the dangers of meningitis and every effort is made to alert inform and educate students of these dangers on arrival. All students are given a talk on health and safety issues on arrival and the Homerton Union of Students run seminars on sex education and other health issues.

Disability

In keeping with University guidelines on disability Homerton operates a policy to counter discrimination in all parts of college life from application to completion of a degree. Homerton College is better placed than some of the older ones to deal with problems of physical access, but we are aware of a need to monitor our accessibility constantly and with a range of very different needs in mind. We rely heavily on our current and prospective students to tell us of their needs and help us find ways of meeting them.

Counselling

Students can approach the University Counselling Service with confidentiality guaranteed. They may do this on an individual basis or their Tutor, the Senior Tutor or another member of staff may refer them to the service. The University Counselling Service will only contact the College about a student if they have the student's permission to do so. The service has helped many thousands of students at Cambridge over recent years. It is recognised that students can feel under great pressure at times and the service has experience of dealing with a wide range of problems.

Student Parents

The University's Childcare Information Officer is able to offer advice and information to potential student parents, including information on finding local nurseries, childminders or after-school clubs; University facilities; financial assistance as well as advice on available bursary schemes. For further details, telephone 01223 332249 or email to childcare@admin.cam.ac.uk. The Childcare Office produce 'The Cambridge Guide for Student Parents', which includes information on University assistance, childcare, health, finance, accommodation and local parenting contacts, and is available here. Information on the University Nurseries can be found here.