PAL Central: BU Support Services

• AskBU is a one-stop-shop for student enquiries. You can direct students to this service if they have any query about their BU experience, and askBU can signpost them.
• Face-to-face help: Ask BU are based at both Talbot and Lansdowne campuses; drop-in to see them at The Base in Poole House or at the Helpzone in the Bournemouth Gateway Building.
• Email: AskBU@bournemouth.ac.uk
• Phone: 01202 969696

• Have you logged into MyCareerHub yet? If not, what are you waiting for? It’s a great site for resources and guidance about placements and careers. Make sure all the students in your PAL group are accessing this resource! MyCareerHub is designed to provide students with information that is useful in the job seeking and career planning process.
• The Careers and Employability service (Talbot Campus, located next door to The Sir Michael Cobham Library) is a one stop shop for careers information needs.

• Student Support and Engagement Co-ordinators (part of Achieve@BU) offer a wide variety of support and can advise students on the best way forward to resolve difficulties. Whether students just want a quick chat about something that’s been getting them down, or they're struggling with a bigger issue, contact the Student Support and Engagement Co-ordinators for your Faculty and they'll do their best to help out.

• The Student Wellbeing service offers support, information and advice for all BU students around a range of issues. It is confidential and completely free.
• https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/health-wellbeing/student-wellbeing

Booking an appointment:

• There are a several ways to register with the service and book an appointment:
  • Online by completing the registration form and emailing it to studentwellbeing@bournemouth.ac.uk
  • In person, by calling into reception during opening hours. Please call ahead or check the website for holiday opening times.

• SUBU website for information on activities, clubs, SUBU advice, volunteering, the REP system and more! Be social, be involve, be supported, be represented.
• SUBU Advice provides free, independent, non-judgemental and confidential advice and information to all BU students.

• If your students require help using BU Library services, direct them to the  'Library' area of Brightspace and BU Library & Learning Support online guides.
• If your students need help improving their academic skills, direct them to the Academic Skills Hub on Brightspace.

• BU's Find a Placement webpage
• If you're worried about the cost of going on a placement, it's worth checking whether you are eligible for some additional financial support. BU offers funding to eligible students through the Placement Opportunity Fund.
• The Placement Opportunity Fund can help with expenses such as clothing for interviews, essential uniforms and tools, some travel and living costs, as well as Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, visas and inoculation costs.

• SportBU offers you the opportunity to socialise, meet new people, improve your fitness and enhance your skills.
• Whether you want to compete in the Olympics, get fitter, play with friends or take up a new sport, SportBU is the place for you. The fantastic facilities, activities and sports are available to students, university staff and the local community.
• Their focus lies in three areas: health and fitness, campus sport and performance sport – meaning they can offer something for everyone, whatever their goals or abilities.

• ALS is available to all students, whether full or part-time, undergraduate or postgraduate, on or off campus. 
• Support can be provided for students with:
  • Specific learning differences
  • Physical/sensory impairments
  • Mobility impairments
  • Medical conditions
  • Mental health issues
  • Temporary injuries
• Email: ALS@bournemouth.ac.uk

• BU's Languages Advisors offer English language support for international students across the University.
• Direct  students to the Languages@BU area of Brightspace, under 'Library & Study Support'.
• Students can register their interest in English language support by going to the English language support library guide and signing up.

Free confidential phone support for all students available from Health Assured 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Call 0800 028 3766 to speak to an experienced advisor who will offer support in a friendly, non-judgemental manner.

You can also contact the service through call back request, email or manned live chat within the ‘My Healthy Advantage’ mobile app, available on IOS or Android.

For more information please visit:

 https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/health-wellbeing/health-wellbeing-services/student-assistance-programme

• International Students BU webpages
• Direct international students to contact or visit askBU who can help with information about opening a bank account in the UK, immigration and visas, Tier 4 etc.

• The Faith and reflection Team are available to listen to students, offer spiritual support and care, answer questions and help growth.
• They provide activities and have an open door policy and are happy to welcome students whether they have a faith or not.
• They can help put students in touch with local faith communities and tell students where nearest mosque, church, temple, etc is. 
• Their space on Talbot Campus includes an Islamic prayer room and a Meditation/Quiet room.
• Global Café is a regular social gathering with free coffee, cookies and a chance to meet other international students to chat (ran by the Chaplaincy but with no religious content, it’s just a place to meet).

• AskBU and SUBU Advice are here to help if you are having any money worries, no matter whether they be a very short-term lack of funds or alternatively longer-term issues. There are various types of hardship funding available from BU including the Small Emergency Grant, Emergency Loan and the BU Hardship Fund. 
• In addition to mainstream Government and BU funds, it is possible to receive further support from external trusts, charities and grants. We also strongly recommend that you visit the Students' Union money advice webpage where you can read about general budgeting tips and advice on how to make your funds go further.

• BU's Residential Services is the home of our very own student friendly estate agency, LettingsBU who organise a "tenant find" service for local landlords, so if you are a returning student please contact them first when starting your house hunting.
• You can search for LettingsBU properties online, as well as read their advice for students renting a property for the first time.

• The role of ResLife is to make sure that every student living in BU accommodation feels welcome, comfortable and safe; yet most importantly, has fun whilst living in their home away from home.
• They work towards delivering the ResLife programme around three core principles: Social, Wellbeing and Skills.

• At BU we always strive to give you the widest options available whatever part of the student experience that may be.That's why we encourage those students who want to volunteer to look beyond the UK too.
• There a whole host of opportunities to take part in volunteering overseas - helping you to not only broaden your skills base, but broaden your mind as well. You can even apply for funding to support you during your travels.
• Find opportunities to volunteer through SUBU, SportBU and MyCareerHub.