From your first day at college, you will be assigned a Study Programme Tutor and you will have weekly group sessions with them. You can talk to them, or another teacher, about any worries or concerns you may have. The College also has a team of Personal Development and Wellbeing Mentors who are available to offer additional practical support and advice. Please note that Wellbeing Mentors are not counsellors or therapists.

Students can be referred to a Wellbeing Mentor in their curriculum area by their Study Programme Tutor or subject tutors. Students can also make a self-referral by going to the Wellbeing office at their campus and speaking with a member of the team.

Depending on availability, Wellbeing mentors can offer scheduled weekly/fortnightly/monthly sessions. Students are also provided with their assigned Wellbeing mentor’s college mobile number to arrange sessions, and to request specific help during college hours.

Examples of situations Wellbeing Mentors can support with:

• Mental health issues including severe anxiety and depression.
• Personal problems including drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions.
• Support for LGBTQ+ students including trans students and those exploring their gender identity.
• Relationship difficulties including students who are at risk of homelessness.
• Any situation where students feel that they are not safe and need help.
• Overcoming barriers to learning such as difficulties with attendance.
• Support for students who may feel anxious about starting college, otherwise known as transition support.

Wellbeing mentors can offer the following support through thirty-minute, one-to-one sessions

Listening Service

Mentors are on hand to listen as you talk through any difficulties that you are experiencing. Mentors can support you to explore and develop strategies for managing these challenges.

Signposting Service

Tutors can point you in the right direction of specialist external support services, including charities, organisations, helplines, groups and societies, and resource websites, who can offer more targeted help.

Transition Support

Wellbeing mentors can support you with your transition to college life. This can include support with finding your way around the college, adjusting to a new environment, meeting new people, and overcoming anxieties.

ADVOCACY

Mentors can support you in communicating with the college and external agencies. They can accompany you to in-college meetings and support you to attend lessons. With your consent, they can communicate with tutors and other support services on your behalf.

Study Skills (Lewes/Newhaven only)

Our designated Study Skills Tutor can support students with the transition to college courses, particularly with the demands of A-Levels. They can help with developing revision strategies, time management, exam techniques, essay writing, study plans, essay writing, and studying with neurodiversity.

SEXUAL HEALTH

The Safeguarding and Wellbeing office acts as a C-Card Station, where students can register for a C-Card and access free contraception, STI testing kits, and signposting to sexual health services. This is for Lewes and Hastings only. Eastbourne have sexual health advice twice weekly in the Refectory.

LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN

If you are a Looked After Child (LAC) you will have access to 1:1 support from one of our Safeguarding Managers. Your allocated staff member will act as an advocate for you with any issues you may encounter on your course and will attend meetings with external services around how you are getting on at College.