Support at College

Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected – at college, at home, at work, in your community and online. 

If something is happening that makes you feel uncomfortable, worried or unsafe, you can talk to us. This might include bullying, pressure from other people, harmful content online, scams or anything else that doesn't feel right. 

We'll listen, take your concerns seriously and help you work out what to do next. You won't be judged for speaking up. 

Find out more: Safeguarding at Activate Learning.  

Need Help Now?  

If you are worried about yourself or someone else, please get in touch. You don't have to wait until something becomes serious to ask for help. 

• Email: safe@activatelearning.ac.uk   

• Call: 01865 550401  

• Monday–Thursday: 8:30am–5:00pm  

• Friday: 8:30am–4:30pm  

You can also speak to any member of staff or visit Student Support on your campus. 

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. 

College life can sometimes feel overwhelming. Keeping up with your studies, friendships, money worries and things happening at home or online can all affect how you feel. 

If you're finding things difficult, you're not alone. There are people at college who can listen and help. 

Many of our staff are trained in Mental Health First Aid and can offer support if you're worried about your mental health or wellbeing. 

You can also access free counselling. Our counsellors can help with things like anxiety, stress, family problems, worries about college and other personal challenges. They can also help you find ways to cope when things feel difficult. 

You can refer yourself for counselling or speak to the Student Support Team to find out more. 

We also have Wellbeing Advisers who can offer short-term support with things like friendships, confidence, self-esteem, anxiety, panic attacks and low mood. 

You can speak to the Student Support Team or book an appointment yourself through Activate Learning Online (ALO). 

Remember, you don't need to have everything figured out before asking for help. Talking to someone is a good first step. 

Everyone learns in different ways, and sometimes you might need a bit of extra help. Our Learning Support Team is here to help you feel confident, make progress and get the most out of your course. 

Support is available across our campuses and for students studying Further Education, apprenticeships, Higher Education and online courses. 

Depending on what you need, support could include: 

• Help during lessons  

• Study and revision support  

• Help with organisation and managing your time 

• Building confidence and independence  

• Support with reading, writing or communication  

• Support with additional learning needs or disabilities  

We'll work with you to understand what helps you learn best and put support in place to help you achieve your goals. 

If you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), our team will work with you, your tutors and other professionals to make sure you get the support you need. 

Exam Access Arrangements 

If you usually have extra support in exams, or think you might need it, we may be able to help. 

This could include: 

• Extra time 

• Rest breaks 

• A reader or scribe 

• Using a laptop 

• A smaller or quieter exam room 

The support available will depend on your individual needs and exam board guidelines. 

If you've had support at school or think you might need some extra help with exams because of a learning need, disability, anxiety or another difficulty, speak to the Learning Support Team as early as possible. 

Need to speak to the team? 

You can find the Learning Support Team on your campus or email gss@activatelearning.ac.uk  

We understand that the cost of coming to college can sometimes be a worry. 

Depending on your circumstances, financial support may be available to help with things like travel, meals, equipment and other college costs. 

Find out more about the support you may be eligible for on our Student Finance page. 

Sometimes things happening outside college can affect how you feel, your attendance or your ability to concentrate on your studies. 

Whether you're having difficulties at home, looking after someone, dealing with family problems or going through a difficult time, we're here to help. 

Our Student Support and Safeguarding Teams can: 

• Listen and talk things through with you, without judging 

• Help you find the right support 

• Work with your family, carers or other professionals where appropriate 

• Help you feel safe, supported and able to continue with college 

You don't need to be sure whether your situation qualifies for support. If something is worrying you, come and talk to us. 

Young Carers  

Are you helping to look after someone at home? This could be a parent, brother, sister or another family member who is ill, disabled, struggling with their mental health or affected by addiction. 

If you have caring responsibilities, you may be a young carer. We understand that balancing caring for someone with college can be difficult, and we're here to support you. 

We're proud to hold a Young Carers in Schools Award, recognising the support we provide to students with caring responsibilities.  

Student with Social Workers 

If you have a social worker or another professional helping to support you, we can work with them to make sure you feel safe, supported and able to succeed at college. 

Care Experienced Students 

You may be care experienced if you're currently in care or have been in care before. This includes living with foster carers or in residential care. 

We're proud to support the Care Leaver Covenant, helping care experienced young people access extra support, guidance and opportunities to help them succeed in education, training and employment. 

Students with Previous criminal convictions or Youth Justice Involvement 

Having a previous conviction, caution or involvement with the youth justice system doesn't mean you can't have a positive future at college. 

We're here to help you move forward, access any support you need and work towards your goals. You can talk to us without fear of being judged. 

New to college? Feeling nervous? 

Starting somewhere new can feel daunting, especially if you've been out of education for a while, feel anxious or don't know anyone yet. 

We can help you feel more confident and get settled before you start. This could include: 

• Open events and campus visits 

• Opportunities to meet your teachers 

• Transition events and extra support when you first start 

If you think you'd benefit from some extra support, let us know when you apply or speak to your tutor. 

Finding it Difficult to Come into College? 

You're not alone. There can be lots of reasons why coming into college feels difficult. 

You might be feeling anxious or low, struggling with travel costs, having problems at home, looking after someone or simply finding everything a bit overwhelming. 

Whatever the reason, it's important to talk to someone as early as possible. We can listen, help you understand what's making attendance difficult and work with you to find a way forward. 

You can speak to your tutor, your Performance Coach (if you're an apprentice) or someone from our Student Support and Safeguarding Team. 

Need to report an absence? 

You can: 

• Call: 0800 612 6008  

• Use the website chatbot (24/7)  

• Email: attendance@activatelearning.ac.uk 

College is about much more than lessons and exams. It's a chance to meet new people, try different things, discover new interests and feel part of a community. 

There are lots of ways to get involved across our campuses, including: 

• Trips, events and activities 

• Student leadership opportunities 

• Volunteering and fundraising 

• Wellbeing and awareness campaigns 

• LGBTQIA+ groups and student communities 

We also have quiet contemplation rooms and multi-faith spaces where you can pray, reflect or simply take a break during the day. 

We want college to be somewhere you feel comfortable being yourself, meeting people and making friends. Everyone is welcome. 

Having Your Say  

Your views matter, and we want to hear them. 

You can share feedback, get involved in student leadership and help shape college life for yourself and other students. 

There are opportunities to tell us what's working well, what could be better and how we can make college an even better place to learn. 

You might already know what you want to do after college, or you might have no idea yet. Either is absolutely fine! 

Our qualified, impartial Careers Advisers are here to help you explore your options and make decisions about your future. 

They can help you: 

• Understand your strengths and interests 

• Explore different jobs, courses and training opportunities 

• Think about your next steps 

• Make decisions that are right for you 

You can also get help with things like writing your CV and preparing for interviews. 

We're here to help you feel more confident about what comes next. 

Find out more here: Careers Support