Welfare and Support
Wherever you're from and whatever your circumstances, there's a team of people to help and support you through your studies if you need. If it's on your mind, let us help. You can talk to the team in Furness about anything from homesickness to issues with flatmates, worries about yourself to worries about others.
First Year Reps
The First Year Reps are all current Furness students that have been recruited to look after you, helping you to settle in and find your way around. You'll meet them on arrivals day and they will keep in touch through the year. They will be your first source of information and should facilitate harmonious living.
International Buddies
New students choosing to study at Lancaster University from outside the UK often have a lot of questions as they begin to adjust to a different cultural environment. Our International Buddy Programme aims to help with the transition and support new international students adapting to living and studying in the UK by matching them with a current Furness student. If you are interested in finding out more about the scheme, contact us or register your interest via our online form.
College Staff
You can always go and see Jo in the College Office if you have anything on your mind, including problems with your finances or student life in Furness.
The Assistant Deans are postgraduates that live in the accommodation and work with the college team. Their primary function is to uphold discipline and they patrol the accommodation several times weekly to make sure there are no issues. They can also facilitate flat meetings though where issues between groups become apparent.
The Porters are on duty every day and night during term time and you will get to know them as you collect your mail and parcels. You can call them at any time if you need help, fall ill or need to report anti-social behaviour in the accommodation. Their telephone number is 01524 593714.
College Advisor Team
The Furness College Advisor Team (FurCAT) can offer support and direction on any aspect of your student life, at your request.
The team is made up of five members of University staff that monitor an enquiry mailbox, led by our Senior Advisor Cathryn Fitton. You can make contact by emailing furnesscat@lancaster.ac.uk or by the iLancaster App. Somebody will get back to you as soon as they can with advice.
College Wellbeing Officer
Taryn Whitford is the College Wellbeing Officer and she liaises with the CAT. Taryn is a fully qualified mental health nurse and splits her time between Furness and Bowland Colleges dealing with all kinds of issues.
Student Education Services
Outside the college there is a central helpdesk known as ASK (Advice, Support and Knowledge service), which is located in Alexandra Square in the centre of campus. From here you can access services provided by the Student and Education services including, Student Funding, Disability Service, Transitions team, International Student Support and Careers teams. This is also the place to book an appointment with a Funding Advisor if you have any financial worries, or need help chasing up your funding. You can email ASK, pop in, or call them on 01524 592525.
A team of Counsellors and Mental Health Advisors make up the Counselling and Mental Health Service, providing support, advice and guidance on issues as wide ranging as personal, family, social or academic. For further information and to make an appointment visit the Counselling and Mental Health Service page.
Nightline
Lancaster Nightline is a peer to peer listening and information service run by Lancaster students, providing a night-time contact point, free information or just somebody to listen. All calls are anonymous and confidential, and you can contact Nightline by telephone on 01524 594444. Alternatively, you can email Nightline, instant message Nightline or Skype Nightline.
Don't know who to contact for support?
Student Education Services have provided an information graphic which is designed to help you know who to contact and when or what resources to access and when.