Union call connect
As part of our commitment to provide the best possible experience to our students, the University and the Students’ Union offer a helpful, friendly wellbeing call to all students. This programme, named Union Connect, offers a proactive intervention to students during their studies.
This initiative provides every student with a supportive and friendly connection through a peer-to-peer check-in phone call made by fellow students. Student callers have been recruited and trained to ensure phone conversations are informative and friendly, guiding you to find the right services within the University. You will be notified of the call and given the option to rearrange if you are unable to speak at the time.
The aim of this programme is to build a sense of community, offer guidance, and ensure that all students at Westminster feel supported as they embark on or continue their academic journey. The programme also complements the existing and highly successful Friends of Arriving New Students (FANS) programme. This will also be a platform for early intervention, helping us to pre-emptively support any student who is facing challenges before they develop any further.
The call centre will be delivered on-site and supervised by full-time colleagues who will be there to pick up and escalate any students in distress or in urgent need of acute support.
When does this happen?
The programme will run in three phases during the academic year, from October to early June. A notification will be sent prior to the call, giving you the opportunity to opt out, book a slot and ask more questions about what the call will entail.
What will the call involve?
You will receive a call from a trained student caller, a friendly voice to connect with who can offer assistance and signpost you to the many types of support offered at Westminster. These phone calls are a platform for you to ask any questions, voice any concerns, and ensure you are having a good experience while studying at Westminster. This programme will help you to make the most of your Westminster experience as you’ll hear about all the available opportunities aimed at developing your skills and unlocking your potential.
The call will take no longer than 10 minutes, and if you miss it or if it isn’t a good time to speak, you will have the opportunity to call back and leave a message to arrange for a better time.
The calls are confidential; however, if anything raised may pose a risk to yourself or others, information will be shared with relevant student support services. If at any point the callers feel the need to refer you to additional services, you will be notified of this.
What happens after the call?
After speaking with a student caller, you will receive a follow-up email tailored to you with useful information to read, and guidance on the next steps for seeking support and linking to opportunities. Students who don’t respond to calls will get follow-up emails signposting where they can go for support and information. The Students’ Union does track general themes of the information students provide and uses this to support you in your studies. This information highlights the positive areas of the student experience and provides helpful feedback to the University on areas which may need some development. All information shared is themed, ensuring confidentiality unless there is a well-being concern.
Further information
For any immediate questions, please contact the Students’ Union at [email protected].