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Safeguarding and Wellbeing
Wellbeing and Safeguarding support explained
There may be a time when you need ongoing help, such as emotional support, help with wellbeing/mind health issues or exam-stress whilst you are studying. Please contact us for advice and support.
Feeling safe at University Centre South Essex
The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team are here to make sure you feel safe at the University Centre. If you have any concerns please contact us. Alternately, you can speak to your tutor or any other staff member, who can then report your concerns for you.
Wellbeing & Mental Health issues
We know that starting a university course can be a stressful time and there may be moments during your degree you need someone to talk to. At the University Centre we have a HE Student Support Team and a dedicated HE Wellbeing Facilitator.
Contact the HE Student Support Team
Email HESupport@southessex.ac.uk or drop in to one of their bases for a chat.
If you are concerned about your emotional or mental health you can access the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team for help and support. The team offer a friendly, welcoming and non-judgemental approach to supporting anyone who needs help or advice about their mental health. We can offer support by helping by making any referrals to mental health teams outside the College.
Contact the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team
Email safeguarding@southessex.ac.uk or tel: 0345 52 12345.
Lecturer referrals
The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team are here to make sure everyone feels safe. Sometimes your lecturer may need to refer you to us if they believe you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harm. If you would like, your lecturer can stay with you during these conversations. The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team are very supportive and will always keep you at the centre of any decisions or referrals that need to be made.
The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team offers 100% confidentiality, but we would need to say or do something if:
- You ask us to
- We believe your life or someone else’s life is in danger
- You tell us that you're seriously harming another young person
- You're being hurt by someone in a position of trust
Referrals
You don't have to be referred, although some students will be referred by a lecturer or friend. You can make the decision to visit the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team for support yourself.
Contact the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team
Email safeguarding@southessex.ac.uk or tel: 0345 52 12345.
You can also access support from the HE Student Support Team by emailing HESupport@southessex.ac.uk
Safety at home
If you are feeling unsafe at home please speak to a member of the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team who will look to speak with you about your concerns. The team will then work with you to look at what options are available to ensure that you are safe. Depending on the situation and what you feel comfortable with, this may involve supporting you to or us contacting external agencies such as the police, social care, or anyone else that may be able to help and keep you safe. This is a process that will always involve you (our student) to make sure your wishes are heard.
The safety of our students is the most important thing to us as a college, so please let us know if there is anything that causes you to feel unsafe so we can make sure the issue gets resolved.
Help with bullying issues
Speak to your lecturer, partnership manager or HE Student Support initially as they will offer help & support and deal with any bullying issues you may be experiencing under our bullying and harassment policy.
Get in touch
Alternatively you can email stop@southessex.ac.uk
Support for friends/classmates
If you have concerns about the wellbeing or safety of a friend or classmate please contact us or bring your friend along to a drop in.
Counselling
There are qualified counsellors within the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team. You can have up to seven sessions with them to talk through issues you may be facing.
Find out more
To find out more about our service, contact safeguarding@southessex.ac.uk
Support if you live on your own
You can contact the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team for help or support if you live alone, for example in supported or shared accommodation, if you are a care leaver, or are living independently for any reason.
We have a dedicated team for students who are Care Experienced (previously looked after) who can advise on funding, accommodation, bursaries/grants and offer support during your time at the University Centre.
Find out more
If you are experiencing financial difficulty whilst studying contact our HE Student Support Team who will be able to advise you on the Hardship Fund and other sources of funding. The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team and the HE Student Support Team will work together to ensure you have what you need to be ready to learn.
Homelessness
If you become homeless the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team can signpost, offer help to support and/or refer you to the appropriate agencies.
Support for carers
The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team can support you if you consider yourself to be a carer. You may need additional support and understanding from your lecturers with regards to your deadlines, attendance, and any other academic concerns.
The team are happy to communicate with your lecturers to ensure you are supported. We can also help point you in the direction of carer’s groups in your local area for specific support.
Help if you are involved with social care
If you are involved with social care for any reason (for example being care experienced, have a child on a social care plan, etc.), please contact the Wellbeing & Safeguarding team so they can ensure that you have extra support in College to get through your course and anything else that may impact on your education, such as finances, emotional/mental health, family or home life, etc.
We can support in keeping in contact with any professionals that you work with, such as a social worker, to ensure that everyone is supporting you together.
Offenders/Probation
If you are known to the Justice or Offending Services it is important that you disclose this to the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team and inform us of your support worker’s details. Failure to disclose this information may impact your placement at College. We will liaise with your support worker to ensure that you are fully supported.
Success stories
Success Stories - Andy Wyatt
Course studied
Computer Aided Design & Manufacturing (2D CAD) Level 2 Award
My name is Andy Wyatt , I am 52 years old and I studied Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at South Essex College in 1984/5.
What did you study at South Essex College?
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design where I specialised in Photographic Arts and Moving Image.
What qualification did you receive?
I completed my foundation course at SEC and then went to study a BA in Filmmaking at Harrow School of Art which is now part of the University of Westminster.
What was your background before coming to the College to study?
I grew up in Chelmsford and studied A levels.
What have you done since completing your course?
After my degree I worked as an animator working on cartoons such as The Teenage Ninja Turtles and Duck Tales the Movie. I then joined a studio called Halas and Batchelor in London, followed by a studio called Honeycomb Animation where I became an Animation Director, animating and directing TV series including Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids. I then moved to Bristol, setting up my own studio, creating animation for the internet before working as a series director at Aardman Animations.
I have also worked as an educator, helping to set up degree programmes in Universities, and now work as an ambassador in the UK and Ireland for Toon Boom Animation, a Canadian Animation technology company. I work with studios setting up their productions, which can be TV series, Feature films or games.
Why did you choose to study at South Essex College?
I was impressed by the staff, and the student work I saw at an exhibition. It’s also great to study in a seaside town!
I was impressed by the staff, and the student work I saw at an exhibition. It’s also great to study in a seaside town!
What is the best thing about doing further or higher education?
It really develops your creativity, and is life-changing in that you get to specialise in a subject that you really love, and get to meet friends for life. It helps you progress to a great career.
What skills did you gain / are you gaining that have proved valuable?
As well as creativity, you also become more professional, meeting deadlines which can be really stressful, but college gives you experience working as part of a team which should never be under estimated.
What is your favourite memory of being at the College?
Some great people, and I remember the pride from being part of the end of year show. The environment was inspiring too.
Why would you recommend South Essex College?
For the same reasons I went…really knowledgeable staff who develop you as a person. The facilities are also incredible.
What has been your greatest achievement so far?
I’ve been part of productions that have had two BAFTA nominations… unfortunately we did not win either time, but it is a great achievement to be nominated!
What are your ambitions for the future?
To continue working in Animation which is one of the most dynamic and constantly evolving industries….when I think how much it has changed just throughout my career, who knows what will happen in the future!
Did your time at the College help with other areas of life (such as gaining confidence or maybe a skill that has helped you to pursue a hobby)?
Definitely. It built my confidence and developed my ability to work as part of a team and probably made me a bit more competitive (in a good way!)
Where are you working now?
Director of Business Development for Toon Boom Animation
What does your job entail?
Working with studios in the UK and Ireland to develop new ideas for projects. I help them achieve the look and style of animation they want.
How did you progress to your current position?
It took all sorts of experience from all the various jobs I have had to give me the knowledge and experience I needed to do the job I do now.
How did your time at South Essex College help prepare you for the workplace?
It opened my eyes to the fact that there was a whole sector of work out there (the Creative Industries) for people like me who enjoyed art and design.
How does the equipment you used at College compare to that within industry?
Actually, it is as good, if not better. Many of the studios I worked for had very limited budgets and we had to use old machinery or computers, and the studios were often in freezing cold basements or boiling hot attics!! The college has the latest software and powerful machines and air-conditioned studios…quite a luxury compared to some of the places I have worked!
