Academic and personal support

Academic and personal support

Your wellbeing is really important to us. We’re here to make sure you get the support you need, whenever you need it.

At City of Bristol College we have a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of violence and harassment and will utilise our safeguarding and disciplinary policies as appropriate, to ensure that our College remains a safe space for all our students.

On this page:

If you’re experiencing problems with your mental health, we offer a range of mental health support resources and services.

Study support

Study coaches

Your Study Coach will deliver an engaging tutorial programme and offer regular pastoral support.

Course tutor

Your course tutor will support you to make progress on your course, reach your full potential and gain your qualifications.

ONTRACK

We want City of Bristol College students to have every opportunity to be successful during their time with us. The ONTRACK Commitment is our promise to students that we will be honest and provide support if we feel you’re not on track to make expected progress:

• Your teacher will discuss the reasons they feel you aren’t on track with you, and inform your other teachers, Head of Department, Programme Manager or legal guardian* if you’re under 18
• You will have a meeting to identify your next steps and agree targets, which will be reviewed at least every two weeks
• Your Study Coach or Personal Tutor will frequently check in with you to make sure you’re getting all the support you need
• Where barriers to your progression are identified, we will refer you to get help with them, such as help with finances, extra tuition or study support

*in line with Privacy Statement

Support with English and Maths

From foundation level through to GCSE, A Level and degree level, we can give you one-to-one and group tuition, and help with any concerns you may have about assignments, essays or exams.

Support with dyslexia, dyspraxia and other specific learning difficulties

We can:

• provide you with specialist assessment and tuition;
• make access arrangements for your exams and assignments;
• give you information about claiming Disabled Students’ Allowance if you are a higher education student.

Find out more about additional learning support at City of Bristol College.

Sexual health

The C-card Scheme

Did you know that if you’re under 20, you can get free condoms through Bristol’s C-card scheme?

To register, you need to have a confidential chat with a C-card-trained member of staff, who will explain the scheme to you, teach you the best way to use condoms and answer any questions you might have.

The service is completely confidential. No one will tell your parents/guardians that you have accessed the scheme. Under-16s are generally required to take part in a face-to-face interview.

Once you’ve registered, you are given a C-card and can go to any C-card pick-up point around Bristol and get free condoms. You can use the card an unlimited number of times until your 20th birthday.

To find out more about the C-card scheme, call 0117 312 5000, email welfare@cityofbristol.ac.uk or ask reception/your study coach for more information.

Brook Clinic

If you’re under 25 and worried about sex, relationships, contraception, sexuality or body issues, then you can get free and confidential sexual health advice at Brook Clinic, the sexual health charity.

To find out more, call 0808 802 1234, visit www.brook.org.uk

Substance abuse

If you have been affected by substance abuse, Bristol Drug Project (BDP) can offer free support:

For those aged up to 18: https://www.bdp.org.uk/children-and-young-people/

For adults 18+: https://www.bdp.org.uk/get-information/ or https://www.bdp.org.uk/contact-us/

Online safety

Being able to learn and communicate virtually has been very useful throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but there can also be downsides for our safety and wellbeing.

It’s important to be aware of what media you’re consuming and where it’s come from. Social media platforms use algorithms to restrict your feed so are unlikely to be a reliable source of information, and can be used by far-right groups and conspiracy theorists to attempt to recruit people.

Chaplaincy

Our inclusive and welcoming chaplaincy offers pastoral and spiritual support. As a College student, you can access this directly or through a referral by any staff member.

The service:

• is confidential
• seeks the answers to the questions important to you
• is well-informed, reliable, open-minded and non-judgemental

We have multi-faith prayer rooms available for all College staff, students and official visitors.

Email chaplaincy@cityofbristol.ac.uk or call 0117 312 5393 to find out more.

Safeguarding

If you have any concerns about your safety and wellbeing, or if you are worried about another student, please contact the safeguarding and welfare team on 0117 312 5733 or safeguardingteam@cityofbristol.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can speak to a member of staff who will contact them for you. A member of the safeguarding team will listen to your concerns and support you to stay safe.

Find out more about safeguarding at City of Bristol College.

Young carers

City of Bristol College’s young carers lead is Jonny Elphinstone. If you are a student aged 14-25 and you care for someone else, please feel free to get in touch with Jonny for information and support.

Carers Support Centre Bristol and South Gloucestershire run a monthly Young Carers Voice group, who work together to influence local services and improve young carers’ lives. They are always looking for representatives to join the group, so if you are a young carer and would be interested, get in touch by emailing youngc@carerssupportcentre.org.uk or calling 0117 958 9980.

For more advice and support you can read Bristol City Council’s support for young carers.

Information for staff

• Checklist of support that young carers may need
• Step 6: Tool 10: Supporting young carers to transition into adulthood
• Checklist of signs a pupil may be a young carer
• How school staff can support young carers 
• Identification tool for education staff (Sheffield Young Carers)
• Direct link to our young carers drop in session (Taking place the last Friday of every month from 11am – 12pm)

External support services for City of Bristol College students

Boloh

• The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic family Covid-19 Helpline
• Available Monday to Friday from 1pm-8pm
• Call 0800 1512605

Brook Bristol

• Sexual health advice for under 19s in Bristol
• Call 0117 929 0090

Samaritans

• Call 116 123 or visit the website
• Helpline or email service – not just for crisis
• Available 24/7

The Hideout

• Support for young people relating to domestic abuse

NSPCC

• NSPCC helpline 0800 136 663

The Mix

• Essential support for under 25s

Winston’s Wish

• Support for bereaved children and young people
• Helpline for parents/families
• Email and online chat support services
• Online resources

Migrants’ Rights Network

• Support for migrants living in the UK
• Know your rights guide

Domestic abuse support

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse
• What to do if you need urgent police help through the 999 service, but can’t speak