Safeguarding and Support

The safety and security of our student community is paramount. Below is a list of charities who can offer help and advice during what is a anxious period for everyone. You can click here for further information.

To read our update to the Safeguarding and Prevent Policy due to COVID-19, please click here.

Croydon Food Banks:

Croydon Council’s Discretionary support service

The council may be able to support families at risk of food or fuel poverty by offering vouchers, top-ups or onward referrals to services. Families will need to be in receipt of certain benefits to be eligible and council staff will need to ask about current finances to judge the need.

To apply for this service, please fill out the CDS application form.

If you are a resident of Sutton you may be eligible for a winter food voucher. Further details available here.

Samaritans – United Kingdom & Ireland – All Ages
A charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide. Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They’re there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, waiting for your call. You do not need to have any credit or call allowance – the call is free.

Website: www.samaritans.org
Email: jo@samaritans.org (response within 24 hours)
Phone: 116 123

SLAM Talking Therapies – 18+
A free and confidential NHS service provided by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. They offer a range of psychological therapies to adults who are registered with a GP in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. Every London borough has their own local IAPT service.

Website: www.slam-iapt.nhs.uk
Email: CroydonIAPT@Slam.nhs.uk
Phone: 020 3228 4040

Off the Record – Croydon, Merton & Sutton – Ages 14-25
Free, confidential face to face counselling, online counselling, online workshops, young carers service, support for refugees, asylum seekers, forced migrants and support for if you have lost someone close to you through serious youth violence or sudden death.

Website: www.talkofftherecord.org
Email: info@talkofftherecord.org
Phone: 020 8251 0251

OASIS (Me and My Mind) – South London – Ages 18-35
An NHS service providing free mental health support for young people in Croydon, Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham who are struggling with unusual experiences – such as feeling paranoid or hearing voices. You can refer yourself to OASIS by sending an email to the following address.

Website: www.meandmymind.nhs.uk
Email: oasisreferrals@slam.nhs.uk
Phone: Different depending on borough (check website)

The Drop In/Turnaround Centre – Croydon – Ages 14-21
A place where young people can just turn up for advice and support in a safe and secure environment. Experienced professionals are on hand to deal with immediate concerns. They will also be able to identify where young people or their families need extra help. Services available include housing advice youth workers, education welfare officers, voluntary services and leaving care services.

Website: www.croydon.gov.uk/community/youthsupport/turnaroundcentre
Phone: 020 8760 5530

Croydon College Sexual Health Nurse – Croydon College Students – All Ages
The sexual health nurse is unable to attend the college at the moment. Call or message Carolyn using the number below and she will get back to you as soon as possible. Once you have been assessed over the phone, you may be given an appointment at a clinic or have medication sent out to you.

Phone: 07773976488 (Carolyn)

Getting it On – South West London – Ages 13-19

Information and advice on sexual and mental health, LGBT issues, drugs, alcohol and relationship problems. They can help young people in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth and point you in the right direction to get the help you need.

Website: www.gettingiton.org.uk

Childline – United Kingdom – Children and Young People Up to Their 19^th Birthday
You can talk to a counsellor on the phone or access the online counselling service. Childline deal with any issues which cause distress or concern; some of the most common issues include child abuse, bullying, mental illness, parental separation or divorce, teenage pregnancy, substance misuse, neglect, and psychological abuse.

Website: www.childline.org.uk
Phone: 0800 1111 (FREE)

FJC (Formerly Family Justice Centre) – Croydon – All Ages
Are you safe at home? Are you sometimes afraid of your partner or a family member? Are you criticised or insulted by your partner or a family member? Have you ever been forced by your partner or a family member to do something you did not want to? Is your every move being monitored? Help is available for you at the FJC. The centre can provide you and your family with support and a safety plan. Their aim is to listen and respond to your needs in a safe way.

Website: www.croydon.gov.uk/community/dabuse/fjc
Email: fjc@croydon.gov.uk
Phone: 020 8688 0100

Refugee Council – United Kingdom – All Ages
Provides crisis advice and practical support for refugees and asylum seekers. They can help you to integrate into new communities and offer mental health counselling to help you come to terms with the trauma you may have experienced.

Website: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care – United Kingdom – All Ages
The United Kingdom’s largest bereavement charity, which provides free care and bereavement counselling to people suffering from grief. The Cruse Bereavement Care Freephone National Helpline is staffed by trained bereavement volunteers, who offer emotional support to anyone affected by bereavement.

Website: www.cruse.org.uk
Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk
Phone: 0808 808 167 (FREE)

Victim Support – England & Wales – All Ages
Provides free and confidential, specialist practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime. The crime does not have to have been reported to the police.

Website: www.victimsupport.org.uk
Phone: 080 8168 9111

Children and Young People’s Service/Victim Support – London – Ages 4-17
They provides free and confidential support for any child or young person who has been affected by crime. The crime does not have to have been reported to the police. They are part of Victim Support, the national charity for victims and witnesses of crime.

Website: www.youandco.org.uk

Croydon Recovery Network/Turning Point – Croydon – All Ages
Croydon Recovery Network is a drug and alcohol service run by Turning Point. They create individual recovery plans from a range of services, no matter what your situation is. There is an online chat feature or you can call using the number below. If you are not a Croydon resident, have a look at their website for a support service near you.

Website: www.turning-point.co.uk/croydon
Phone: 0300 123 9288

Safer London – London – Ages 16-24
Safer London believe every young person should be given the opportunity to live free from exposure to gangs, exploitation and crime and work tirelessly to make this happen.

Website: www.saferlondon.org.uk
Email: info@saferlondon.org.uk
Phone: 0207 021 0301

Jijsaw4U – Merton and Sutton – All Ages
A service that offers support to young victims of crime as well as young people affected by sexual or criminal exploitation, pre and post bereavement counselling, support for families with relatives in prison, domestic abuse support and care leaver advice.

Website: www.jigsaw4u.org.uk
Email: info@jigsaw4u.org.uk
Phone: 020 8687 1384

CentrePoint – London – Age 18+
Provides housing and support for young people in London. They aim to give homeless young people a future and want to end youth homelessness.

Website: www.centrepoint.org.uk
Phone: 0808 800 0661 (FREE)

Nightstop – London – Age 18+
Provides emergency overnight accommodation for young homeless people who are facing a night on the streets or sleeping in an unsafe place. Communities and charities run Nightstops in more than 31 locations around the UK, led and supported by the Nightstop team at Depaul UK.

Website: www.nightstop.org.uk
Phone: 020 7939 1220

Runaway Helpline – United Kingdom – Ages 11-17
A helpline if you are thinking about running away, if you have already run away, or if you have been away and come back.

Website: www.runawayhelpline.org.uk
Email: 116000@runawayhelpline.org.uk
Phone: 116 000 (FREE)