Student Support Office

A range of student support services are available, situated on the centre build first floor, or online, comprising:

• Student Finance

• Counselling service

• Management and coordination of inclusive learning support for students with learning difficulties or disabilities including mental health issues

• Health and Wellbeing services, advice, support and referral.

These services will continue to offer online support in the event of restrictions / lockdown - just email studentsupport@pca.ac.uk

One of the primary functions of Student Support is to provide initial support for students in distress, making referral where appropriate to services within the College or externally, and otherwise providing information and support on self-help strategies. Student Support can be contacted by telephone on 01752 203434 / 203418, internal phone number 269 or email studentsupport@pca.ac.uk .

If you are struggling to cope for any reason please seek help from Student Support and if you are in distress or otherwise needing urgent support you will be seen immediately, with subsequent access to ongoing counselling or other professional services as appropriate. Student Support provides impartial advice on a range of personal issues, with other health and wellbeing services including:

Tuition fees and finance

Details of tuition fees are found in the terms and conditions for your year of entry at the College. Advice and guidance about any aspect of student funding – tuition fees or financial support - for all students is available from our Student Finance team in the Student Hub – please drop in, telephone (01752 203423) or email studentsupport@pca.ac.uk.

Counselling

The Student Counselling Service is available to offer support to students who may be experiencing distress or difficulties with their College or personal lives. The service is confidential, and seeks to promote students’ well-being, independence, resourcefulness, personal development and capacity to benefit from the opportunities offered at the College.

The counselling office is located in the main Student Support block. You can contact a counsellor by email counselling@pca.ac.uk or by completing a confidential request form and posting this in the secure letterbox outside the counselling office.

If you are concerned about how to make an appointment the Student Support staff can help or alternatively your tutor can also assist.

Inclusive Learning

The College is committed to ensuring that all students have reasonable access to all elements of their education during their studies.

While programme teams through Learning and Teaching Directorate are responsible for inclusive learning, eligible students can claim for additional support funded by Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) - supported by Student Support. If you need help due to a learning difficulty or a disability including mental health issues all you need to do is come to Student Support and the staff will be able to advise you on who to contact and eligibility.

You may be eligible for dyslexia screening if you have already disclosed a high level of needs to study or feel it is required. To have this funded you will need a minimum of 80% attendance. If you can provide evidence of a dyslexia diagnosis from previous education you may be fast tracked for a full assessment.

For specialist eye assessments including, for example, scotopic sensitivity or Irlen Syndrome, you will be directed to the University of Plymouth’s Centre for Eyecare Excellence (CEE) in nearby Gibbon Street. Again, the Student Hub can support you with this.

Health and wellbeing

Help is offered to you in the following:

• • alternative approaches to health and wellbeing

  • information and advice for holistic health providers in Plymouth

  • advice on registering with you GP

  • mindfulness

  • managing stress and anxiety

  • coping with student life

  • overcoming sleep problems

  • understanding and developing strategies to help with depression

  • being in tune with and managing your emotions

  • dealing with panic attacks

Part-time Work

Many of you will obtain part-time jobs to help with your finances. Please remember when considering what jobs to apply for, that being over-tired is one of the chief reasons that students are not able to cope with their coursework. Try to limit your work to one or two evenings a week or at weekends.

Staying Safe

Plymouth College of Art believes that it is always unacceptable for any student to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all students by commitment to practice that protects them effectively. The College is committed to:

• providing a safe learning environment for all students with equal protection from all types of harm and abuse

• identifying children, young people and vulnerable adults who are suffering or are likely to suffer significant harm, and taking appropriate action to see that such children, young people and vulnerable adults are kept safe, both at home and at the College

• working in partnership with students, staff and other institutions to promote a safe learning environment

• the College complies with recent government legislation regarding ‘Prevent’ responsibilities, aiming to raise awareness of the risks of extremism including radicalisation.

Any of the staff in Student Support can deal with any safeguarding concerns. If at any point you feel you need to talk to someone about any issues around being safe either inside or outside College or if you are suffering from emotional distress you should report to the Wellbeing Team in Student Support or you can self-refer to a College Counsellor. Contact details for Student Support is as follows:

Telephone: 01752 203423

Email: studentsupport@pca.ac.uk

The Student Support website contains lots of information and resources and the link to Student Support Procedure - Student Concern provides further guidance.

The College has recently developed closer links with the University of Plymouth Neighbourhood Beat Manager and Team - a PC and a PCSO. They have developed for us the Student Safety Guide.

The College will not tolerate harassment or bullying in any form and has a Dignity at Study Policy to help combat this.

Harassment

Harassment occurs when an individual is subjected to unwanted conduct which has the purpose (intentional) or effect (unintentional) of:

• • Violating a person’s dignity, or

  • Creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual.

Moreover, harassment is unlawful when it is on the grounds of sex, gender reassignment, marital status, race, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion/belief, or for a reason relating to a person’s disability.

It is the individual’s perception of whether the conduct in question was unacceptable that is important in determining whether harassment occurred. Where the conduct in question is found to have been unintentional, it will be viewed as having the effect of harassment if this could be regarded as a reasonable conclusion when taking into account all the circumstances, including the complainant’s perception.

Racial Harassment

Racial harassment can be defined as unwanted behaviour of a nature related to someone’s race, meaning colour or nationality, which does any of the following:

• • Violates your dignity - in terms of racial harassment, it means experiencing disrespect because of something race-related at College.

  • Makes you feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated - the language hinges on how the behaviour ‘makes you feel’, not how the person doing it intends to make you feel. It doesn’t matter if the perpetrator did not mean to racially harass someone, or thought it was just ‘banter’ - it can still be racial harassment.

  • Creates a hostile or offensive environment - if behaviour is making someone reasonably feel like they are in an environment like that because of their race then it can be racial harassment. If a victim is treated in a way that fits these categories because of their race, or treated less favourably because of their race – that's racial harassment. For example, a young British Asian student in a studio keeps being called a racist name by other members of their programme. His peers say it is just banter, but the student is insulted and offended by it

To class something as racial harassment, the behaviour only has to fit into one of these categories, and not all of them. Examples of racial harassment can include racist comments or jokes, name calling and sending emails or pictures of a racist nature and may also include microaggressions that could include, for example making a statement such as “you must be a great dancer being a black person”..

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature (aka something sexual, or related to your gender), which does any of the following:

• • Violates your dignity - in terms of sexual harassment, it means experiencing disrespect because of something sex-related at College.

  • Makes you feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated - the language hinges on how the behaviour ‘makes you feel’, not how the person doing it intends to make you feel. It doesn’t matter if the perpetrator did not mean to sexually harass someone, or thought it was just ‘banter’ - it can still be sexual harassment.

  • Creates a hostile or offensive environment - if behaviour of a sexual nature is making someone reasonably feel like they are in that type of environment then it’s sexual harassment. If a victim is treated in a way that fits these categories because of their gender, or treated less favourably because they reject or submit to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature – that's sexual harassment. For example, if a student received a lower grade because they rejected a lecturer coming on to them.

To class something as sexual harassment, the behaviour only has to fit into one of these categories, and not all of them. Examples of sexual harassment can include sexual comments or jokes, unwelcome sexual advances or touching, suggestive looks, staring or leering, intrusive sexual questions, spreading sexual rumours, and sending emails or pictures of a sexual nature.

Bullying

Bullying, although not defined legally, is described as offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient.

Examples of forms of Harassment and Bullying

Harassment and bullying can take many forms. Examples of unacceptable behaviour include:

• • offensive songs, remarks, jokes, emails or gestures

  • display of offensive posters, publications and graffiti

  • unwanted physical contact or advances

  • offensive remarks about a person’s dress or appearance

  • offensive remarks about a person’s race, gender, marital status, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or age

  • shouting, abusive or intimidating language

  • spreading malicious rumours, allegations or gossip

  • excluding, marginalising or ignoring someone

  • intrusions by pestering, spying or stalking

  • copying communications that are critical about someone to others not required to know

  • deliberately undermining a person by taking credit for their work or constant criticism

  • removing areas of responsibility and imposing menial tasks

  • cyber-bullying: that is, the sending or posting of harmful, cruel or offensive text or images by e- mail, internet, social networking websites or other digital communication devices

  • communication meant to cause emotional distress and that has no legitimate purpose to the choice of communication used and may simply be continuously sending an e-mail or other contact to, or with, someone who does not want any further contact with the sender.

The above list is intended to give a clear impression of the types of behaviour that the College considers to be unacceptable; however it only contains examples and is not exhaustive. It is accepted that vigorous academic debate between students, a one-off incident and occasional raised voice or argument, of itself will not necessarily constitute harassment or bullying.

Advice and Support

However, if you feel that you have been bullied or harassed or a victim of sexual violence or misconduct it is crucial that you report it. PLEASE LET SOMEONE KNOW!

Support is available from the Students’ Union, lecturers, tutors, other staff members, College managers or a member of Student Support, where you can report any concerns.

If you think you have Coronavirus / Covid-19 please go to the website below where you can check your symptoms/arrange a visit to a local test centre/arrange for a testing kit to be sent to you:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

Mental Health Support

In times of mental health or psychological emergencies dial 999 or if possible attend the local A&E unit at Plymouth Hospitals Trust, Derriford.

Or contact the local Samaritans on 11 61 23

For PCA Students you can contact: The Big White Wall - an anonymous community where members can support each other

• Access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

• Trained professionals available 24/7 to keep the community safe

• Self-assessments & recommended resources

• Creative tools to help express how you’re feeling

• Wide range of self-guided courses to do at your own pace

Are you in a crisis, anxious, worried? Get help with 'Give us a Shout' - text 85258

Alternative organisations for help - mental health

HOPE Line UK

If you are a young person at risk of suicide or are worried about a young person at risk of suicide Helpline: 0800 068 41 41

email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

SMS: 07786 209697

Mon-Fri 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Weekends 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Or For Men only: Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

Helpline is open from 5pm-midnight, 365 days of the year 0800 58 58 58

Web-chat https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/ open every day between 6pm – 9pm

Assault, Rape and Violence Support

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) (link)

The Plymouth SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) has recently moved to new premises that provide improved 24 hour access to counselling and services including; better car parking, a state of the art adult forensic facility, as well as access to support staff and medical services at any time of the day or night. This can be with or without the need for police involvement.

The new Plymouth SARC is located at Hawthorne House, a safe location in Estover. Plymouth residents can access the full range of SARC services by calling 0300 3034626 or by using the quick online referral form.

Plymouth Rape Crisis Line

Tel: 01752 223584

First Light (formerly Twelves Company / Skoodhya) (Plymouth Sexual Assault Referral Centre)

Tel: 03458 12 12 12

Tel: 01752 220 400 Mon-Fri 0900-1700

First Light - Plymouth Sexual Violence and Assault Service

Helpline: 03458 12 12 12

email: cove.support@firstlight.org.uk (non-secure) / cove.support@firstlight.cjsm.net (secure)

First Light - Plymouth Counselling and Therapy

Helpline: 03458 12 12 12

email: cove.support@firstlight.org.uk (non-secure) / cove.support@firstlight.cjsm.net (secure)

First Light - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Domestic Abuse

Helpline: 0300 777 4777

email: reach.support@firstlight.org.uk (non-secure) / reach.support@firstlight.cjsm.net (secure)

First Light - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Sexual Violence and Assault

Helpline: 01872 272059

email: willow.support@firstlight.org.uk (non-secure) / willow.support@firstlight.org.uk (secure)

Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service

T: 01752 252 033 (office hours)

Domestic Abuse 24hr helpline (national) 0808 2000 247

The College is producing a Sexual Violence & Misconduct Policy for September 2021 and will shortly be introducing an online reporting system.

Sexual Health

Your Ship

A friendly, non judgemental centre for sexual health and HIV at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. All tests and treatment are free.

01752 431124 for an appointment or access our walk in and wait clinic. For the following only you can drop in at any time:

• Emergency contraception

• HIV post exposure pophylaxis (PEP)

• If you have taken a test for HIV which has come back with a positive result

Other Support

Not Alone

Provides support and advice for transgender and non-binary people aged 16+ in Plymouth. It has been set up to provide a safe place for sharing thoughts and feelings for those who need it.

http://www.notaloneplymouth.co.uk/contact-us/

Police Non-Emergency Number – 101 (or complete online form)

Relate

Tel: 0300 100

Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau

Tel: 03444 111 444

The Zone

A charity which provides free and confidential information and support to young people in areas including mental health, finance, homelessness, sexual health and more.

https://www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk/about-us/our-organisation (links to many more support services)

Tel: 01752 206626

These contacts are checked regularly. However, if you find that any of these numbers no longer work or if emails have changed please let someone from Student Support or the Head of Compliance & Quality Systems know and we can follow up and update.