Here at Catz, your well-being is at the heart of everything you do, including your social, academic, extracurricular, and personal lives. As a result, we use a system that aims to help the welfare of people in all of these aspects, from the individual to the community level. The ways in which your individual well-being are supported are shown in our welfare flowchart below. This flowchart shows how you can get appropriate help with any aspect of your well-being by pointing out people who can help. See the contact list for more info on the people here to support you.
Does someone require immediate medical attention?
→ Call for a First Aider from the Porter’s Lodge on +44 (0)1865 271 700, or an ambulance on 999
→ If you call an ambulance, call the lodge afterwards so they can direct it upon arrival.
Is someone experiencing significant distress at this moment?
→ Contact the Porter’s Lodge on +44 (0)1865 271 700, and ask for an available Junior Dean. (Junior Deans are only on duty from 7pm-7am and on weekends)
Is someone experiencing a medical or mental health problem that does not require immediate attention?
→ Contact the college nurse (StCatherinesNurse@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk) or college counsellor (counsellor@stcatz.ox.ac.uk). See this page on the college website for up-to-date Nurse Hours.
Have you/has someone else been the victim of discrimination, harassment, or a criminal offence?
→ HARASSMENT: Inform one of the College Harassment Panel members: Prof. Gaia Scerif (gaia.scerif@psy.ox.ac.uk) or Prof. Richard Todd (richard.todd@stcatz.ox.ac.uk). If you’d prefer to contact someone outside of college, contact the University Harassment Line on 01865 270 760.
→ DISCRIMINATION: Inform one of the College Harassment Panel members: Prof. Gaia Scerif (gaia.scerif@psy.ox.ac.uk) or Prof. Richard Todd (richard.todd@stcatz.ox.ac.uk).
→ CRIMINAL OFFENCE: You are encouraged to report the crime to Thames Valley Police. If this is not appropriate, please contact the Dean, Junior Deans, or welfare reps.
Has someone been the subject of sexual violence or harassment?
→ If you are in need of support, or are seeking advice on what to do next, visit the website for the Oxford Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service: ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/supportservice
→ Alternatively, the Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre (OSARCC) also offers free, confidential advice to anyone who has themselves, or who is supporting someone else who has been subject to sexual violence: osarcc.org.uk or 01865 725 311 or admin@osarcc.org.uk.
→ Both of these services have teams who are trained in responding to incidents of sexual violence and harassment.
Is someone experiencing financial hardship?
→ Contact the Home Bursar, Ian Wright: ian.wright@stcatz.ox.ac.uk.
Is someone experiencing stress/anxiety not related to any of the above?
→ Help in college: college counsellor (counsellor@stcatz.ox.ac.uk), Junior Deans (juniordean@stcatz.ox.ac.uk), Welfare Reps, Peer Supporters.
→ Help outside college: University Counselling Service or OU Coffee Ambassadors.
Catz welfare is far-reaching and is not limited to supporting your mental health (though this is one of our major aims). We also support your physical health, which you can and you can find out more on the dedicated page, e.g. what to do if you’re ill. Similarly, you can find out more about sexual health on its page, e.g. how to get free contraception and sanitary products in college. You will have access to welfare resources throughout your time at Catz, but here’s a few external resources that may come in handy. Also, us welfare reps work closely with other JCR reps to arrange events dedicated to improving the well-being of the Catz student community.