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At university you can make independent choices about the things you want to do whether you stay at home with your family or live in halls. You can decide how you manage your studies and finances and you may want to meet new people, socialise or try out activities for the first time.

Everyone feels different about staying in touch with friends or family.

You might:

• Miss support from family or friends and feel homesick or lonely
• Find managing your finances hard
• Feel pressure to ‘succeed’ and do well

If you need support and advice there are staff and services to support you at ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ and beyond

• Meet new people by
• Sort your finances
• Make your wellbeing a priority

  As an adult you have the right to decide what is right for you. No-one has the right to put pressure on you and if someone in your family is forcing you to make choices you don’t want to, that’s a red flag.

  Sometimes relationships with family can be unhealthy and this could look like domestic abuse, honour abuse, forced marriage or coercive control. The NHS website can help you to recognise the signs of abusive family relationships.

  If you are worried about domestic, honour-based or sexual abuse, ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Mandala advisers can chat to you on Teams, via email or face to face about your options, but in an emergency or if you need urgent help ring 999 straightaway.

  Other sources of support include:

  • ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Mandala
  • : Support for people who experiencing "honour-based" abuse or forced marriage
  • : The LGBT+ anti-abuse charity

  It’s always important to reach out for support if someone is hurting or controlling you. You can find out about supporting a friend who might be experiencing abuse at .

Whether you are living at home or have moved to Leicester, making friends at university is easier than you think.

It’s a fact that all new students worry about making friends at university, but there are lots of ways that you can meet new people, avoid isolation and loneliness, and settle into university life. Here are a few ideas:

Ways to make friends at university:

• Go to welcome events and Freshers - it's a common misconception that Freshers events involve alcohol, nightclubs and other activities that don't appeal to all students; in reality, there are plenty of activities that don't, including low-sensory and alcohol-free events. Every year, listings for Freshers events will become available online, via social media, Healthy ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ and - keep an eye out for activities that sound like fun to you
• Join groups on social media and WhatsApp
• Get involved in volunteering
• Join a society or get involved at

Ways to make friends in halls:

• Try hanging out in the kitchen, living room or common area
• Invite your flatmates for lunch
• Host a games night

Ways to make friends on your course:

• Go to your course induction
• Organise study groups – library syndicate rooms link
• Sit next to people in lectures and seminars

Activities at ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ

Here are some ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ activities where you can make friends:

• Spiritual support spaces
• Sports and gym activities
• International Students Hub Social

Healthy friendships

Here are some signs your friendships are healthy:

• You feel safe to share and communicate your feelings
• You have shared interests
• Your friends are kind and support you
• You feel that your personal boundaries are respected
• Your friends are happy about your achievements, goals and successes

Unhealthy friendships

Here are some signs of unhealthy relationships:

• Name calling and putting you or others down
• Bullying or trolling
• Causes you to feel used or exploited
• Getting too drunk, or friendships based on drinking
• Being encouraged to engage in risk taking or illegal activity

Learn more about ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s approach to Prevent

You can report the behaviour of another student to the university by calling 24 hours a day on 0116 2577642.

Loneliness

If you feel lonely and are unsure how to take the first steps to meeting new people, you can book on MyGateway for:

• Healthy ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Masterclasses; face to face and online sessions that enhance your skills for healthy study
• Single Point of Access Appointments (SPAs); one-to one appointments to discuss your situation with a member of the Wellbeing Team

Moving away from home and living in student accommodation can be big part of the university experience for many. There are lots of advantages to living with new people and a few things to consider:

• You may make life long friends within your accommodation
• Sharing the university experience with the people you live with can help you feel supported
• Your housemates can also be your study buddies to help you through deadlines, exams or placements
• You may have a difference of opinions on chores or other household tasks
• Differing personalities can sometimes result in challenging situations
• You might feel pressure to go out and socialise more than you usually would

These are common issues, but there are ways to overcome them.

Managing relationships with housemates

When you live with others, whether they are friends, family or partners, communication is key. If an issue arises, speak to the individual about any concerns that you have, but try to be positive and calm. Sometimes there might be more going on for those individuals than you realise.

The following tips can help prevent problems from occurring:

• Assign areas or times for study or socialising to ensure minimal disruptions
• Consider agreeing to some house rules early on - have everyone contribute their own ideas and preferences
• Be receptive to new ideas, beliefs and cultures
• Find out who are the key members of staff are in your accommodation and record their contact details

Sometimes, managing relationships with people you live can be tricky. has some advice on dealing with difficult housemates on their website.

¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Security

The ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Security team are on hand 24 hours a day, all year round to help keep you safe on campus. If you have questions or concerns about your safety, or would like to formally report something to ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ, you can contact the team by phone on 0116 2577642 (extension 7642), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or by email at security@dmu.ac.uk.

Healthy ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ

Healthy ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ can offer a wide range of advice and guidance on physical and mental wellbeing; you can also find out how to get involved in volunteering and social activities.

Togetherall

¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ has access to a platform called , to help students who are looking for support with their wellbeing while at university.

Togetherall is designed to help students get support, take control and feel better. It provides 24/7 peer-to-peer support (moderated by professional wall guides), plus a range of courses and tools to help students self-manage their wellbeing.

Need support?

If you need help, there are services at ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ which can support you.

No Space for Hate supports students dealing with incidents of hate and harassment. This service comprises of an anonymous reporting tool and a specialised confidential service which outlines support and reporting options. To speak to a member of the No Space for Hate team, you can call 0116 207 8309 between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday when ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ is open, or email nsfh@dmu.ac.uk.

Single Point of Access Appointment (SPA)

SPA appointments last 45 minutes, and are an opportunity to discuss your situation with a member of support staff from Wellbeing Services. You may be supported to access other internal and external services, and an action plan will be devised with you, including your possible next steps.

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¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Security

The ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Security team are on hand 24 hours a day, all year round to help keep you safe on campus. If you have questions or concerns about your safety, or would like to formally report something to ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ, you can contact the team by phone on 0116 2577642 (extension 7642), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or by email at security@dmu.ac.uk.