Need help and support during the summer break?

Flip flops standing in the sand

Although some of our campus services close during the summer break, many of our teams remain available or run at reduced hours to support you during this time. 

If you are worried about your mental health, and you are in Dorset, you can call Connection on 0800 652 0190 for 24 hour access to mental health advice and support. You can also find additional urgent wellbeing support on our website.  

If you are concerned about another BU student staying in Bournemouth over the summer, you can access emergency welfare support through the university out of hours’ service on 01202 962222. 

Student Wellbeing 

Student Wellbeing will continue to offer an appointment-based service over the summer, this will mostly be remote appointments, but a limited number of face-to-face appointments will also be available. Please note that there will be no drop-ins available over the summer.

Visit the Student Wellbeing webpages for information about how to self-refer and details about our support services. You can also contact the team via email [email protected], or phone on 01202 965020. We may take longer than usual to respond to queries.

Achieve@BU 

The Achieve@BU Team are available over the summer from Monday to Friday, 9am - 4:30pm. We can be contacted via [email protected] or via the AskBU phone number - 01202 969696. 

Student Assistance Programme 

Student Assistance Programme, our 24-hour confidential helpline and digital resources platform, will continue to be available during the summer months. Student Assistance Programme can help you with personal or student-related problems in a several ways: 

University Retreat 

The University Retreat on Talbot Campus will be closed from Monday 24 - Friday 28 June for staff training, and will then close for the summer from Saturday 20 July until Monday 9 September.

During this time The Retreat run by Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust in Bournemouth town centre and Dorchester continues to be available during the summer months. Both these locations are staffed with peer specialists and mental health professionals who won’t offer medication or formal therapy, but will support and promote self-management. You can find out more about these locations on our The Retreat webpage.  

If you are unable to get to Bournemouth or Dorchester, virtual support is available at our Community Front Rooms in Weymouth, Bridport, Wareham and Shaftesbury, Thursday-Sunday, 2.15-9.45pm. All offer face-to-face and virtual drop-ins. 

Medical Centre 

Our on-campus Student Medical Centre will be closed for the summer break from 5pm on Friday 14 June. If you need to contact a doctor you can call Talbot Medical Centre in Wallisdown, at 63 Kinson Road BH10 4BX on 01202 636400, or call NHS 111. If it is an emergency please call 999. To register online visit the Talbot Medical Centre website. 

Shout 85258 

Shout 85258 provide a free, confidential text messaging service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After texting 85258 you will be sent four automated messages before being matched with a Shout volunteer who will listen to you without judgement and offer their support. 

You can find out more about Shout 85258 on their website, or you can watch their useful video explaining how the service works. 

Additional external support 

As well as the list of services on our Student Health & Wellbeing webpages, you may find assistance and support from the following external organisations during the summer: 

  • Steps 2 Wellbeing - for anxiety, depression, stress, mental health and wellbeing 
  • NHS 111 - the non-emergency number to contact the NHS 
  • Police 101 - the non-emergency number to contact the police if it is less urgent than a 999 call 
  • Samaritans - for free 24-hour support 
  • The Shores - Dorset Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) - if you have experienced sexual abuse 
  • UKCISA - for concise and student friendly guidance on all aspects of international student support including immigration 
  • Gov.uk - find an immigration adviser - if you need urgent immigration representation 
  • Hubofhope.co.uk - if you need support when you are not in the Bournemouth area and are unsure where your nearest support service is, you can search for mental health and crisis support by putting in your postcode or location.