Glasgow University Students Representative Council

Official University of Glasgow Guidance

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SRC Services Update 16/03/20

Please note that as of 2PM on Monday 16th March 2020 the SRC’s public-facing services (The Welcome Point, SRC Advice Centre, GU Volunteering and the 2nd Hand Bookshop) will be ending any face-to-face activities for the foreseeable future during the coronavirus outbreak. Enquiries to these services will henceforth only be taken via email and online calls.

All club & society bookings in the McIntyre building and The Gilchrist Postgraduate Club have been cancelled, and all SRC-led events due to take place have been put on hold. The Gilchrist Postgraduate Club is now closed until further notice.

We are doing all of this as a measure to protect the health and well-being of our staff, students and volunteers. We will endeavour to keep you updated with information as we receive it from the University but for the most recent University-related updates go here.

 

Contact Information:

The Welcome Point

Email – enquiries@src.gla.ac.uk

Welcome Point contact times:

Monday: 9:30am – 5pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 9am – 5pm
Friday: 9am – 4:00pm

SRC Advice Centre

Web page with online advice and FAQs – https://www.glasgowstudent.net/advice/

Email – advice@src.gla.ac.uk

Advice Centre contact times:

Monday – Friday: 11:30am – 4pm

GU Volunteering

Email – volunteering@src.gla.ac.uk

GU Volunteering contact times:

Monday – Friday: 9am – 4pm

 

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Guidance for clubs & societies

Should we cancel our events? 

Important info regarding bake sales

Current guidance from the NHS and Health Protection Scotland is:

Avoid leaving food stuffs (e.g. crisps, open sandwiches) exposed and open for communal sharing unless individually wrapped. [Page 6]

In light of this we will be suspending all student bake sales on campus for the time being. This means that we can take no further bookings for bake sales, and those that are already in the calendar are advised to cancel their activity.

We understand and appreciate that many clubs & societies will be rightfully upset and disappointed by this. Based on the guidance linked above, we feel it is the right course of action to take in order to minimise the risk of infection spreading within our student community.

This will be reviewed on an ongoing basis but normal provision of bake sales will likely not resume until August/September.

What can we do to protect our club/society members?

Some of your members may be more at risk or highly concerned about the virus. You can help by providing clear and up to date information to raise awareness of prevention measures like handwashing, but at this stage the most important message may simply be one of reassurance.

Provide clear information using all communication channels. You can download a Communications Toolkit including posters for your organisation from NHS Inform.

If you want further advice on how to communicate to your members regarding the outbreak, please message as over social media (Facebook, Twitter) or contact us at clubsandsocs@src.gla.ac.uk

 

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Guidance regarding your mental health

The guidance below is taken from this page by the Mental Health Foundation.

Infectious disease outbreaks can be scary and can affect our mental health. While it is important to stay informed, there are also many things we can do to support and manage our well-being during such times.

Here are some tips we hope will help you, your friends and your family to look after your mental health at a time when there is much discussion of potential threats to our physical health.

Try to avoid speculation and look up reputable sources on the outbreak

Rumour and speculation can fuel anxiety. Having access to good quality information about the virus can help you feel more in control. The links above will keep you up to date on the situation.

Try to stay connected

At times of stress, we work better in company and with support. Try and keep in touch with your friends and family or contact a helpline for emotional support.

It is a good idea to stick to your daily routine. You may also like to focus on the things you can do if you feel able to:

• stress management and relaxation techniques
• keep active
• eat a balanced diet

Stay in touch with friends on social media but try not to sensationalise things. If you are sharing content, use this from trusted sources, and remember that your friends might be worried too.

Try to anticipate distress

It is normal to feel vulnerable and overwhelmed as we read news about the outbreak, especially if you have experienced trauma or a mental health problem in the past, or if you have a long-term physical health condition that makes you more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus.

It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and remind each other to look after our physical and mental health. We should also be aware of and avoid increasing habits that may not be helpful in the long term, like smoking and drinking.

Try and reassure people you know who may be worried and check in with people who you know are living alone.

Try not to make assumptions

Don’t judge people and avoid jumping to conclusions about who is responsible for the spread of the disease. The Coronavirus can affect anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity or sex.

Try to manage how you follow the outbreak in the media

There is extensive news coverage about the outbreak. If you find that the news is causing you huge stress, it’s important to find a balance.

It’s best that you don’t avoid all news and that you keep informing and educating yourself, but limit your news intake if it is bothering you.

 

Check out the Mental Health Foundation’s site for more tips.

 

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Guidance regarding discrimination

The guidance below is taken from this page by NCVO.

How do we support members of communities facing discrimination?

• Members of some communities are experiencing acts of racism, discrimination and verbal abuse with the outbreak of the virus.
• Covid-19 does not discriminate and the containment or spread of the virus is not based on ethnicity.
• These communities must feel supported and know that these acts of discrimination should not be tolerated.
• Stop Hate UK are providing anyone experiencing or witnessing such discrimination with a confidential 24-hour third-party reporting service.

Our President Scott Kirby had this to say in regards to discrimination/harassment caused by the outbreak:

The Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council (GUSRC) completely condemn any acts of harassment, hatred or xenophobia against any students, linked to the Coronavirus situation. 

This University is a global community, one that attracts top talent from around the world, and as such we have a large international community. With the current Coronavirus outbreak in China and now beyond, we must remember to uphold our values of respect to ensure that no one at our University is discriminated against. This is an inclusive and diverse community and we want to keep it that way.

We must remember that there are staff and students who will be worried about their family and friends in China and in other countries affected by the outbreak. This is a time to show support to those people, who will be experiencing deep anxiety and worry.

Any acts of abuse or harassment will absolutely not be tolerated and should be reported. Incidents at the University or involving other students can be reported here, and if necessary reports can also go directly to the local police here.