You can contact any Welfare Officer directly via email or arrange to meet informally. All conversations are treated in confidence.
Welfare Officers
- Men and Gender Minorities Welfare Officer: Ismail Rahman
- Women and Gender Minorities Welfare Officer: Cara Williams
For specific identity concerns, you are also free to reach out to the following identity representatives
- LGBTQ+ Reps: Alan Thomas and Myles Wilkinson
- BAME Reps: Apaar Agarwal and Disha Shetty
- Disabilities Rep: Sophie Stewart
- International Students Rep: Sophia (Siman) Li
- Class Officer: Grace Rogers
Student Welfare Advisors (SWAs)
SWAs are available to support students in crisis. They provide a listening, support and signposting service for students experiencing difficulties such as personal problems, poor mental health, or other welfare/wellbeing matters. They are also here to support students by helping to ensure that the college is a safe and harmonious place to live.
Our current SWAs are:
You can reach out to the SWAs via email at student.welfare.advisors@some.ox.ac.uk or via phone at 07805 784964 from 7pm-7am on weekdays and from 7pm Friday to 7am Monday during term time.
Peer Support
Peer supporters are here to answer any questions or talk through any worries that you have. They are trained by the University Counselling Service to listen and support you in a non-judgemental way. Please contact them by email to arrange to chat.
Our current undergraduate peer supporters are:
- Zoe Byrne (Philosophy/Linguistics)
- François de Robert Hautequère (Music)
- Oliver Eyre (Biology)
- Lucy Pollock (History)
- Daine Tang (Chemistry)
- Kaia Cochran (Physics)
- Siman Li (PPE)
Welfare Initiatives
Welfare at Somerville is a top priority, and the welfare team are here to offer any support and guidance to any students seeking it. The JCR Welfare Reps organise termly welfare teas and provide a full calendar during Welfare Week, every 5th week of term, to help keep away the welfare blues.
External & College Support
For more formal or urgent support, the following services are available:
- College Welfare Team: Led by Jo Ockwell, our incredible Student Welfare Lead, the College provides excellent support.
- University Counselling Service: The counselling service provided by the University can also help with any concerns.
- Oxford Nightline: Oxford Nightline is a wonderful organisation which seeks to support you from 8pm each night both confidentially and physically. They offer everything from emotional and mental health support to STI clinics and get home safe calls.