Extra support for students staying at Solent

Solent, like many universities, has a number of students who are unable to travel back to their home for a range of reasons, and who will be staying in their halls of residence accommodation for the foreseeable future.

But they aren't alone.

Our Student Experience and Residence Life teams are on hand to provide support and assistance to those who need it, with Solent's SU also working alongside to provide food for those students who are self-isolating or experiencing financial difficulties.

So, from food parcels, supermarket vouchers and hardship funding, to visa advice for stranded international students and telephone counselling - our teams are still here, still supporting and still working, albeit in a slightly different way.

“With the current Coronavirus situation, many students have taken the opportunity to return to their home addresses and use the distance learning options available to them,” explains Teresa Dodkin, Residence Manager. “Numbers on site have been dropping daily, but we currently still have students living with us and we are still offering a normal service to those still here.

“The wellbeing team provided food items from the main site food outlets to the residences, and we have been running a food bank for students in need and have been able to offer meals to those self-isolating.

“For the students who remain with us, while still providing daily support from the residence hub, we are moving to virtual entertainment and directing them all to join our residences Facebook page where the RLA team are posting links to quizzes, coronavirus updates, local information and anything else they may find useful during this period of lockdown.

“Social distancing makes getting to know students more difficult at this time, but there is a sense of ‘we are all in this together’ from remaining staff and students.”