As we approach the festive season, we want to remind all students that the University will close for the holidays on 20 December 2024 and will not reopen until 2 January 2025. During this time, only our dedicated Security team will be available on campus, while all other university services, including the campus shop, the canteen and the Students’ Union (SU), will be closed.
Plan Ahead for Your Support Needs
We understand that many students may need to speak with advisers, tutors, or access academic support, financial assistance, wellbeing, or mental health services before the Christmas break. To ensure you receive the help you need, we recommend you plan now to reduce your stress at what can be a very busy time of year. Effective planning helps alleviate anxiety by providing a clear strategy for what needs to be accomplished and allows you to allocate your time wisely and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
If you aren’t able to speak with Student Services teams before the University’s closure, or if you’re not sure who you need to speak with, remember that you can ask firstpoint. The firstpoint counter is open until 4pm on Friday 20th December, and the team can let you know about appointment availability in the new year.
The Peirson study areas remain open 24/7, with access via the 24-hour doors. If your ID card does not allow you entry, speak with Security at the main reception desk and they will enable your card.
Available Services During the Break
While many university services will be unavailable during the holidays, there are still options for support.
Security:
The Security Team continue to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can visit them in person at the St John’s Reception (Edward Elgar building) or you can phone 01905 855000, or email securityteam@worc.ac.uk.
For life-threatening emergencies, if you or someone else is in immediate danger or at risk of serious injury or illness, call 999.
IT Service:
Our University of Worcester IT Service will be open for support whilst the University is open until the 20th December , with our standard opening hours of normal operating hours 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday with Norman Managed Services extending support on evenings until 9pm and weekends and bank holiday’s 8am – 9pm. You can reach our IT Service Desk by phoning: 01905 857500
Norman Managed Services will be available during the University closure period to provide telephone support. Full details of this cover can be found on the IT Service webpage. Advanced queries that require on-campus intervention will be handed over to be dealt with by the IT Service Desk team when the University reopens on the 2nd January 2025.
Accommodation:
The Accommodation Hub is open through much of the holiday, for students living in University accommodation, staffed by our Residential Life student team. It will be closed on 25th December (Christmas Day), 26th December (Boxing Day) and 1st January (New Year’s Day). However, on these dates you can still speak with the Security Team.
The Hive:
| Date | Opening hours |
| Monday 23 December | Usual hours 8.30-22.00 |
| Tuesday 24 December | 8.30-13.00 |
| Wednesday 25 December | Closed |
| Thursday 26 December | Closed |
| Friday 27 December | 8.30-18.00 |
| Saturday 28 December | 8.30-18.00 |
| Sunday 29 December | 8.30-18.00 |
| Monday 30 December | 8.30-18.00 |
| Tuesday 31 December | 8.30-17:00 |
| Wednesday 1 January | Closed |
| Thursday 2 January | Usual hours 8.30-22.00 |
Live chat will be running as usual until Saturday 21 December, and the team will be answering emails on askalibrarian@worc.ac.uk from Monday 23 – Tuesday 31 December, except for bank holidays and Sundays. The full chat and email service restarts on Thursday 2 January 2025.
External Sources of Support
Physical and Mental Health
NHS 111:
A 24/7 telephone service that allows you to access local health services. Call 111 if you have an urgent (but non-life threatening) medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.
NHS Crisis Line:
Whether you experience a sudden deterioration of an existing mental health problem or are experiencing problems for the first time, you may need immediate expert support to identify the best course of action to help you.
- If you are in Herefordshire or Worcestershire, and not currently in contact with any Mental Health Services, you can phone the mental health helpline for urgent advice: 0808 196 9127 (free phone 24 hrs a day 365 days a year) or visit their Urgent Help webpage.
- Click this link to find your local NHS urgent mental health helpline in England.
Papyrus Hopeline UK:
A confidential support and advice service for young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide. Available 24 hours a day, every day including weekends and bank holidays. Call 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039 967, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org. There is also live chat available on the Papyrus webpage.
Samaritans:
Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, 24/7, 365 days a year. You can get in touch about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue feels. Call 116 123 for free or e-mail jo@samaritans.org.
If you are the victim of a crime
For life-threatening emergencies, if you or someone else is in immediate danger or at risk of serious injury or illness, call 999.
PCSOs:
If you are a victim of crime, our University Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), are here to help. They are based at the University and can be accessed either via email pcso@worc.ac.uk or by telephoning 01905 542629.
Police 101:
For non-emergency police enquiries, call 101. There are some things you can report to the police online, which will be dealt with by the control room in exactly the same way whether you report it online or call 101.
Victim Advice Line – West Mercia:
The Victim Advice Line is a free and confidential victim support service provided by West Mercia Police. Call on 0800 952 3000, or there is the option to chat online or via email.
Other Support
Student Space:
Student Minds’ superb resource has a whole new section about the holidays to support students who may be struggling. It also has articles and one-to-one support for whatever challenge you’re facing, designed specifically for students. Contact 0808 808 4994 from 3.00pm to midnight every day, email students@themix.org.uk for a response within 24 hrs, or access 24 hour text support from a trained volunteer: to start a conversation, text ‘STUDENT’ to 85258.
Warm Spaces:
Worcestershire Libraries (including The Hive) are part of the Warm Welcome Network which lists venues that can provide a warm welcome for those struggling to heat their homes this winter.
Worcestershire County Council:
The Worcestershire Winters Well webpages has advice and support to stay physically, mentally and financially well this winter, provided by Worcestershire County Council. It includes topics such as loneliness and isolation, warm spaces in libraries and how to prepare for emergencies.
For these details and more information, please see our webpage: Wellbeing support over Christmas
Don’t forget to check out our Christmas Countdown events taking place between 16th – 20th December, across campuses: read more on the firstpoint blog post here.
And if you’re staying in Worcester during the holiday, why not visit the Cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival and see if you can spot our tree!
firstpoint 
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