Christmas at WLV

Whilst some University services will pause over the festive period, you can still come on to campus and use a study space and PC, do some printing, and get access to remote library support. 

The on-site support will be limited, and ID cards will be required to enter the library.

Extended, 24/7 opening hours at Harrison Library - City Campus 

24/7 opening of Harrison Library is running in support of the upcoming assessment period.

• Monday 18 November until Monday 16 December
• Tuesday 2 January until Friday 12 January

Find more details on 24/7 access here.

Harrison and Walsall Christmas opening hours

Hutchison Library, Telford Campus 

Extended Access to Hutchison Library will operate the same 10am – 4pm opening hours as Harrison and Walsall between Saturday 21 December and Thursday 2 January (Closed on 25, 26 December and 1 January). This Extended Access is only available for students who register in advance, by Thursday 19 December. Please check the Hutchison Library page for details.   

Whilst there will be a reduced level of face to face support during this period, remote support continues to be available 24/7 via ASSIST: Live Chat.  

Please note these details may be subject to change. Please check the Library's opening hours page for the most up to date info, and if in doubt, do contact the library before travelling. We also recommend that you follow the Library's Instagram or Facebook pages for updates and information about support and activities. 

Exam and Assessment support 

The Skills for Learning service will be closed for the holidays from Friday 20 December until Tuesday 2 January, but you can still access study guides and video tutorials on Canvas and from the Exam and Assessment support webpages.  

You can also find study health tips to help you stay in control and build good study habits.

On campus support 

ASK@WLV is open, with a reduced service, until Friday 20 December, and returns on Thursday 2 January.  The Telford office will be open on Monday 16th and Wednesday 18 December.  

Please check the ASK webpage for the latest updates on service support: wlv.ac.uk/ask. 

ASK@WLV on e:Vision (online help calls):

During the Christmas break, students can access lots of helpful information 24/7 in the ASK@WLV FAQs in e:Vision. If you can't find the information you're looking for, you can log a help call, and someone will get back to you in the new year. 

Student Life covers teams supporting Mental Health & Wellbeing, Accessibility Disability & Inclusion, Support to Study, Student Money, and Safeguarding. 

The Student Life Centre has an on-campus help desk, located in the Ambika Paul Building, City Campus, and you can also access support remotely through the contact details below.

Find out more about Student Life here.

Mental Health and Wellbeing over the break 

You can access mental health and wellbeing support, via the Student Life Centre, or remotely, up until 2pm on Friday 20 December. The Student Life Centre reopens at 10am on Monday 6 January 2025. 

After Friday 20 December, you can continue to email the team at mhwenquiries@wlv.ac.uk and register for support via this form, you will be responded to in the new year, from  Thursday 2 January. 

You can also access online resources and wider support services, below.  

Mental health and wellbeing resources

All students can access support 24/7 through WLV Student Life Connect for free, confidential and independent support, counselling and information services.

The service can be accessed via our own dedicated WLV phone line (0333 212 0672) and webpage with an online chat function 24/7, 365 days a year.

Need help now? 

If you are experiencing distress and feel that you require some additional support over the festive break, please visit the I Need Help Now webpage.

Please do not forget the importance of talking to someone you trust. Let family or friends know what's going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe. 

Mental health crisis support 

When feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to remember that these intense feelings will pass, and things can and will improve - please don’t give up.

A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. 

If you are considering ending your life, you can access urgent support, you matter, and you will not be wasting anyone's time. 

 You can....

 Contact the emergency services by calling 999 in a crisis.

• Make your way to any hospital that has an accident and emergency department. It might help to ask someone to accompany you.
• Call 111 for advice or  find a local NHS urgent mental health support helpline
• Contact your doctor or GP and ask for an urgent appointment.

Coping in a crisis

The mental health charity Mind has information on ways to help yourself cope during a crisis. This includes calming exercises and a tool to get you through the next few hours.

The Staying Safe website helps you to build your own safety plan to keep you safe from suicidal thoughts, has messages of hope and lots of resources to help you stay safe.

If you are on campus or in your University Accommodation, you can contact Campus Security by calling 01902 32 1555 (5555 from an internal phone) or using the SafeZone app. They are available 24/7.

Emergency support helplines

 You can telephone Samaritans on 116 123 from your mobile or landline (not a University phone) or send an email to: jo@samaritans.org. 

• The CAM Crisis Messenger text service provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need help, you can text CAM at 85258.

• Visit Black Country Healthcare – Help in Crisis, and Black Country residents can call 0345 6460827 24/7 to access urgent mental health, learning disability or autism support.  

• Other organisations, including PAPYRUS, Student Minds, Wellbeing and Coping and Creating a Safety Plan offer support and helpful resources.

Self-help resources

If you need advice or extra help, please check our self-help resources. 

Find out more about the student support services available to you. 

Please refer to resources provided by Student Minds on different challenges that university life can bring.

Student Life covers teams supporting Mental Health & Wellbeing, Accessibility Disability & Inclusion, Support to Study, Student Money, and Safeguarding. 

You can access face to face support from these services at the Student Life Centre, Ambika Paul Building, up until 2pm on Friday 20 December.  The Student Life Centre reopens at 10am on Monday 6 January 2025. 

Over the break, you can continue to contact the teams remotely, via the details below, and you will be responded to in the new year. 

Accessibility Disability and Inclusion 

Find out about support from the Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion team here.

You can log an enquiry or request support via ASK@WLV and via e:Vision. Queries logged after Friday 20 December will be responded to in the new year, from Thursday 2 January. 

Student Money 

Find out about support from the Student Money team here. For enquiries, you can email  money@wlv.ac.uk. Queries logged after Friday 20 December will be responded to in the new year, from Monday 6 January. 

Find support at Help For Households. 

Safeguarding 

Find out about the Safeguarding service here. 

You can report a safeguarding concern, at any time, via the Safeguarding Form. Non urgent enquiries will be responded to in the new year. 

If you are experiencing an emergency or need to report an incident on campus, please contact the Security Services team who remain on site 24/7. (Emergency 01902 321555; general enquiries: 01902 322106.)

If you are experiencing domestic abuse you can contact Refuge and talk to someone. 

The IT Service Desk is open until Friday 20 December and reopens Thursday 2 January but there will be out of hours support available throughout, and FAQs available on the portal. 

Our out-of-hours phone support can help with password and/or multifactor authentication issues.

If you are looking for IT support, why not try the portal where you can help yourself to information and grab the latest updates. If you can't find the information you're looking for, you can log a support ticket, and someone will get back to you in the new year. 

You can access the IT Support portal by selecting the 'Need some help' button on the Digital Service webpage (wlv.ac.uk/ITS), or go to the portal directly. You will need your University email address and password to sign in.

The IT support portal brings a lot of new features to students:

• The portal knows it is you as you sign in, so you can see your current and historical calls.
• You can raise a call (this is a simple form that describes your issue), and as you are doing that, relevant information appears that may help you, particularly outside business hours.
• There is a growing bank of information and guidance, with popularly viewed articles on the front page.
• There is an announcement banner for information about new services, changes, problems or planned downtime.

Campus Security will remain onsite 24/7 over the break. 

Safezone app

If you are staying at University over the festive break, you are recommended to download the SafeZone app.

SafeZone provides a valuable source of reassurance to people working and studying on campus, giving you fast access to the University's security team to call for support in an emergency, contact medical assistance immediately, or raise a non-urgent enquiry. The Check-in feature allows you to share your location with the Security Team if you are working alone or outside of normal hours. 

To report an incident or contact the security team.

For an emergency call 01902 321555; general enquiries: 01902 322106.

All catering facilities across campus close on Friday 20 December at 3pm, then re-open on Thursday 2 and 3 January at a reduced service at the following areas: 

• Walsall Café: 8 am – 3pm Only
• Telford Café: 8 am – 2.30pm Only
• Costa Coffee: 8 am – 3pm Only
• City Campus Shop: 8 am – 3pm Only

All other catering facilities will be closed during this period and will re-open to normal hours on Monday 6 January 2024. 

For catering service locations and usual opening hours see wlv.ac.uk/catering. 

Festive break Opening hours Walsall Campus 

Monday 23 December 8am-1pm
Tuesday 24 December 8am - 1pm
Wednesday 25 December - Closed
Thursday 26 December  - Closed
Friday 27 December 8am- 1pm
Saturday 28 December 8am - 1pm
Sunday 29 December 8am - 1pm
Monday 30 December 8am- 1pm
Tuesday 31 December 8am - Closed
Wednesday 1 January - Closed
Thursday 2 January - reopen at 6.30am

Christmas Opening hours City Campus 

City Campus will be closed between Monday 23 December - Wednesday 1 January 
Reopen Thursday 2 January 7am

The Multi-faith Chaplaincy is running a series of festive events in the run-up to the Christmas break, including poetry, carol service, and crafts. See the video below for a teaser of what's on. 

If you're staying on campus over the festival break, you don't need to be alone. The Chaplaincy is opening its doors on Christmas Day for a social drop-in. No need to book - but don't forget to bring your student ID. 

Christmas Day Social Drop-in
Chaplaincy MP Building, City Campus 
Wednesday 25 December, 2.30pm - 6.30pm, 
Snacks, games, conversation, peaceful, social, warm. Don’t be alone!

The Chaplaincy's Christmas Appeal this year is not for warm clothing. If you can spare any jackets, hats and gloves, jumpers and scarves please consider donating them to the Chaplaincy to help a fellow student keep warm this winter. 

See wlv.ac.uk/Chaplaincy for more event details and to find out about support available from the team.