Hallam Union.

What we do:

The Advice Centre is here to provide information, advocacy, advice and representation to current and prospective students of Sheffield Hallam University. We also aim to make you aware of your rights and responsibilities. Only you can make the final decision on what to do, but we can give you information to ensure that you make informed choices.

We can advise on a wide range of issues, including:

• Student funding - loans, grants, fees, Access Funds and bursaries.
  Assistance with entitlement and delays in receiving payment. Help with Access Funds and appeals.
• Debt and money advice - advice and support in dealing with debts.
  Utility bills, Council Tax, overdrafts and credit debts. Advice on budgeting.
• Social Security benefits - checking eligibility and entitlement.
  Assistance with problems with the DWP, including revisions and appeals.
• Housing - checking housing status and rights. Checking contracts, assistance with problems with landlords including deposits, repairs, rent arrears, eviction and harassment.
• Immigration - help with visas and rights for international students.
• Academic - advice on appeals, complaints, plagiarism, and transferring courses. Representation, information and support for course representatives.
• Employment problems - problems at work, underpaid wages, working hours, holiday entitlement, harassment etc.
• Legal - advice and representation through the County Court, good links with local solicitors for referrals for complex or criminal cases.
• Consumer - help with mobile phone and utility bill disputes and good & service problems.

…and anything else you can think of. If we cannot help you - we will know someone who can!

Our service is:

• Independent
  We are employed by the Students’ Union, not Sheffield Hallam University - this means that we are independent and can advise on cases when you are in dispute with the university, when appropriate.
• Non-judgmental
  The Advice Centre is not here to lecture you or tell you how to live your life. We will give you information to help you make informed decisions about your problems.
• Free
  The service we provide is free.
• Confidential
  Your visit to the Advice Centre is confidential. We will not tell anyone (including University staff, family and friends) that you have been here or the nature of your problem. Your records are kept in a locked office and only the advice workers have access to them.
• Non-discriminatory
  We will not discriminate against anybody who uses the Advice Centre and will take account of any needs you may have. Advice can be accessed in person, on the phone and by email. We aim to provide accurate advice using a large information system and library.
• Professional
  All advice workers are professionally trained and experienced in advice work. If we cannot help you or think that another agency would be in a better position to advise you, then we will tell you. We have good contacts with local organisations, which provide advice and assistance.

At the Advice Centre you will be advised by one of the staff below.

John Muir (Advice Centre Manager)
Debra Atkinson (Adviser)
Joanne Pritchard (Adviser)

Here are some of the most common questions we get asked. If your question is not on here, or you need more advice, get in touch with us at the Advice Centre and we’d be happy to help out.

When does my course start?

Fresher’s week starts on Sun 21st September and most courses will have enrolment that week. However some courses (e.g. professional courses) start earlier. If you haven’t had details through, you should contact your course office to confirm. Call 0114 225 5555 and ask for the office that deals with your course.

When & where do I enrol?

You should have had details of this through from your course. If you haven’t had details through, you should contact your course office to confirm. Call 0114 225 5555 and ask for the office that deals with your course.

How do I get an NUS card?

Your SHUcard, which you will be issued with at enrolment, works as joint University and Student Union card. In addition you can get an NUS Extra Card for £10 by coming into the Union or purchasing one online at http://www.nusextra.co.uk

How do I register with a Doctor?

The Student Health Service at Sheffield Hallam University is provided by a well-respected local GP partnership. A team of doctors and nurses operate from a modern medical centre in the Surrey Building on the City Campus and the Porter Brook Medical Centre, close to Collegiate Crescent Campus. You should have a form through with your enrolment documents and you can hand this in at the Student Health stand in the Atrium during Fresher week.

The Advice Centre’s “Health” Leaflet gives more information on health issues.

I still haven’t heard anything about my accommodation.

This is the Accommodation Office’s busiest time of year, so they will probably still be working their way through the applications. To check on your application, you should call them on 0114 255 5555. For more info, check out the Accommodation FAQs

I applied through clearing, my funding hasn’t been sorted out yet and I’ve got no money. Help!

You should open up a student bank account, most of which will have interest free overdrafts. There is a very limited amount of support in the form of loans from the University Student Financial Support Office, but this will do no more than cover basics and definitely will not cover rent:

http://www.shu.ac.uk/guides/studentfinance/sfso.html

For further advice - come and see us at the Advice Centre.

I’m a mature student with kids - is there any extra funding available?

There could possibly be funding from lost of different areas beyond the basic student support including childcare, tax credits, benefits and Access to Learning Funds.

Have a look at the Advice Centre leaflet “Students with Dependents” or come in to see us.

What entertainment is going on at the Union during fresher’s week?

There’s a wide variety of events in Freshers week and beyond - check out the Ents page on this website for details.

How do I get a student bank account?

All the High St banks offer student accounts. Do not get distracted by gimmicks - the main thing to look for is basics like how large an interest free overdraft facility they provide. Check a website like http://www.moneysavingexpert.com for the best deals. You can often open an account before you start, which save lot of hassle when you first arrive at University

Where can I look for a part time job?

The University has a vacancy service called netWORK to help you find a part time job while studying. They have a database matching service to identify suitable vacancies quickly.

http://www.shu.ac.uk/services/sas/careers.html

The Careers Service can help you with a CV and tactics for finding employment. The Student Union also has employment opportunities which are advertised in the Jobs section on this website.

The Advice Centre’s “Employment” Leaflet gives more information on finding work and your rights once you are working.

GENERAL ISSUES

Advice Guide

Advice about lots of day to day issues

NUS website

Nation Union of Students website

Visitors guide to Sheffield 

A guide to Sheffield

 

FUNDING

Student Finance

Financial Support for Students.

Student Loans

Information about student loans.

Funding for healthcare students
Financial help for healthcare students.

DWP website
Information on benefits.

SHU Money
Fees & Bursaries at Sheffield Hallam University.

Teaching Finance

Funding for teacher training courses

Teacher training

Graduate Teacher Training Registry

Social work bursary

Funding for social work training.

Education Advice

www.shu.ac.uk/services/sas/guidance/index.html
University education guidance.
http://students.shu.ac.uk/rightsrules/regs.html
University regulations and information on appeals, complaints and plagiarism.

Employment

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm
Your rights as an employee.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/fgcat-students.shtml
Income tax and students.

http://tuc.org.uk
Finding a trade union.

http://www.shu.ac.uk/services/sas/careers.html/network/
Finding work, SHU.

http://www.shu.ac.uk/services/sas/careers.html/
Careers advice, SHU.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/students/taxandu.htm
Online tax checker, how to get tax back.

Legal Issues

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
To download county court forms.

http://www.clsdirect.org.uk
Legal help (Community Legal Service).

International Students

http://www.ukcosa.org.uk
Information on work, visas and funding.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Home Office application forms.

http://www.shu.ac.uk/international/
International Office, SHU.

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/
To check if you need a visa.

Housing

http://www.unipol.leeds.ac.uk
Housing and students.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/RentingAHome/index.htm
Your rights as a tenant.

http://www.shu.ac.uk/accommodation/
Housing and Accommodation Office, SHU.

Consumer and Debt

http://www.oft.gov.uk/
Consumer information.

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/
Trading standards.

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/
Complaints about water suppliers.

http://www.energywatch.org.uk/
Complaints about gas and electricity suppliers.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/
Complaints about telephone companies.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/
Complaints about personal finance.

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
Help with debt.

http://www.tv-l.co.uk/index.jsp

TV licensing.

Parents

http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk
Nursery.

http://www.sheffinfolink.org.uk/
Childcare Info.

Disabled Students

http://www.skill.org.uk/
Information & advice for disabled students.

https://staff.shu.ac.uk/sas/student_support/disabled/
Disabled Student Support Team, SHU.

Mature Students

http://www.shu.ac.uk/services/sas/maturestudents/index.html
Mature students.

Personal Problems

http://www.shu.ac.uk/services/sas/chaplaincy/index.html
Chaplaincy, SHU.

http://www.shu.ac.uk/services/sas/counselling/index.html
Counselling, SHU.

http://students.shu.ac.uk/services/health/index.html
Medical services, SHU

Mental Health

http://www.studentsinmind.org.uk/index.php

Advice for students suffering mental distress

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/
More useful info

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/
Info on counselling in UK Universities

http://www.yourvoicesheffield.org.uk/
Sheffield mental health issues

http://www.mind.org.uk/
National mental health charity

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
The Mental Health Foundation website

The Advice Centre produces a large range of leaflets and booklets on the most common issues we get asked about. Click on the links below for more info on:

ACADEMIC

extenuating-circumstances-academic-appeals-08

Appeals & Extenuating Circumstances

changing-courses-08

How to change course

cheating-08

Been accused of cheating?

complaints-08

How to complain

 

MONEY & FUNDING

benefitsleaflet-082

Info on students & benefits

council-tax-083

Council Tax info

credit-card-leaflet-082

How credit cards work and what to look out for

debt-082

What to do if you find yourself in debt

financial-statement-for-debt-leaflet-082

Accompanying Financial statement for debt leaflet

dependantsleaflet-082

Got dependants? info on finance & other useful stuff

disabilitiesleaflet-082

Disabled students info

disabilitiesleaflet-08-large-print2

Disabled students info in large type

trustsandcharities-083

Applying to trusts & charities for additional support

HOUSING

a-guide-to-housing-contracts-leaflet-08

A guide to assured short hold tenancies

bills-2008

Utility bills and common problems

depositsandbonds08

Deposits & Bonds

leavinghousingcontract08

Info on the issues involved if you want to leave your contract early

repairs08

What to do if your house needs repairs

 

OTHER STUFF

employment-2008

Finding a job and your rights once you have one

health-08

Info on how to find health services

Advice Centre
Sheffield Hallam University Union of Students,
The HUBS,
Paternoster Row,
Sheffield
S1 2QQ

Tel: 0114 225 4148
FREEPHONE: 0800 0732 002
advicecentre@shu.ac.uk

CITY: The Advice Centre is open on weekdays from 10am-5pm throughout the year.
COLLEGIATE: An adviser is at the Union office at the Heart of the Campus on Friday mornings.

WHEN WE ARE CLOSED

Sometimes the Union shuts for vacation and very occasionally training, leave or sickness will mean that the Advice Centre has to close.

Emergency:

Here is a list of numbers that may be helpful in an emergency:

Social Service (outside office hours) 0114 242 7305
Police 0114 220 2020
Shelterline (housing queries) 0808 800 4444
Samaritans 08457 909090
Howells Solictors (24hr) 0114 249 6666

When the Advice Centre is closed:

SHU Housing & Accommodation 0114 225 4504/5
SHU Student Financial Support 0114 225 2184
SHU Counselling 0114 225 2136
Sharrow CAB - London Rd 0114 258 3322
Pitsmoor CAB - Spital Hill 0114 275 5376
Crookes Rights & Advice 0114 266 2350
Housing Aid - Howden House 0114 273 5450
SCOOP Aid (lone parent advice) 0114 275 7212

Remember that at holiday times, most places are likely to be shut - so check before setting off.

Welcome to the Advice Centre

The Hubs, City Campus :  0800 0732 002: advicecentre@shu.ac.uk

The Advice Centre is here to help you with any queries, questions, or problems you may encounter while you are at University. We deal with everything from “where can I get a SHU card from?” right the way through to representing students at County Court… and if we cannot help you - we will know someone who can!

So if:

• your landlord is up to no good; or
• you are in trouble with your credit card or bills; or
• you are struggling financially; or
• you have been accused of cheating; or
• you are thinking of giving up your course; or
• anything else…..

“Come in and see us!!”

On this website you will find details of who we are, what we do, when we are open and where we are, plus downloadable leaflets on the most common issues we get asked about.
We hope you find it useful, but we would welcome any comments or suggestions that you may have.