Key Resources for Birkbeck Students

This list is compiled of key numbers and contacts of charities, organisations and resources that may be of use to Birkbeck students. Every effort has been made to vet and verify that all information in this list is appropriate and up to date.

 

Links to support from different London Boroughs:

• You can download a spreadsheet here with links to support from London Boroughs.
  
   

Domestic Violence and Abuse:

• Call 999 in an emergency.

• Non emergency reports to the police can be made by calling 101 or using their online tool: www.met.police.uk/report

• Contact NSPCC if you are concerned about a child: www.nspcc.org.uk

• Refuge provide advice and support 24/7 - 08082000247

• Find local services near you: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/womens-aid-directory/ 

• London Black Women’s Project provide advice and support for black and BAME women suffering from domestic abuse: https://www.lbwp.co.uk 

• Latin American Women’s Aid (LAWA) is a domestic violence shelter ran by and for Latin and BAME women: www.lawadv.org.uk 

• Iranian-Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) is a domestic violence shelter and service for Middle Eastern women: www.IKWRO.org.uk 

• Stonewall have a list of resources that are LGBT and trans friendly: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/information-and-resources/domestic-violence-and-abuse-resources-lgbt-people 

• See resources below regarding mental, sexual and reproductive health.

 

Rape & Sexual Assault:

• Call 999 in an emergency.

• Non emergency reports to the police can be made by calling 101 or using their online tool: www.met.police.uk/report

• Rape crisis advice and support phone line for men and women - 08088029999 (operating hours on their website www.rapecrisis.org.uk)

• Survivors UK offer advice and support to men and women - 02033221860 (operating hours on their website: www.survivorsuk.org)

• Further resources: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/national-helplines 

• See resources below regarding mental, sexual and reproductive health.

 

Trafficking & Modern Slavery:

• Call 999 in an emergency.

• Non emergency reports to the police can be made by calling 101 or using their online tool: www.met.police.uk/report

• Met Police modern slavery helpline - 08000121700

• Anonymous reporting by calling crimestoppers - 0800555111

• Salvation Army Human Trafficking Helpline - 03003038151

• See resources below regarding mental, sexual and reproductive health.

 

Sex Work:

• Safety tools for sex workers & reporting incidents: https://nationaluglymugs.org

• Peer support & community : https://www.umbrellalane.org/about-us

• Weekly sex worker breakfast: http://www.xtalkproject.net/

• Activism and campaigning - SWARM: https://www.swarmcollective.org/

• See resources below regarding sexual and reproductive health.

 

Sexual & Reproductive Health:

• Free, at home, STI testing kits are available at: https://sh24.org.uk

• Free condoms for under 25´s when you register for the C-Card: https://www.comecorrect.org.uk (these are also available at the Birkbeck student union support service)

• Free birth control is available through you GP and your local sexual health clinic. Book an appointment with them to talk through which method is the best option for you.

• If you need an abortion contact your GP. Alternatively you can contact BPAS or MSI: https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/considering-abortion/ or https://www.msichoices.org.uk/london-medical-abortion/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnbmaBhD-ARIsAGTPcfVtEouELdVmMLwib9y61osb-yqApjTI1O84Tu5hKKeQGSczvAeyPK8aApD5EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds 

• If you need the morning after pill you can get it for free by calling your GP and asking for a prescription (there is no age limit).

• If you are under 25 and want the morning after pill you can also get it for free by walking into any Camden Borough Pharmacy (the closest one to Birkbeck is Boots, Brunswick Square). 

• Get advice about HIV and other STIs here: https://www.tht.org.uk 

• If you are having, or are at risk of having, sex with people who are HIV positive you can get PrEP for free from sexual health clinics. More information here: https://prepster.info/free-prep-uk/ 

• If you, or someone you know, is a victim of or is at risk of FGM (Female genital mutilation/cutting) then please visit: https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/i-need-help/

 

Mental Health:

• Call 999 in an emergency.

• Call Samaritans - 116 123 (this number is open 24/7 and is free to use from any UK phone. Further information and ways to contact them are available on their website: www.samaritans.org).

• Self refer yourself to therapy: www.icope.nhs.uk.

• National Suicide Prevention Helpline open 24/7  - 08006895652

• Texting mental health support service - text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258

• Free laidback online chat service to discuss mental health: www.7cups.com/

• Further resources and support is also outlined here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/ 

 

Substance Abuse and Addiction:

• Call 999 in an emergency.

• Call 111 if you need medical advice and you cannot reach your GP/dentist.

• Seek information about drugs and addiction on: www.talktofrank.com

• Speak to your GP about your addiction as they can refer you on to drug treatment services. Further information about help from the NHS are detailed here: www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/drug-addiction-getting-help/

• Contact Alcoholics Anonymous to get free help and advice about alcohol: www.AlcoholicsAnonymous.org.uk

• Contact Narcotics Anonymous to get free help and advice about drugs: www.ukna.org

 

Physical Health:

• Call 999 in an emergency.

• Call 111 if you need medical advice and you cannot reach your GP/dentist.

• Register to a GP practice, the closest ones to Birkbeck are:

  • Somers Town Medical Centre - 02073876855

  • Museum Practice - 02074052739

  • Brunswick Medical Centre - 02078373057

  • Bloomsbury Surgery - 02078378559

• Emergency eye care: Moorfields Eye Hospital (A&E walk ins available)

• Closest A&E to Birkbeck: University College Hospital (in between Warren Street and Euston Square station)

• Out of hours GP in Camden: Camden GP Hubs - 02073919979

 

Debt & Cost of Living Crisis:

• Birkbeck has various needs-based grants and scholarships available for students. See what financial support you could get: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/student-services/financial-support   

• Contact citizens advice bureau (CAB) for advice about money, benefits and more. Birkbeck students can arrange this by contacting the Birkbeck Student Advice Service, or calling - 08001448848

• Contact StepChange if you are in debt: www.stepchange.org

• Find your nearest food bank: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/ and https://www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/our-members 

• You can get free sanitary products in any Morrisons by going to the customer service desk and asking for “a package for Sandy” or a “period product pack” (more info here: https://www.morrisons-corporate.com/media-centre/corporate-news/package-for-sandy---morrisons-local-initiative-goes-nationwide-to-tackle-period-poverty/)

• If you are having issues with your housing contact Shelter: https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help 

• Get free 1-on-1 career coaching if you are aged 18-30: www.youngwomenstrust.org

• Further resources for Camden: https://www.camden.gov.uk/find-support-in-camden