www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 27 October 2014 Issue 1297 Free
HALLOWEEN IS HERE
The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
SHEARER CLASS Toon legend on his St. James’
Est 1948
WIN FREE STUFF
We’ve got everything you need to make the most of it p.12-33 Park heroes p.36
Grab tickets to WHQ’s legendary Halloween night p.29
Figures show rise in requests for help from stressed students By Charlie Dearnley News Editor
In the academic year 2013/14 the Student Advice Centre received 93 more cases than in the academic year 2012/13, with the majority of these cases both years constituted of cases related to housing. Out of the 582 cases in 2012/13, 209 were related to housing. These cases vary between students living in University halls of residence, and those living in private housing in the city, both postgraduates and undergraduates. Helping with deposit issues and disputes with landlords the team is incredibly qualified to provide advice, and is well experienced in analysing housing contracts. The 209 cases involving housing in 2012/13 increased to 293 cases in 2013/14, making up roughly 31% of all 675 cases. Olivia Jeffery, the Union’s Welfare Officer said, “Issues relating to housing are a big concern, not only locally but nationally. A lot of students quite often don’t feel confident on their rights as tenants and hold many concerns with renting in the private sector. “A lot of stu- This is why I have decided dents quite to produce a often don’t newsIHHO FRQÀ GHQW housing paper suppleon their rights ment which will go through as tenants” all these different issues.” This is part of a campaign titled ‘Don’t Rush In’, beginning in the first week of
November. The second largest category of cases that SAC dealt with in the past two years were Academic related enquiries, with 172 cases in 2012/13 and 202 cases in 2013/14, again displaying a substantial rise. The third major category that occupied a vast number of cases involved Student Finance. The numbers of cases in this category also rose, from 119 to 133 across the two The 209 years. cases involv- academic 2nd year Meing housing dia, Communicain 2012/13 tion and Cultural increased to Studies student Shepherd 293 cases in Jamie approached SAC 2013/14 with concerns over student finance when moving universities after two years at Leeds. His student finance wouldn’t cover the entirety of his course and he found himself forced to pay £9000 up front. He said: “SAC guided me through acquiring a maintenance loan and saved my university career.” Many other categories occupied a very small number of cases, and mental health only held one case both years. Cases concerning money guidance, welfare benefits, employment and family all decreased over the two years. The Student Advice Centre offers support for a range of differing cases, and is an excellent service for students seeking help in areas where they require experienced advice and guidance.
Academic 29.5% of all cases 2012/13, 29.9% 2013/14 Counselling and Psychotherapy 0.2% 12/13, n/a 13/14 Education 0.3% 12/13, n/a 13/14 Family 0.5% 12/13, 0.3% 13/14 Housing 35.9% 12/13, 43.4% 13/14 Miscellaneous 1% 12/13, n/a 13/14 Personal Injury 0.3% 12/13, n/a 13/14 Student Finance 0.2% 12/13, n/a 13/14 Welfare Benefits 1.4% 12/13, 0.1% 13/14
If you go down to the Dene today... Halloween photoshoot, p.18
Consumer/General Contract 2.6% 12/13, 2.5% 13/14 Debt 0.3% 12/13, n/a 13/14 Employment 1.9% 12/13, 0.3% 13/14 General 0.5% 12/13, 0.6% 13/14 Mental Health 0.2% 12/13, 0.1% 13/14 Money Guidance 0.3% 12/13, 0.1% 13/14 Public Law 1.4% 12/13, 1.9% 13/14 Student Issues 2.9% 12/13, 0.7% 13/14 SAC case categories: 2012/13 Total: 582
SAC case categories: 2013/14 Total: 675