“Helping students to remain in their lives”
What is the impact and value of peer to peer support on all parties?
10.00am to 3.30pm Tuesday June 12th 2012
Kegie Building, University of Wales, Newport, Caerleon Campus
Lodge Road, Caerleon, Newport NP18 3QT
Aim
The aim of this one day conference is to bring together practitioners in and out of Higher Education to debate and discuss the issues surrounding H.E. students in distress, at the end of which we expect, in particular but not exclusively to have a better understanding of the value and impact of peer to peer support by students for students.
Programme
10.00 Registration and refreshments
10.30 Welcome and introduction
Lawrence Wilson Head of Student Services, University of Wales, Newport
10.35 Key note address:
My journey— a Newport student recounts their experience of higher education.
11.00 Liquid Café - facilitated by staff and students from the University of Wales, Newport and external partner agencies from our communities.
Tables include:
Supporting students in campus accommodation (Student Accommodation Reps)
Matters of faith and mental health (Interfaith forum members)
Measuring outcomes of Study Skills Tutors inputs (Disability staff and students)
Eating disorders and self help groups (BEAT—local self help group)
Positive engagement through student bursaries (|Finance staff and students)
MECHANIC – engaging BME students (Medical and external partner)
PASS—Staff and student volunteers discuss peer study support
Counselling male students—how to design and launch a dedicated website
1.00 Lunch
1.45 Peer to peer support for students with mental health disorders
Nightline Volunteers
Student Mentors
Support Workers
Each presentation will be led by students (volunteers and paid employees) and focus on their experience and insights into peer to peer working.
2.30 Table discussion
Each table of delegates will have 30 minutes to discuss three questions, one each set by the student presenters from Nightline, Mentors, Support Workers.
3.00 Feedback on table discussions
Feedback will be projected on to screens in the room for delegates to access before they depart.
All delegates will be invited to join a Facebook group to continue networking over the issues of Student Mental Health in Higher Education.
3.30 Depart
Cost £48.00 per delegate to cover refreshments and lunch.
A 
downloadable flyer is available.
Book online now before 1 June 2012
Alison Durston, The Conference Office, University of Wales, Newport, NP18 3QT.
All enquiries to: smhconference@newport.ac.uk
Background
In helping students to “remain in their lives”, as employees of a university we have to recognise the limits and boundaries to what we can realistically chieve. In employing students as volunteers and paid employees we need to ensure the impact on their lives as helpers is positive and beneficial to them and their peers who are identified as vulnerable.