Christmas arrangements

The Campus Security Team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Security office is based in the Cadman Building main entrance and they will be managing the access to University buildings and Halls of residence during the Christmas break. The team will manage and attend incidents and emergencies on Campus as the first response. The Security office can be contacted on 01782 294837. If the Incident is an emergency please call 01782 294444.

You can also download the SafeZone app in case you ever need help on campus; you can use it to get first-aid, security or safety assistance via your mobile phone or PC.

Over the Christmas break the ResLife office located within the Coalport building will be working on limited support days and hours, where the main office will be closed through the 20 December 2025 till 5 January 2026 during this period there will be specific days which the team will open to support students still within accommodation.  Please see below the key dates and times:

Main offices closes 19/12/25 at 20:00pm

Opening Dates & Times through this main office closure.

20/12/25 11:00am – 16:00pm

21/12/25 11:00am – 16:00pm

23/12/25 11:00am – 16:00pm

27/12/25 10:00am - 16:00pm

30/12/25 11:00am – 16:00pm

03/01/26 11:00am – 16:00pm

04/01/26 11:00am – 16:00pm

Normal office opening times resume on 5/1/26 from 10:00am

You can reach the ResLife team during open hours by visiting Coalport or by calling 01782 29422. If preferred please contact the team via email at reslife@staffs.ac.uk.

During this period, postal services will be limited to the opening hours, these times are communicated to the postal and courier services prior to closure. Any maintenance requirements please contact Campus Security on 01782 294837 or 01782 294444. Who will be able to direct any maintenance support to the correct teams and contractors.

For any other concerns please continue to use the safe zones applications in line with safety, first aid and emergencies.

The campus will be closed from 5pm on Friday 19 December and will re-open on Monday 5 January from 9.00am.  

You can find information about student support services, and have a look at the range of resources available to you particularly whilst the University is closed, by visiting the current students pages.

Your Students' Union, will be available by phone, email, and social media from 11am - 3pm every day including the bank holidays to signpost you and offer information to any of those random questions that might pop into your head over the holidays. 

If you are looking for help in an emergency or feel you need support urgently, you could try one or more of these options (open 24 hours every day unless otherwise stated):

• Go to the Accident and Emergency Department at a hospital.
• Phone the NHS Crisis Care Centre for Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire on 0800 0328 728 (choose Option 1) 
• Phone the NHS Mental Health Access Service for South Staffordshire on 0808 196 3002 and for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin on 0808 196 4501.
• Mental Health Crisis Line/Crisis Support (Newham) Tel: Freephone 0800 073 0066 or call NHS 111 and select option 2. 
• Phone 101 Police (non-emergency)
• Phone for an ambulance and/or the Police on 999  - (emergency only)

For information about options to consider immediately after a rape or sexual assault, you can visit NHS Choices. 

If you wish to contact a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in the Staffordshire and surrounding areas, you could contact:  

Staffordshire & Surrounding Areas 

• Grange Park - Staffordshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre.  Cobridge Community Health Centre, Church Terrace, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 2JW.  Telephone: 0330 223 0099. Open 9am - 5pm weekdays. Or 101 if want police support. 
• The Glade Sexual Assault Referral Centre - for West Mercia, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.  Telephone: 0330 223 0099.  
• Rape Crisis England & Wales - rapecrisis.org.uk / Tel: 0808 802 9999

London 

• London Survivors Gateway - Tel: 0808 801 0860
• East London Rape Crisis (Nia) -  Tel: 08454512547
• Rape and Sexual assault referral centres - The Havens - Whitechapel Site - Address: 9 Brady St, London, E1 5DG  - Tel: 020 3299 1599 (General Enquiries)  Tel: 0203 3299 6900 (Urgent Help).

If you are looking for help with your wellbeing, you could try some of the options below:

• See our self help pages for apps, podcast and websites.  
• A comprehensive list of external support and helplines is available on our Sources of Support page. 
• Contact your GP or 'out of hours' GP support.
• You can access the NHS 111 Service telephone 111 (24 hrs a day).

You can find information about student support services, and have a look at the range of resources available to you particularly whilst the University is closed, by visiting the current students pages.

Wellbeing

If you are staying at university for the duration or part of the end of term break, making some plans in advance will help to ensure it is as good an experience as possible.

The university is likely to be quieter over the break. At least some university buildings are likely to be closed for part of the time and most staff will be taking a well-earned rest from work. It may also be that there are fewer students around and less to do with your time.

In addition, if you normally celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, it can be easy to feel worried or upset at the prospect of spending it alone or away from your family.

While these worries are perfectly normal, there are things you can do to increase your enjoyment of the break. Taking control of your time proactively can help you to get the most out of the break and feel more positive.

Keep busy

Maintaining a daily structure and keeping active will help to maintain your mood and energy levels. A lack of structure and vegging out can be fine for a day or two, but over time it leaves us feeling sluggish and down.

Having a plan for each day can help you to stay active. You may want to think about socialising with friends who are still around; spring cleaning your room, getting regular exercise or studying for next term. This will help you to feel you are achieving something each day.

If you are returning home for part or all of the break, you can find further support and things to think about here Making the most of your time at home. 

Library Spaces

Library Core and Library Centre for Health Innovation, Stafford are open over Christmas. Please check the opening times on the Library website before travelling to campus as times are different to the usual opening times.

Research and study skills problems?

If you are anxious about work you are doing for an assignment or worried about forthcoming exams why not take action?

• Look at our self help resources
• Attend an online workshop
• Book an appointment with one of the team to get some individual focused help
• Check the help yourself videos

The Academic Skills page has a range of resources to help you manage your assignments, including breaking down into manageable chunks and help with your planning and time management. It also directs you to sources of research information which you may not be aware of. This can help improve the quality of your research and final assessment work.

There is lots of international student support for our students to access over the Christmas break. On our website, you can find visa and immigration advice (including information on travelling to Europe), as well as everyday essentials. You can also find a list of local amenities for students who may be staying in the local area during the Christmas closure. If you still haven't found what you are looking for, try visiting our Sharepoint, which has more in-depth information about navigating Staffs as an international student. Do not forget that you can contact the Student Life team in the New Year via Solve. 

The Students' Union will remain open as an information point for students throughout the Christmas break, including Bank Holidays.  

A duty staff member will be available by phone (01782 294629), email, and social media from 11 am - 3 pm each day.