WELFARE

In the Robinson MCR Welfare Team welfare is divided between our Welfare Officer and our LGBTQ+ Officer. The primary purpose of each of these roles is to provide a point of contact for all MCR members who can be spoken to in confidence about any issues they may be experiencing during their time here. The team is supported through training and advice from the CUSU/GU Welfare team who offer counselling, support and advice to all University of Cambridge students. You can contact the welfare officers via their email addresses.

Mental health

The Welfare Team would like to promote good mental health. We are available to advise and support any students who feel they are suffering from mental health issues. Please note that we are not professionals; however, we can lend a friendly ear to assist anyone in accessing professional services or for those who just need to chat with someone who won't judge them for half an hour.

You may have arrived at Robinson College with pre-existing mental health issues, be struggling to cope with a personal situation or the stresses and pressures of studying. Regardless of your personal situation, the MCR Committee would like to help in any way we can in ensuring studying at Cambridge is open and available to all.

All University of Cambridge students can access the Student Advice Service at CUSU without going via the Welfare team at Robinson College. This Service employs full-time staff members with training to support University students through their studies. Those students with known, existing mental health issues at Robinson may wish to contact the Service upon arrival. They will be able to provide you with information about the support groups in the city and the free services that are available to you. For more information please contact one of the Welfare Team or see the Student Advice Service website.

Disabled students

As one of the modern Colleges at the University, Robinson is proud of its accessibility for students with mobility issues. There are four disabled access rooms in our new accommodation blocks on Sylvester Road which have a larger room and a big walk-in wet room attached. These rooms are on the 1st and second floors of 3A and 3B Sylvester Road and are reached by the lift in the lobby. The kitchens have lowered work surfaces and hobs for those in wheelchairs or who can't not reach the high counters. The MCR in College is accessible for those with disabilities and can be reached by using the lift found in K staircase and taken to the 1st floor. Most rooms in college can be reached by lift - just ask the Porters to show or tell you the best route.

The Welfare team is aware that not all students with a registered disability have mobility issues. The University offers a wide range of services for disabled students and employs a dedicated full-time team at the Disability Resource Centre on Trumpington Street.

Sexual health

The Welfare team is keen to promote sexual health amongst MCR members. We do this in several ways: first, we are available for advice on how to access sexual health professionals in the United Kingdom. International students should note that all varieties of contraception are available for free on the NHS via their GP or at a Sexual Health clinic. Second, the Welfare team is responsible for maintaining the dubiously named "Box of Joy" in the MCR. In here you will find free condoms and pregnancy tests should you find you need them. If the box is empty please contact a member of the Welfare team who will happily top it up. Their details can be found here.

Cambridge during breaks

We’re often asked about what to do over breaks and this is something we’re mindful of, particularly for mature and international students. As we get closer to Christmas we’ll be sharing more about things to do in town – and what the MCR can offer.

Funding

Robinson is not a rich College by Cambridge standards, but it does try to make funds available to Graduates whenever possible. If you do find that you are in financial difficulty you should talk with either the Graduate Tutors or the Financial Tutor, ideally before the situation becomes too severe. 

The College offers a number of funds for postgrads that are available to all, every year.

  • Research expenses - Up to £250 per financial year (1st July-30th June) is available to each Postgraduate to cover expenses such as conference fees, academic related travel, thesis printing and binding costs etc.

  • Resources - The College can purchase expensive books or equipment of which you need the exclusive and continuous use. These will normally be items that may be of value to other students once you are finished with them. The maximum sum you may claim in each academic year is £75 (and books must be a minimum of £35).

  • Languages - The College will normally reimburse 50% of the cost of a CULP language course upon production of the receipt and the certificate of completion of the course. 

  • Friends of the College Fund - Current students or recent graduates can apply for this fund, for any appropriate purpose. Awards usually fall within the range from £200 to £1,000.

    Go here to apply for any of these.

Hardship funds and bursaries

These are administered by the college and are detailed here.