Student Wellbeing & Additional Support
Practical wellbeing support and reasonable adjustments for students living with Downing Students.
Living away from home can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming at times.
Downing Students is committed to supporting your wellbeing and to helping students who have disabilities, long‑term health conditions or other additional needs to live safely and comfortably in our accommodation.
What Support Can We Help With?
This page brings together information about:
Everyday Wellbeing and Welfare
Day‑to‑day support from our residence teams and signposting to help with stress, homesickness and student life.
Additional Support and Adjustments
How we support students with disabilities, long‑term health conditions, neurodivergence or other additional needs.
Working with Your University and External Services
How accommodation support fits alongside the help you may receive from your university, NHS or other organisations.
What to do in an Emergency
Who to contact if you or someone else is in immediate danger or needs urgent help.
Everyday Wellbeing and Welfare in Downing
Looking after your wellbeing is an important part of student life.
Our residence teams aim to create safe, friendly buildings where you can talk to someone if you are worried, unsure where to go for help or just need a bit of support alongside your studies.- Friendly on‑site teams who can listen, offer practical advice and signpost you to university and local services.
- Support with day‑to‑day issues such as flatmate difficulties, noise problems or settling into a new city.
- Information and campaigns about topics like managing stress, sleep, budgeting, alcohol and staying safe.
- Events and activities that help you connect with others and feel part of a community.
Additional Support and Reasonable Adjustments
Some students live with disabilities, long‑term health conditions, neurodivergence or mental health difficulties that mean they may need adjustments to live comfortably in student accommodation.
We encourage you to talk to us as early as possible so we can discuss what may be reasonable and practical in your chosen residence.
Who this is for
Additional support is for any student whose health, disability or personal circumstances mean standard accommodation might not work well. This can include mobility or sensory impairments, neurodivergence such as autism or ADHD, long‑term or fluctuating health conditions, ongoing mental health difficulties, or other situations where your room location, facilities or day‑to‑day contact with our teams may need to be different.Adjustments we may be able to consider
Depending on the building and rooms available, we may be able to allocate a room nearer a lift or entrance, place you in a quieter area or offer an accessible or adapted room where these exist. In some cases we can agree space for essential medical equipment, create a personal fire evacuation plan, discuss arrangements for a carer or PA, or plan regular check‑ins and clearer advance notice of things like fire alarm tests and maintenance.What we can and cannot promise
We always have to consider what is reasonable, safe and practical in each residence, so not every adjustment will be possible everywhere. Some options may be limited or already booked, and sometimes a different building or room type will be more suitable. We are not a medical or social care service, but we aim to work alongside your university, NHS and other professionals and to be clear about what we can and cannot do.
Working with Your University and External Services
Many students already receive support from university disability or wellbeing teams, or from external professionals.
Our role is to make sure your accommodation works alongside that support, not to replace it.
With your consent, liaise with university support or accommodation services about your room and any agreed adjustments.
Signpost you to university counselling, disability services, GP/NHS or third‑sector organisations for specialist help.
Explain how accommodation support normally works in the UK if you are an international student or parent.
When and How to Tell Us What You Need
The sooner we know about your situation, the more options we are likely to have.
You can talk to us before you book, when you book or at any time during your stay if things change.
Before Booking (Recommended)
If you know you will need adjustments, contact us before choosing a room. Tell us which city and residence you are considering and what kind of support or features you may need.
After Booking or if Your Situation Changes
If you have already booked, or your needs change during the year, please speak to your residence team or our central support team as soon as you can.
Sharing Information
We may ask for relevant information from you, your university support service or another professional so we understand your needs. This is to help us identify appropriate options, not to exclude you.
Talk to us
Talk to Us About Wellbeing or Additional Support
If you think you may need extra support while living with Downing Students, or if you are a parent, guardian or agent with questions, please get in touch.
You do not need to have everything worked out before you contact us.
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