Category: Blog

A-level students collected their results last week and some will be heading to university next month. This can be an exciting step, but for many, it can also be daunting and mental health can suffer. Here, we suggest five ways to prepare for university.

1. Do some research

If starting at university involves moving to a location you do not know well, then do some research!

Have a look at what is near your campus, see if you can find familiar places like your favourite clothes stores or coffee shops, and look into the best way to travel home when you would like to.

You should also research where you can go for support with your mental health at university should you need it.

2. Speak to people who have already been to university

If you know anyone who has been to university before, there’s a chance that before they started, they had some worries too. Speak to any family and friends that you know have experienced starting university and ask how they felt and how they overcame any worries.

3. Plan your finances

Going to university will affect the money you receive and the way you get it. It is important to think about how you will pay for essentials like rent, food and study books.

If you are worried about money, make sure you look into any additional funding you might be entitled to.

4. Avoid thinking about ‘what if’ situations

Remember that most people will be in the same position as you, starting university for the first time with some worries. If you start creating pre-conceived ideas about what might happen, you could become overwhelmed. Try not to put pressure on yourself and to have an open mind about what is going to happen at university.

University is a new stage in life, so take it as it comes and remember that your mental health comes first.

5. Pack things that make you feel at home

When you are packing your belongings, make sure you take things that will remind you of home, such as photographs, washing or your favourite recipes. This can help at points where you might be having mental health struggles and if you feel homesick.

Through our working partnership with the Charlie Waller Trust (CWT), experts have written a variety of Transition Guides for those leaving their existing educational establishment to go to university.

The transition guides, for vulnerable groups have been written by a highly experienced mental health practitioner who delivers training with the CWT. It is hoped that these guides will support students to cope with mental health challenges. You can read the transition guides here.

If you would like to help support our working partnerships, such as CWT, to help improve young people’s mental health, you can do so by donating to the Charlie Watkins Foundation.

It’s no surprise that spending time outside and getting busy in the garden is great for your mental health; and there’s no better example of how tending to allotments can help your wellbeing than the GoGreen project, run in Colchester by one of our charity partnerships the Youth Enquiry Service (YES). 

 

What is the GoGreen project?

The GoGreen project is a community garden in Colchester where young people can go to spend time outside and nurture everything growing there. In the allotment area, fruit and vegetables are grown from seed and, when harvested, are turned into delicious simple meals made in the on-site kitchen. Any extra food is given to local food banks, ensuring that many people in the community also enjoy the benefits of the allotment space.

The Charlie Watkins Foundation (CWF) has supported this project with funding for essential gardening equipment, including a shed, a large gazebo and a new summer house, called Charlie’s Cabin.

 

What are the mental health benefits?

As well as the benefit of tasty produce, the young people who use the space have said that spending time outside, getting involved in the gardening and working with others has helped improve their mental health. The University of Sheffield even conducted a research project which found that people who have an allotment space reported a range of wellbeing benefits.

Spending time surrounded by nature is great for improving mood, reducing stress and boosting self-esteem. Plus, joining others outdoors allows you to meet new people and build a community of peer-support. Charlie’s Cabin has been a great addition to the garden for this, as it is a safe place where young people can share their concerns or simply chat with their peers or their project leaders.

 

How can you get involved?

If you feel inspired to tend to your own allotment, the National Allotment Society have resources on their website to help you find out where your nearest allotments are, and how to start growing.

You can also help support the continuation of the GoGreen project, as well as many others, by donating to Charlie Watkins Foundation. Your generous donations have helped us support and fund many amazing organisations working to help improve young people’s mental health.