RGU:Union aims to look after and support all of our students. We undertake a number of projects to support students to drink responsibly and stay safe.
It's Alcohol Awareness Week, and is a useful opportunity for students to consider the levels of alcohol they consume to ensure they are staying healthy and safety. RGU:Union has worked with Alcohol and Drugs Action on a useful quiz to help students figure out their alcohol consumption and to see if it has an impact on academic performance and experience. Alcohol plays a big role in student culture and features at many events for young adults. While this can be a fun and social way to integrate with others, it is essential that students understand the irresponsible drinking can have on their lives.
Overuse of alcohol can result in students facing issues with their health, causing dangerous behaviour such as violence or impacting their academic performance. Fully understanding the units students may consume on a night of drinking and being aware of steps to take to improve alcohol consumption can improve the experience of students. As part of our welfare campaigns and the #TakeAStand campaign, student Presidents, Kerry Harrison and Katherine Corbett have worked with Alcohol and Drugs Action on a quiz to understand and raise awareness amoung students of where their current consumtion sits.
Along with the quiz, the Union works on a number of other welfare projects to support student wellbeing and encourage safe, responsible drinking.
RGU:Nightline, is a student-led service which listens to students who need to talk about any issues they face. You can phone, message, or email on Tuesday to Friday from 8pm to 8am on 01224 26 36 46, or use the instant messaging link on Facebook and ‘like’ the page to keep up to date. The service acts as a valuable support for many students. More information can be found at www.rguunion.co.uk/nightline
Safe Taxi Scheme, a support scheme if you are ever out and need to get home safely, or have no money, the Safe Taxi Scheme exists as an emergency provision to allow you to use your student card as temporary payment for a Rainbow City Taxi. Avoid walking alone in the dark and cold, always have a safe way back. All you have to do is call 01224 262222 and ask for an 'RGU Safe Taxi' and then handover your student card to the driver, and the week after you can collect your card and pay your fare at the RGU:Union offices. Find out more at www.safetaxiaberdeen.co.uk
Welfare Squad, is a new initiative around Freshers to support students who are drinking on a Freshers night out and make sure they are safe and responsible. The team work to help students get home, give out water, contraception, and generally be a support mechanism for students around Freshers, where student are particularly vunerable and overuse alcohol.
Stay Safe Campaign, is a serious of video projects which were produced by RGU:TV in partnership with Police Scotland to encourage responsible drinking. There are six different videos which outline a range of outcomes which students may face and dangers and issues they may get into if they do not stay safe. The promote key advice and tips for staying safe such as keeping your phone charged, planning your route home, calming your temper.