College’s communal living rooms aim to combat student isolation
SHEFFIELD COLLEGE students are the first in the further education sector to benefit from an idea being piloted by a new international movement to boost wellbeing and combat social isolation.
A communal living room for students has been launched at the city campus, in Granville Road, as part of a six-month pilot project with Camerados.
Camerados is an international movement that inspires organisations to create social spaces so that people develop a sense of community and gain support from others.
About 1,000 students at the city campus have used the communal space, fitted with sofas, soft furnishings, a piano and fairy lights, which is based in the atrium.
The college and Sheffield College Students’ Union have jointly backed the project. And as a result of the pilot’s success, the scheme is now being rolled out across the college’s three other campuses: Hillsborough, Peaks and Olive Grove.
Principal Angela Foulkes said: “We are proud to be the first further education college nationally to launch a Camerados living room, which has been very well received by students.
“The college is committed to inclusiveness and social cohesion, and this project provides a relaxed communal space where students of all ages and backgrounds can meet, socialise and support one another.”
This is the first Camerados project in a further education college setting, with other public living rooms being launched in community centres, hospitals and libraries.
Amy Smith, president of the college’s students’ union, added: “The feedback from students has been really positive.
“The living room project makes them feel more connected to one another and it’s encouraged students to socialise beyond their immediate friendship groups, increasing their self-confidence.
“The scheme also complements our mental health awareness campaign by helping to tackle social isolation.”