Nightlines provide a confidential listening, emotional support, information and supplies service, run by students for students at their university. They work to improve student mental health and wellbeing and are open at night when no other university welfare services are available. The first Nightline was set up at the University of Essex by a Samaritans' director forty years ago to reduce student suicide. Nightline services now operate in over forty universities in the UK and beyond thanks to an incredible team of over 2,000 trained student volunteers. All offer a telephone helpline and many also offer drop-in, email listening and 1-1 online listening services. Some also offer supplies, which includes giving out condoms, pregnancy tests and attack alarms.

University is a time of many changes and challenges and being able to talk to a peer - someone who understands what you're going through at your university and can empathise - can and does make a difference. Students at a university with a Nightline can talk to us about anything they like. We won’t judge and we won’t tell them what to do, but no matter what it's about, we'll listen. Nightline is confidential and anonymous; students don't have to tell us anything about themselves, not even their name.  

Callers come to us about anything and everything but common topics for students to discuss include academic stress, depression, loneliness, eating disorders, arguments with flatmates, career path, sexual abuse, worries about a friend, bereavement, relationship breakdown, sexuality, abortion, alcohol and drug abuse, family problems, discrimination, suicidal thoughts, disability, housing concerns, bullying, self harm, debt... There is no problem too big or too small - if it's bothering a student, Nightline volunteers will be there to listen.  Our volunteers don't have the answers - they're trained to actively listen, to help students come to their own solution or resolution. Nightline will listen for as long as students want to talk.