Lancaster Nightline
We’re here to listen, not lecture.
01524 594 444
We’re here, every night of term…
Monday – Wednesday: 10pm – 1am
Thursday – Sunday: 10pm – 3am
You can call or instant message us any time during our opening hours.
Lancaster
Nightline
We’re here to listen, not lecture.
01524 594 444
We’re here, every night of term…
Monday – Wednesday: 10pm – 1am
Thursday – Sunday: 10pm – 3am
You can call or instant message us any time during our opening hours.
Get in Touch
If you would like to contact our executive committee about our service, technical issues or anything else, please send us an email on nladm@lancaster.ac.uk.
Call Us
Our phone lines are open during term-time
Thursday – Sunday between 10pm – 3am.
You can reach us on 01524 594 444.
Instant Message Us
Our IM service is open during term-time from:
10pm – 1am (Monday – Wednesday),
and 10pm – 3am (Thursday – Sunday).
Open a chat here: portal.nightline.ac.uk/im/webim
Email Us
Email us any time, even during holidays, at listening@lancaster.nightline.ac.uk
and we will get back to you within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lancaster Nightline?
We are a student-run listening and information service, open at night when other student support services may be closed. We offer confidential, non-judgemental emotional support from trained student volunteers through phone calls, instant messaging, and email.
What happens when I call?
The call is yours – you can say as much or as little as you like, and talk about anything that’s on your mind. We are here to listen to anything you want to say without any judgement and in confidentiality. Our volunteers will given you the time and space to discuss your feelings and emotions and talk through whatever might be troubling you.
Do I have to be suicidal or depressed to call?
Not at all. Volunteers are trained to be able to listen and support students with any issue. No problem is too big or small – you don’t even need a reason to call – if you just want to chat, or share what’s on your mind, or talk about your day then we’re here to listen.
What happens if I want to talk to a specific volunteer or talk specifically to a man or woman?
All our volunteers are trained in the same way and should be able to offer the same level of service. You can’t ask for a specific volunteer, however if you’d like to speak to a different volunteer you can end the call and call back.
Are the volunteers trained?
Yes! All listening volunteers have been trained in active listening and are able to support you with any issues or problems on your mind. Every Nightline Service delivers their own training to their volunteers before they begin taking calls, this training must meet the Nightline Association’s good practice guidelines. Nightline volunteers take part in continuous training and development throughout the year.
My English isn’t very good, can I still use the service?
We understand that there are many students at Lancaster for whom English is not their first language. We offer an email service and instant messaging service for those that might find it easier to contact us in writing.
I want to volunteer! When do applications open?
We usually open applications once per term. The best place to stay up-to-date with the process and when we’re recruiting new call-takers is on our Instagram page.
Our next call-taker applications open on 23rd September 2024.
If you want to volunteer, but aren’t sure that being a call-taker is the right fit for you: our friendly publicity team is also open to volunteers, who help run our Instagram, chat with students at events, and even rock the Nelly suit you may have seen around on campus! Read more about how you can get involved here.
I can't commit to volunteering, but I still want to help out. What can I do?
We’re so glad you want to help our cause!
Donate directly through our JustGiving page – any amount, big or small, is a huge help and as an entirely volunteer student-run group, we appreciate every penny to make our service even better for our callers!
You can also download the EasyFundraising browser extension, which lets us passively earn money from brands as you shop online!
I have a friend who I think would make a great volunteer! Can I put them forward?
Yes, absolutely you can!
They’ll still have to go through the application, assessment, and training processes, but we can anonymously let your friend know that someone in their life thinks they’re perfect for the job – all you need to know is their student email address, then head over to our quick Nudge a Friend form.
I'm a College JCR or Society Exec member. Can we collaborate with Nightline?
We would love to!
The best way to get in touch with our publicity team is either by emailing at lancasternightlinepub@gmail.com or messaging through Instagram.
What's with the elephants?
That’s our mascot, Nelly! They’re often seen around campus, raising awareness of Nightline and what we do.
Often mental health and feeling low can be the elephant in the room that gets overlooked for one reason or another… but we’re here to talk about it! For us and our callers, Nelly represents being able to talk about whatever is on your mind without any worry of being judged or feeling like a burden for simply wanting to be heard. That’s exactly what we’re here for.
Volunteer With Us
We’d love to have you!
If you have any queries at all about volunteering, feel free to send us a message:
nladm@lancaster.ac.uk
Applications are now open – click below to read more and apply join the team…
Our Principles
Anonymity
We value anonymity for our volunteers, as well as our callers – this means you can call us without giving your name or any personal details, if you wish. We can’t see your phone number or where you’re calling from. We do this to create a safe space where you can speak freely about whatever is on your mind.
Confidentiality
What you discuss with us will not be shared outside of Nightline. This allows you to put your trust in our listening volunteers. There are a few specific occasions when we might have to break confidentiality (e.g. a court order, or safeguarding incident) but our volunteers will let you know before this happens.
Non-Judgementalism
We will never judge our callers. Any way you reach out to us will be received in an equal and unbiased manner, regardless of your own or our volunteers’ personal views. Nightline has no political or religious beliefs and no affiliations of any other nature which may impair the neutrality and impartiality of the service.
Empathy
Although we can never truly understand what any other person is going through, we will always try our best to put ourselves in your shoes to empathise with how you may be feeling.
Non-Directiveness
As we say: we’re here to listen, not lecture. We will never give advice on a situation, or try to direct you towards any particular outcome – even if you ask us to. Instead, we can talk about your situation, your feelings and help you explore your options in the hope of helping you find some clarity and make your own choices.