Diversity at Goldsmiths

Liberation Networks

The Students’ Union is home to five liberation networks, which offer support to trans and non-binary students, women, BME students, LGBTQ+ students, and disabled students.

There are five Liberation Officers – one for each group – that are elected each year.  It is their job to help support and represent these groups within the SU and the College. You can find out who the Officers are and how to contact them on the Students’ Union website.

The role of these groups is to help build communities and work on issues, campaigns and plans.

Each liberation network holds a weekly coffee hour. You can find out when these take place on the SU Events page. These coffee hours take place in the Liberation Room, which is downstairs in the SU building. This is a space that anyone who is part of these groups to use.

Sports and Societies

The Students’ Union has tons of sports teams and societies for students to join. Societies range from the Islamic Society, International Students’ Community, Korean Culture Community, LGBTQ+ Students’ Community, as well as the Creative Writing Society, Photography Society, Vogue Society and many more!

Sports teams range from athletics, badminton, ultimate frisbee, women’s rugby, and more.

Find a full list of sports and societies on the Students’ Union website.

We encourage any student with a disability, including mental health conditions, to declare this when you apply to the Study Abroad programme. This can help us ensure that you get the right support when you arrive on campus.

This support is usually coordinated by our Wellbeing and Disability teams. They can help support you in a variety of ways, including navigating the NHS, developing a Staying Safe plan, putting in place reasonable adjustments, and providing Assistive Technology. Find out more about the Wellbeing and Disability teams.

Three members of the Global Opportunities team are qualified Mental Health First Aiders, and the whole team are trained in trans awareness and unconscious bias. The team are here to support you throughout your time at Goldsmiths and are available to speak about any issue, as well as provide more information about other Goldsmiths services. Contact us on studyabroad@ (gold.ac.uk) for Study Abroad students and goabroad (@gold.ac.uk) for Erasmus students.

Goldsmiths is home to a multi-faith chaplaincy. Any student is welcome to talk to a chaplain about any issue, regardless of what your beliefs and practices may or may not be. There is a multi-faith prayer room on campus, as well as several relaxation and mindfulness spaces. You can find out more on the Goldsmiths Chaplaincy page.

Goldsmiths has a network of staff members that are trained Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA).

If you, a friend, or any student on campus is experiencing mental distress or a mental health crisis, find the closest Security officer. Their main desk is at the front of the Richard Hoggart Building. There is also a security officer based at the library front desk. They can also be contacted on security (@gold.ac.uk), or on 020 7896 2121.

Security will then contact the closest mental health first aider. The first aider will assess the situation, provide support, and recommend next steps – for example, if an ambulance is necessary.

Three members of the Global Opportunities team are trained mental health first aiders, so you can contact them directly, or ask the Security team to contact them if preferred.

There is a Mature Students’ Officer based in Goldsmiths Students’ Union. It is their role to represent and support mature students within the College and the Union – you can find out who they are and how to contact them on the SU website.

The first strategic aim of the Learning, Teaching, Assessment Strategy (LTAS) at Goldsmiths is "Liberate our Degrees". Pioneering work from the Students’ Union has ensured that this is a critical part of the College’s LTAS.

The aim means to "proactively challenge the white, middle class, ableist, male-dominated curricula that are prevalent across the Higher Education sector, and to centre the work of marginalised scholars on race, sexuality, gender and disability within academia." Read more about this on the Goldsmiths LTAS page.

Students can engage with this aim through the Liberate our Library project. You can suggest books and resources for the library to purchase, and engage in workshops offered by the Academic Skills Centre. Read more on the Liberate our Library page.

As a Study Abroad student, you have the benefit of being able to study across departments (with the exception of Art and Design), which means you have access to a diverse range of modules. These include:

• Queer History Through Film
• Contemporary Indigenous Literatures and Cultures
• Contemporary Arab Migrant Writing
• Caribbean Women Writers
• Mediating Violence: Feminist, Queer, Decolonial Perspectives
• Music of Africa and Asia
• Disability: Power, Embodiment, and ‘Normality’

Goldsmiths hosts an official third-party hate crime reporting centre, which is open to both students and the public.

If you have experienced or witnessed a hate crime or hate incident and want to tell the police or local authority, trained members of staff at Goldsmiths will be available to guide you through the reporting process and provide you access to support services.

Find out more on the Hate Crime Reporting Centre's page.

GARA is a BAME-led collective of students campaigning for racial justice at Goldsmiths and beyond. In the spring of 2019, the group organised a 137-day occupation of Deptford Town Hall to draw attention to their cause and to pressurise the College to listen to their demands. At the end of July 2019, the College’s management team agreed to a series of commitments in response to the protest and to help accelerate work to address the BAME attainment gap. GARA intend to continue their lobbying activity as well as arranging events throughout the year.

MappED – MappED aims to provide equal opportunities for students with disabilities for their participation in the Erasmus+ programme. It gives information on the accessibility of university services, as well as other places and services.

AccessAble – this is a search engine where you can search for accessible places to go, such as restaurants and cinemas. You can also find a full access guide for Goldsmiths.

Student Minds – a charity that has a hub of resources to help support students with their mental health. They run peer support groups across the country. There is a specific section on studying abroad.

Mind – a charity that provides advice and support for students with mental health conditions.

Nightline – a student listening service run by students for students. Nightline operates every night of term, and you can call, text or email about anything that’s troubling you.

Visit London – a website with guides to accessible shops, attractions, days out, public transport, theatres, and hotels in London.

Trip Advisor – a guide on places that are easy to access in London, and tips for getting around.

Everyone is Gay – This is a collection of different voices offering advice and support for LGBTQ+ youth.

Gendered Intelligence – A charity working with the trans community, aimed at increasing the understanding of gender diversity.

Imaan – Specialist support for LGBTQ+ Muslims.

Transgender Support Groups – Find a transgender support group in your local area.

Time Out – Time Out London provides a guide to LGBTQ+ events, shows, and bars. 

Stonewall – Stonewall is an organisation that helps support LGBTQ+ individuals and creative inclusive environments. You can use Stonewall’s website to find LGBTQ+ services and local community groups.

With huge thanks to Goldsmiths alum Abigail Joseph for compiling this list. You can read about Abigail's study abroad experience in Copenhagen on the Go Abroad blog.

Bun/Babylon– a Facebook group for black women from any background and in any location, including cis, trans, queer and/or genderqueer/non-binary.

POC Housing in London– a housing group for people of colour who want to live with other people of colour in or around London.

Discussion Thursdays– a monthly forum in Lewisham (Goldsmiths’ local area) for young black and/or Caribbean people to discuss important socio-political issues. Please note the official venue has changed to Orchard Gardens Community Centre, Lewisham, London, SE13 7LD.

PRIM– a book club for queer black people

BlackOut UK– a page that lists events for queer black people and cishet allies

The New Black Film Collective– a nationwide network of film exhibitors, educators and programmers of Black representation on screen. They hold great screenings and put on a particularly excellent programme for black history month in October.

gal-dem– an online and print magazine sharing perspectives from women and non-binary people of colour

Wear Your Voice Mag– an intersectional feminist online magazine

Bitch Media– an online magazine showcasing an intersectional feminist response to pop culture

Million Youth Media– a YouTube channel with short films created by young British people of colour

Goldsmiths chaplaincy website – there is information and map here to help you find places of worship in the local area

London Buddhist Centre – centre for Buddhists in Bethnal Green. They run yoga and mindfulness classes, as well as courses and retreats

Humanists UK – run community services, such as non-religious pastoral support, and events throughout London

Christian flatshare – a non-profit organisation which helps accommodation seekers to connect with their local church community

Lewisham Deanery – find out about Catholic life in South East London

Mary the Virgin Lewisham – Church of England church and Lewisham’s oldest building

Catford and Bromley Synagogue – support for the Jewish community across South-East London and Kent

London Sivan Kovil – Hindu temple located in Lewisham

Lewisham Islamic Centre – a hub of religious and social activities, as well as a place of worship

Muslims in Britain – directory of mosques, and a guide to Islam and Muslims in Britain

Gurdwara Sahin Woolwich – a Sikh place of worship in Lewisham

Halal Food Gastronomy – map of halal restaurants in London

Halal Food London – a blog of halal food and places to pray in London