Severn Point

“I’m looking for a towel rack for my bathroom.”

“How the staff act and how responsive they are. I honestly feel like the team could show a bit more understanding in certain situations, and they might really benefit from some training around disabilities and how to support people properly. My friend who is also Autistic was hit pretty hard by a fire drill we had no warning about. It happened very late at night, and after it, he asked whether he could be told about drills in the future. One of the staff members was really rude and basically said they were “not obligated to do that.” When it comes to disabilities like ASD, there’s already a lot of stigma, and there often feels like an overwhelming lack of understanding. Sudden sounds, like a fire alarm, can be enough to cause sensory overload. That can lead to either a meltdown or a shutdown pretty quickly. A meltdown is not the same thing as a tantrum. It’s an uncomfortable, sometimes even painful, and not really controllable reaction to overwhelming sensory input. If it’s truly impossible to warn certain students about fire drills, then it needs to be communicated properly, in a clear and direct way. As a student, I don’t see myself as better than anyone else. In the accommodation, I don’t think there’s a hierarchy. I believe everyone should be treated equally, and that staff and students should show each other the same level of respect. So if a student goes to a staff member with a problem they’re dealing with, they shouldn’t be laughed at or told they’re wrong. They shouldn’t have to deal with blunt rudeness. Instead of shutting people down, staff should work with students and try to find a solution together. That said, I do appreciate the staff, and I especially like chatting with them when I’m picking up my parcels. There are a few members who often smile, and honestly, that alone can make someone’s day a little better.”

“Honestly, I can’t see anything that needs fixing.”

“The bathroom is so tiny that I can’t stand it.”

“The rent is cheaper. The shower and the kitchen hob work a lot better too. There are also more bins outside, which is handy because the ones for the flat fill up really fast. They even provided bin bags for the kitchen.”

“The rooms and kitchens feel like they’re starting to fall apart a bit. I’ve had a few problems with my room.”

“At night it can get pretty noisy because the Trainline is right outside. I also think there should be proper food waste bins. When something goes wrong in the flat, like a broken freezer, the maintenance or reception team should respond faster.”

“The maintenance shows up out of nowhere, and it happens a lot, which is pretty inconvenient.”

“I might suggest adding a sign-in system for the indoor bike shed or shelter, because the reason I say that is pretty unfortunate. My bike was taken from the regular outdoor storage, and the staff couldn’t really control what happened. The bike cost about £1,500, so it was definitely a big loss. Unfortunately, the thieves were able to get in because they came through with students who live in the residences. The only thing I’d improve is having to sign in to access the bike shelter.”

“The staff are really friendly, but I’ve had trouble when it comes time to pay my rent. That’s led to extra charges I can’t afford, even though I’ve already paid the amount, and my account was flagged as red back in July 2022. I’d also strongly like to see a simpler, more straightforward recycling setup.”