Who Are We?
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The Junior Common Room (also known as the JCR) is a community made up of undergraduate students within Stephenson College. Each College at Durham University has a JCR or equivalent, and it is their role to represent the undergraduate students, champion their voice, and enhance their university and college experience! In essence, the JCR is a group made up of Stephenson students just like you, who want to be involved with their community and have a good time whilst doing so!
The JCR is an opt-in organisation, with a levy attached to membership, which you can find out more about in the ‘Why become a JCR Member’ section. Our JCR is responsible for running some of the biggest and best events of the year, like our Balls and Stevo Day! We also run welfare campaigns, such as talks on housing and finances or events to help students destress during exams, and a range of different events throughout the year. Much of the work we do and many of the activities we run are open to the whole College community, and often the wider University. Yet, there are prominent and distinct advantages to joining the JCR!
Our JCR, like most Common Rooms in Durham, is run by elected student volunteers who form the Executive Committee and Non-Executive Committee, all of whom are supported by committees of JCR members.
We do have a physical space onsite which is shared with our MCR (Middle Common Room) and serves as a prime location for students to relax, as well as being used as a meeting place for many of our societies. However, the JCR as an organisation goes beyond this space, and impacts every part of Stephenson College! So welcome, have a look around, and find out who we are and what we do, we are sure you’ll like what you see!
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Being a member really does pay off. You’ll get big discounts on JCR events and facilities, including more than 50% off memberships for the Walker and Howland Gyms right here on campus. In 2024–2025, members saved £20–30 on their Winter Ball ticket compared to non-members, with similar savings for our Summer Ball. Other events, like Oktoberfest, also come with reduced prices for members, meaning you’ll enjoy your benefits all year round!
Even if you don’t attend every event, you’ll still save money through reduced fees when joining college societies or sports teams, thanks to the JCR subsidising its members. We also contribute to the social spaces around college, from dart boards to football subscriptions in Stephenson Central (our college bar).
Membership also gives you the chance to run in JCR elections and join our Executive or Non-Executive Committees, the students who help run and shape the JCR. As a member, you get to have your say on what we do, how we work, and where we focus our efforts. It’s a brilliant way to get involved, develop new skills, and boost your CV, all while helping to make Stephenson College the best it can be for everyone.
To become a JCR member, you simply need to pay the JCR levy, a one-off payment that covers your membership for your entire time at Durham University. Once you’ve paid it, you’re in for good, with access to all the benefits of JCR membership for the rest of your studies! In line with other Common Rooms, the levy is £170 for students on 3- or 4-year courses (including those with a year abroad or on placement), and £65 for those spending just one year at Durham (often Erasmus+ or certain postgraduate students).
We never want the cost of the levy to be a barrier to joining. If you have any concerns about being able to afford it, you can speak to the JCR President in confidence, and we will support you and find a solution together.
The JCR levy makes a huge difference, making up more than half of our income last year. Your contribution enables our committees to run events, support societies, and create an unforgettable college experience. By becoming a JCR member you have the opportunity to get the most out of your college experience!
JCR Welfare
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As students ourselves we understand that University can be a bumpy ride. From moving away from home and meeting new people, to a variety of other new experiences, you might find yourself needing guidance, support, or just someone to talk to. This is why we have the JCR Welfare Team.
We aim for all members of the JCR to feel comfortable coming to us with any issues and so have regular drop-in sessions called Kit Kat Chit Chats. These are an opportunity to speak to members of the JCR welfare team in a private and relaxed environment.
OUR WELFARE TEAM:
Senior Welfare Officer:
Edith Hamilton
Welfare Officers:
Melisa Asci
Position open
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We also recognise that the Welfare Team can be a force for good within the JCR and College, this is why we run multiple campaigns throughout the year to raise awareness and push for change on key issues that are important to students.
Such campaigns involve signposting useful information on our Instagram page as well as hosting themed events in college. These may be a talk or lecture related to the campaign theme, or a social event to raise money for a related charity.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for campaign weeks, event ideas, or charities to work with please contact us via this form!
You can stay up to date with all our welfare news @stephenson.welfare on Instagram!
FAQ - Campaign Weeks
WHAT ARE CAMPAIGN WEEKS?
Team Welfare’s way of delivering a concentrated dose of information, advice and helpful tips regarding a certain topic. Each campaign week sees different events taking place and different opportunities for people to come and engage with the team in order to spread awareness of possible welfare issues more widely within the college.
HOW OFTEN ARE CAMPAIGN WEEKS?
We always aim to have 2 or 3 campaign weeks across each term, this means that there is a new campaign topic every 2 to 4 weeks
WHAT TOPICS ARE COVERED IN CAMPAIGN WEEKS?
The specific campaign weeks will vary each year but here are some past examples
Housing Week
Money Management Week
Alcohol and Drugs Awareness and Harm Reduction Week
Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance Week
Physical Wellbeing Week
Body Positivity Week
Mental Health Awareness Week
Stress-Less Week
Pride and LGBTQ+ Week
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION?
This year we will be running our campaigns predominantly on our Instagram page! (@stephenson.welfare)
Feel free to ask any of the Welfare officers for extra information regarding the campaign weeks!
Emily Bonney
Position open
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Contact by email: stephenson.jcr-welfare@durham.ac.uk
Contact by social media: @stephenson.welfare
Durham also has various other ways you can access support including:
- Report and Support allows you to report any serious incidents so you can recieve relevant support. You can also report anonymously.
- Nightline offers an overnight listening service, which can be accessed by telephone (the number is on the back of your campus card), or through the text feature on their website.
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