Posted: 30th April 2018

Members of the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, with great sadness, share the news of the death of Joel Lewis, a third year student from Croydon, who attended St Anne’s College.

Joel started at the University of Oxford in October 2015 where he enjoyed the group learning environment of tutorials and was a supportive member of the small group of Computer Scientists at St Anne’s College. He shared a wide range of interests with good friends including computer gaming and music. He also competed in Taekwondo for the highly successful University Team, twice winning against the University of Cambridge. He enjoyed a successful internship last year and had secured a further prestigious internship for this summer.

The University and the College has expressed our deepest condolences to his family and is doing all it can to support them and Joel's friends at this very difficult time.

Head of Department Mike Wooldridge said, "I am shocked and very saddened by this tragic death, and on behalf of the Department of Computer Science I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Joel’s family and friends. I urge anyone who is struggling to come to terms with this tragic death to seek the support that is on offer.”

Trained College staff are on site – both at the Department and College – to offer support to anyone from our community who may need it.

A fuller tribute to Joel and arrangements to remember his life will take place in the coming weeks with details being made available in due course.

Support available

Counselling at the University of Oxford (open 9am-5pm, Mon to Fri, weeks 0-9)

The University Counselling Service is available to anyone who needs more professional help. Students should make clear that they are from St Anne’s and/or the Department of Computer Science and they will be prioritized.

Website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/counselling?wssl=1   Tel: 01865 270300  Email:  counselling@admin.ox.ac.uk

Support is available via your college.

Validium employee assistance programme

Members of staff, and doctoral students within the department are reminded of Validium our employee assistance programme.  Their services are available 24/7, and this includes counselling support.  http://www.validium.com/login/ . Their phone number is 0800 3 58 48 58.  Please contact Laura Jones on hr@cs.ox.ac.uk if you are unsure how to register. 

Other support

Specialised bereavement counselling is available via CRUSE:  http://www.cruse.org.uk/

Talking Space also offers a range of free therapies that have been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of problems  such as depression and anxiety.   http://www.talkingspaceoxfordshire.org/

Advice and more links to support networks can be found on the Mind web site:  http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/

Nightline (opening hours 8pm – 8am every night from weeks 0-9):

Website:  http://oxfordnightline.org/

Tel: 01865 270 270 Also offer Instant Message, Skype and drop in at 16 Wellington Square.

Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/ Tel: 01865 722122