The stress of campus life is taking a profound toll on our children

And yet, Jewish students remain. Most continue to attend lectures and contribute to academic life. They refuse to disappear. But the emotional cost of this resilience is significant. The persistent, underlying anxiety many carry is exhausting, affecting focus, wellbeing and sense of belonging.

This decade has been shaped by unprecedented challenges: the Covid-19 pandemic, war in Europe and the Middle East, a cost-of-living crisis, and a sharp rise in anti-Jewish hate.

For Jewish students, these forces have converged into a perfect storm. Since September alone, our Chaplains have devoted more than 1,250 hours to supporting students’ welfare needs, frequently acting as first-aid responders, offering immediate support, reassurance and advocacy when students feel anxious, unsafe or isolated.

University Jewish Chaplaincy ensures that students are never left to navigate this reality alone. Our Chaplains stand alongside students not only in moments of crisis, but in the everyday rhythms of university life. They create spaces that feel safe, warm and rooted, places to breathe, to question, to celebrate and simply to be.

For some students, Chaplaincy homes have become essential refuges. Away from the scrutiny and hostility they may encounter elsewhere, students often feel more comfortable attending events, meals and gatherings in these spaces. A home away from home is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Through open doors and generous hospitality, UJC chaplains have served over 3,500 meals so far this year, from bagel lunch-and-learns to Shabbat and Yom Tov meals, midweek gatherings, and quiet conversations around a kitchen table.

Yet chaplaincy homes cannot replace visible, confident Jewish life on campus. As we move through 2026 and beyond, we must rebuild a stronger physical presence, in student unions, shared spaces, lecture theatres and leadership roles. Jewish students should not have to retreat to feel secure.

For students at universities with limited or no Jewish infrastructure, the risk of isolation is even greater. Our chaplains have already made 30 visits to outlying campuses this year, ensuring support wherever students study.

Our chaplains would far rather spend their time creating joy: Purim parties, learning programmes, wellbeing sessions, sporting events, and post-Shabbat hikes with havdalah under the stars. And in many places, they do. But recent years have required them to devote a significant portion of their work to responding to antisemitism, anti-Zionism and infringements on religious freedom, often as incidents occur.

In just the first ten weeks of this academic year, UJC chaplains addressed 18 cases of antisemitism and more than 213 incidents relating to religious freedom. They have facilitated dozens of meetings with university administrators and interfaith leaders, advocating tirelessly for students’ safety, dignity and rights.

Last year alone, University Jewish Chaplaincy provided direct assistance to over 740 students facing antisemitism, delivered more than 4,150 hours of welfare and mental health support, engaged in over 34,000 student interactions, and welcomed more than 18,500 attendances at community events.

Now that we are in 2026, the message of our campaign is clear. Jewish students are not guests on British university campuses. They are an integral part of academic and student life and will continue to play active, visible and valued roles across the sector.

This is not about asking permission. It is about stating the truth. Jewish students belong on these campuses, in lecture theatres, halls of residence, student unions, shared spaces and difficult conversations, free from fear, free to learn, and free to be themselves.

It is, and will always be, our campus too.

Sophie Dunoff is CEO of University Jewish Chaplaincy