Why not take a look at the University of Sussex Cyber Café?

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It is multi-functional - as a meeting place, a venue to discuss problems, air views, resolve issues and exchange information. These services are all available through a computer using a web browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. You can enter the Cyber Café either on or off campus at any time of the day or night, leave your message for all to read (anonymously if you wish), and return later to view the replies.

The Cyber Café arises out of the Mentoring Scheme, run by Psychological and Counselling Services, which exists to empower students to aid their peers, encourage collaborative approaches to learning, and to provide accessible, user-friendly support to undergraduate and postgraduate students in an informal environment. The Assistive Technology Centre conceptualised the Cyber Café and was responsible for its development and design. As a consequence a special focus has been placed on the requirements of students with special needs.

The concept of peer support has been combined with the power of the Internet, the flexibility of e-mail and the co-operative atmosphere promoted by the Mentoring Scheme, as well as the need to create a searchable database of useful information. However the highest priority has been to make it all easy to use, and as accessible as possible, so that even a novice with little experience of the Internet would be able to interact with other users.

In order to reach prospective students before they arrive at Sussex, the Assistive Technology Centre is liaising with local sixth form colleges and FE colleges, thus increasing the number of people able to participate. To deal with the number of users, Student web mentors will be available to offer assistance and to answer questions that may otherwise be inaccessible. Finally it is hoped that the facility to host informal tutorials, seminars and workgroups could be utilised by tutors thus keeping everything dynamic and exciting.