I never thought that I would ever experience Freshers’ as an Officer. Not only am I excited to make new friends, (like you!) but together, we can experience the new and improved Welcome Fair (previously known as the Freshers’ Fair). The amazing thing about this year’s Welcome Festival is that it’s for every kind of student - there are events lined up for everyone, from mature students to student parents and postgraduate students and they’re just waiting for you to get involved! Myself and my fellow Officers will be in front and centre at the plaza to welcome you, so don’t miss out on sharing the fun with us!

At the Welcome Fair, you’ll be able to meet our Advice Team at their tent, a perfect opportunity for you to learn what they do and how they can support you while you’re with us. Our Advice Centre will be able to support you with any mental health issues while studying – a key part of our Officer manifestos for the coming year. As your elected Officers, we will continue to work to raise awareness and provide support to students on mental health related issues.

My favourite part about my first week at uni is always the different amazing activities organised by the Students’ Union. This year is like no other, HudComedy is bigger than ever and will be jam-packed full of great acts like Ed Gamble. You won’t want to miss the amazing comedy lineup at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. From previous experience, I can say that HudComedy is my highlight of the Welcome Festival. Another of my favourite events is the Coffee Crawl which is held at three of the finest coffee shops in all of Huddersfield. An evening of live music, coffee tasting and food? Sign me up! You can also get involved with the latte art competition, where you will be able to win a coffee making machine - woo! More reason to book your ticket as soon as possible!

For those of you who would like to be able to work part-time, get a placement or even secure jobs before you finish your course, you might want to come along to our Part Time Jobs Fair. You’ll be able to sign up loads of opportunities that will make your CV stand out. The best way to actually start developing your CV is by getting involved with different activities while you’re studying on your course. The Students’ Union have partnerships with lots of different volunteering organisations that you can work with.

Thanks for reading my guide to the Welcome Festival and I can’t wait to meet you all soon!

Adetayo

Equalities Officer