Term 1 has been an incredible few months for ResLife, full of connection, creativity, culture, and some seriously impressive student engagement.
With 14 fantastic ResLife Ambassadors and a brand-new structured events calendar, we set out to make this year bigger, brighter, and more welcoming than ever… and you definitely showed up!
A warm and welcoming start
Term 1 has been an incredible few months for ResLife, filled with connection, creativity and community. With 14 fantastic Ambassadors and a more structured events calendar, we set out to make this year even more welcoming and engaging – and thanks to you, it’s been our busiest term yet.
Our welcome socials were a huge success, with over 850 students joining us for pizza, games and the chance to make new friends. It was wonderful seeing students arrive on their own and leave with new connections, exactly what those early days are all about.
Exploring, learning and getting involved
Our trips were as popular as ever, taking students to places like Dover Castle, Whitstable, London and Ninja Warrior UK, with added adventures such as goat walking and go-karting for smaller groups. We also teamed up with the Chaplaincy to offer even more opportunities to explore.
Sustainability was another highlight: our gleaning trip with Fareshare rescued apples that went to food banks and student cookery sessions, and our beach litter pick with the Sustainability Society was a big success. Students also enjoyed cookery workshops with Chartwells’ Head Chef and sewing masterclasses with the South East Quilters Guild. A fantastic hands-on learning experiences.
Celebrating culture and community
Our cultural events were some of the most vibrant moments of the term. The Diwali celebration attracted over 250 students with traditional food, music, Henna and crafts, while our Nigerian Independence Day event brought even more colour and energy to campus. We’re looking forward to celebrating Lunar New Year in Term 2.
Fun, festive moments and campus highlights
From animal encounters (yes, including a meerkat!) to karaoke, craft sessions, pumpkin picking, silent disco and our annual ResLife Rodeo, there was always something exciting happening. We wrapped up the term with a fantastic Christmas Fair featuring festive treats, crafts, a giant snow globe and donations for the KSU food bank.
Looking ahead
Behind the scenes, we’ve made progress on future initiatives too – including the launch of LGBTQ+ accommodation from September 2026, offering students a new inclusive living option.
And the numbers speak for themselves: 3714 total attendances and 1310 individual participants this term – already surpassing the entire previous year. Your enthusiasm is what makes ResLife a welcoming, thriving community.
Term 2 is already shaping up with more trips, socials, crafts, film nights and community events. We can’t wait to see you there and continue building something great together. 💛✨ Follow us on Instagram for weekly updates or visit the ResLife webpage to stay up to date with upcoming events.