FRESHERS GUIDE

ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE STUDENT UNION

2011

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Hello! Wed like to welcome you to Rose Bruford!

We hope you enjoy your time here. We have compiled this pack for you to help you make the most of your rst year here and have included several things that we believe will help you get settled into college life as quickly as possible!

About the SU
The Student Union are here to help you make the most of your time at Rose Bruford. Whether it be a small problem with how the college is run or a massive event thats going on, were your people! We are here as a link between you, the student body, and the college. Not only do we sort out problems, we also put on some great events like those going on in freshers week. Our ofce is LH3, which is under the small staircase in Lamorbey House. We have an open door policy so youre always welcome to come and talk to us. You can also email us at studentunion@bruford.ac.uk.

BECKY THOMPSON

SEAN HAMMOND

PHIL ATHERTON

JADE KELLY

RAH PETHERBRIDGE

JON MARTIN

President 2nd year Stage Manager

Vice President 2nd year Actor

Finance Ofcer 2nd year Scenic Artist

Entertainments Ofcer 2nd year Stage Manager

Entertainments Ofcer 2nd year Stage Manager

International Student Ofcer 3rd year Lighting Designer

CAZ CADDICK

CLARK WILKINSON

SOPHIE NAISBIT

CHARLIE HAIN

CHLOE FRENCH

TOM LEWER

Welfare Ofcer 2nd year Stage Manager

LGBT Ofcer 2nd year Stage Manager

Green Ofcer 2nd year Scenic Artist

Charities Ofcer 2nd year Lighting Designer

Sports & Societies Ofcer 2nd year Stage Manager

Secretary 2nd year Stage Manager

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Halls information
Moving away can be nervewracking but hopefully we can make it as stress free as possible for you! You will move into halls the weekend before freshers week, on the 17th or 18th September. The SU will be at both Avery Hill and Queen Marys to help you move in!

Avery Hill
Avery Hill halls are about 30 mins walk away from college. There is a small Co Op between Avery Hill and college which is handy if you need some shopping on the way to or back from college, or there is a big Sainsburys in Eltham on the high street (286 bus). Theres no wireless so remember to bring an ethernet cable! Facilities at Avery Hill: - Village Shop - food and stationery, not at brilliant prices but OK. Run by Greenwich SU. - Launderette - washing (2) and tumble drying (1). Exact change only. - Gym - nd out more about this at Greenwichs freshers fair. - The Dome - next to the shop and launderette, it has a cafe and postbox in it among other things. - Reception - pay your rent/sort out problems here. Open 9-5 Monday-Friday. - Cash Point - next to the launderette. - GP Surgery - we advise signing up as soon as you can as it takes a couple of days to process.

Queen Marys
Queen Marys halls are slightly further from college but are on the 286 bus route. Theres a big Morrisons between Queen Marys and college and Sidcup high street is not too far away. Unfortunately we dont have very much information about Queen Marys facilities but rest assured well be there to help you move in and if you have any questions in the meantime contact Jo Davies who will be happy to help you. joanne.davies@bruford.ac.uk

Your welfare
During your time at Rose Bruford, you are entitled to the best experience as a university student, which should include your classes, your social events and your accommodation. Nobody wants to live in a mouldy room, go to a class where the teacher does not understand your academic needs, or to suffer with tension among your classmates. If you are having any problems, there are plenty of people to talk to, you have a wide range of people that understand what you need to get out of your university life here at Rose Bruford, whether you want to talk to somebody on a student level or somebody as high up as our very own principal. You should never feel alone, the SU are interested in YOU. Feel free to come to our ofce or email studentunion@bruford.ac.uk any time.

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College information
Important paperwork
During your rst week of term, youll be given a mountain of paperwork including information about your course, registration details and the Student Handbook. Believe it or not, this is all really useful stuff and you may be asked or have to refer to it, so keep it in a folder. Other paperwork to keep organised is your correspondence with UCAS and Student Finance. Remember youre going to get a hefty bill from Student Finance in three years time, so try and keep track of how much you owe them. If youre living in halls or rented accommodation keep your contracts and make sure you know what youve signed. Youre paying a lot to live there so know your rights as a tennant. For more information, look at www.accommodationforstudents.com or www.adviceguide.org.uk.
There are many staff who you may never meet in you rst year, but often send out emails, so its good to know whos who. Michael Earley - Principal Jean Bibbey - Principals PA Andrew Walker - Vice Principal Phil Wigley - Director of Professional Development Olivia Wong - Head of Finance Emilio Romero - Head of Performance Nick Hunt - Head of Design, Management and Technical Arts Paul Fryer - Head of Graduate and Professional Studies Sam Naylor - Director of Productions Simon Hopper - Learning Support Tutor Ros Platton - Disabilities Advisor Shirley Butcher - Reception Marc Wilson - ICT Consultant Frank Trew - Librarian Dave Kerry - Workshop Dave Jo Davies - Student Advisor/ Counsellor/Accomodation Rupert Dannreuther - Marketing

Email
The main form of communication in college is email. Your inbox will ll up quickly, sometimes with stuff that isnt even relavent to you, and can only hold a certain number of messages. As important information from tutors, the SU and fellow students will be sent by email, make sure you check your emails regularly and delete what isnt relavent. That way you can be sure not to miss out on any information.

International students
As the SUs International Student Ofcer I am here to help those who are from outside the United Kingdom. There will be a meet and greet for international students on Thursday, September 23, 2011 in room 1 Lamorbey House (time will be conrmed). If you have any questions before you start college feel free to shoot me an email at jmartin719@bruford.ac.uk I will try to respond as quickly as I can. If I can't answer your question directly I can point you in the right direction as to who can. When term starts I am usually around college frequently, If you have a question or just need someone to talk to don't be shy come on up and say Hi. - Jonathan D Martin
During your rst two weeks at college youll get your Bruford ID card. Youll need this to gain access to college and should carry it with you at all times. Its also how you pay for printing and photocopying. It will come with credit already on it but you can top it up any time at the desk in the Learning Resources Centre (LRC). Cards cost 10 to replace so make sure you look after them!

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The local area

Going out in Sidcup
Wetherspoons (The Tailors Chalk) Sidcup High Street Catch the 286 from halls or a 15 minute walk from college A student friendly pub that serves good food and drink.

Sidcup high street

Although not massive, it does have a McDonalds (NUS cardholders get a free cheeseburger or McFlurry!), Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Boots, Superdrug, Blockbuster and most banks. A random mix, but handy for bits and bobs.

The Metro Bar Station Road Wedged in between Somereld and Sidcup Station Metro stays open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights, but youll need ID to get in and last admission is 11pm. It serves food during the day and Tuesdays and Thursdays are Karaoke night! The Black Horse Halfway Street The closest pub to college, turn right out of Burnt Oak Lane and walk about 100 yards up the road Good for a drink and cheap food (although you may have to wait for food - dont get caught out and go there when youre in a bit of hurry!)

Further aeld
Bexleyheath Catch a 132 near the BP garage by Avery Hill halls A much bigger town than Sidcup, Bexleyheath has an ASDA for all your shopping needs, a TKMAX if you need a bargain and a Cineworld go on a Tuesday to get a cheap 4 student ticket with an NUS Extra Card. Bexleyheath also has a Wetherspoons. Greenwich Catch the 286 from halls Make sure you go on a Saturday or Sunday for the indoor and outdoor markets totally hectic but completely awesome. Take plenty of cash and youll get some really unique buys. If its a bit of culture youre after, then you can check out the Maritime Museum for free. And for later, Greenwich has plenty of restaurants and the Up the Creek Comedy Club! www.up-the-creek.com Bluewater Catch the Train to Greenhithe, then Bluewater shuttle bus (about 45 mins) If its a shopping centre youre after look no further. Bluewater has every single high street store you can think of! Visit www.bluewater.co.uk for more details. Dont go to Bluewater if youre trying to save though, you will inevitably want to buy things! The Venue Catch the 321 from Sidcup high street to New Cross. You can get home on the N21. The Venue is one of Londons biggest nightclubs and its right on our doorstep (well, sort of) as its only a 30 minute bus journey away, or you can catch a train if youre closer to the station. With 7 different bars across 3 oors it has something for everyone. On Fridays students can get in for 1 before midnight. www.thevenuelondon.com

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Travel information
Local travel
The good news is that bus routes in and around Sidcup are quite good and buses generally run on time. As a rst year living in halls, the bus youll most commonly be using is the 286, which runs between Queen Marys Hospital and Greenwich Cutty Sark. It stops just outside both Avery Hill halls and Queen Marys halls, and its nearest stop to college is outside the Black Horse pub on Halfway Street, less than 5 minutes walk from college. It runs about every 10-12 minutes. Its also easy to get into both Sidcup and Eltham. The 286 goes to Sidcup station and town centre and Eltham high street, which is a good area for food shopping with Sainsburys, Lidl, Iceland and Poundland. If youre paying with cash a bus journey, no matter how short, will set you back 2.20 so as mentioned in our money saving tips its really worth getting an Oyster card. With Oyster a journey anywhere on the bus costs 1.30. For more information about local bus routes look at the bus leaet also in this pack.

Getting into London

The nearest station to college and Queen Marys is Sidcup, and the nearest to Avery Hill is New Eltham. Trains for London leave both stations about every 15 minutes to half hour. They call at London Bridge, Waterloo East, Cannon Street and Charing Cross. Prices will vary depending on what time you travel and if you have an Oyster card. However, we suggest that you DO NOT travel before 9:30am and between 4:30-6:30pm as these are not only the busiest times but they are also the most expensive, costing you sometimes twice as much.

Travel in London
The easiest way to get around London is the tube. Although at rst it can seem daunting, the tube is actually very simple. You can get straight on the tube at Charing Cross and Cannon Street, so its easy to continue your journey across London from Sidcup. For more information have a look at the tube map also in this pack.

If youre planning to travel home for the weekend, a reading week etc, and youre travelling by train, book in advance and you can often save a lot. A great website for this is www.thetrainline.com

Ask any student and theyll tell you how valuable a Young Persons Railcard is. They cost around 28 but will save you 1/3 on ALL train travel. Check out 16-25railcard.co.uk. If you open a student account with Natwest youll get a railcard free!

16-25 RAILCARD

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Financial advice and tips

10 money saving tips
1. Make a budget, and stick to it. Keeping track of your money is always a good idea, and if you know at least roughly how much youre spending you wont have a nasty surprise when you check your account and nd you only have 20 to last you four weeks! 2. Buy food with friends and cook together. This has loads of benets. Not only can it cost less but results in less waste and also less washing up! 3. When you go food shopping, make a list. If you dont youll probably end up impulse buying and wasting money. Ordering online is a good idea, particularly if you can get together with your atmates and order in one go. 4. Wherever possible, walk, dont get the bus. It might only seem like this is saving you a couple of quid but it does add up. 5. Get a young persons railcard. Railcards give you up to a third off all national train services. They cost around 28 and last for a year. 6. Get an NUS extra card. This will give you a discount in loads of shops, restaurants and days out. To see the current offers go to www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/Discounts/. NUS cards cost 11 and well be selling them at freshers fair and also from our ofce in Lamorbey House. 7. Get loyalty cards. These are usually free and if youre going to be shopping in the same place a lot the savings mount up. 8. Get an Oyster card. These make travelling into and around London much easier. They cost around 10 but dont have to be renewed and save on trains, buses, the tube and the DLR. 9. Ask for discounts. If you dont ask you dont get! Loads of places offer an NUS discount and most West End theatres offer cheap tickets for students with NUS cards or often just your Bruford ID card. 10. Discount Days. There are pubs, clubs, restaurants etc that do student nights or cheaper days. Look out for them!

Other ideas
If you have an old phone lying around go to www.envirofone.com. As long as it switches on and has a working charger, they will pay you for it and recycle it in an environmentally friendly way. Another great website to check out is www.studentbeans.com. Its free to sign up and they offer loads of discounts at restaurants, shops and the cinema, as well as lots of free stuff!

If youre ever worried about money, come and see us in our ofce and we will do our best to help you out. Remember, were here to help, whether its with issues inside or outside of college.

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Well be posting more info including exactly whatll be going on when and where and prices soon!

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