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Christmas in York

So it’s coming to that festive season of the year called Christmas. Although, this may be the time to eat a lot of great food and see your friends and family, why not explore York too? It’s so amazing at Christmas and honestly it does not disappoint! So here’s a few fun ideas of what you can do this Christmas in York:-

 

1). Go to the Christmas market. Why not wander down to St Nicholas’s Fair and revel in the delight of Christmas! Look at the variety of stalls down there ranging from crafters and makers to delicious sweet treats. You could go in the day or at night time and explore whilst enjoying a bite to eat. Not only that, THOR’s tipi at the end of the fair sets such a comfortable atmosphere where you can socialise with your friends and enjoy a mulled wine whilst sitting by a warm cosy fire.

 

 2). Go and see the lights. York has a range of lights up this year from their Christmas tree’s to down the little streets. So why not go see the lights, it’s a perfect opportunity to explore around York and get to know this amazing city we call our home as a student!

 

3). Go to the castle museum. It has an amazing Victorian street which turns so Christmassy in this season! What’s even better is we can get in free if we simply sign up and flash our YMT card! Go find out how Christmas was celebrated over 150 years ago. So why not go learn some of our history and culture whilst exploring an actual Victorian street at Christmas!

 

4). Go for a Christmas meal with your flat mates or friends. Whether this is a meal you cook as a group or you venture out into York, having a Christmas meal is an excellent opportunity to celebrate this festive season. There are a range of places in York to eat out and meet your friends. I personally enjoy a carvery which reminds me especially of Christmas and the time spent with friends and family. But there are so many places in York, there’s a meal for everyone! Or if not, have a night in and enjoy a meal as a flat with Christmas crackers, plenty of Christmas games and why not throw a Secret Santa into there!

 

 5). Have a night in. Enjoy a night in watching Christmas movies and getting into the Christmas spirit. There is nothing I enjoy more than getting into my PJ’s, snuggling up on the sofa or my bed and sticking on a Christmas movie or two! Personal recommendations are definitely ELF, the Santa Clause Series and Love Actually. So why not have a movie night and watch all your favourite Christmas movies. 

 

Finally, have fun! Christmas can often be a busy season with buying Christmas presents and completing your assignments before the deadlines. But don’t forget to enjoy your Christmas in York and see all what it has to offer!

 

Rebecca Keetley

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and nowhere is that clearer than in York. This city never looks nicer than it does at this time of the year, with its famed Victorian streets covered in tinsel and snow to create a great Olde English-style Christmas for locals and tourists alike. Here are a couple of fun activities to do around York before the big day:

Check out the Christmas markets

Anyone with any festive cheer loves a good market, and York’s is one of the best in the country. Situated mainly in the city centre, there’s plenty of goodies on offer, whether it be fresh turkey sandwiches, a sly mince pie or a hot mulled wine, you’ll feel as full as Santa himself by the time you leave! There’s also a wide range of gifts for sale, such as wooden ornaments, posters, and toys for the young ‘uns. York’s Christmas market would put Dickens to shame with its crooning carols and friendly merchants. Don’t be a Scrooge – go and see!

YSJ’s Christmas Dinner

What is Christmas without the dinner? A load of wrapping paper and a big tree. One of the best things about the 25th is that huge Turkey (or Nut Roast) lunch, the only time of the year where you can pig out and not feel ashamed. Fittingly, York St. John is offering a special Christmas Dinner on Tuesday 11th-Wednesday12th December! From 5-7pm, you and a group of friends can treat yourself to a great two-course meal at City Kitchen on campus. A full main, with vegetarian and vegan options, a choice of pudding, and even a mince pie for afters – what much more can you ask for? This all comes at the reasonable price of £9.95pp. Keeping with the spirit of goodwill, 50p of each meal will be donated to Sodexo’s charity Stop Hungry, a scheme which promotes good nutrition and tackles hunger issues. All-round then, a good deal!

 

So that’s just two things you can do in York this Christmas season. All I can ask of you is – enjoy yourself!

Glad tidings to all of you,

Patrick x

On the run-up to the festive season, essay deadlines and exams are nearly over and done with, so why not start planning some fun activities for yourself and friends to do to fill in all the luxurious free time you’ll start getting. So, here’s a list of some festive things you might want to experience in York, especially if you’ve never been here for the Christmas season before.

The Christmas market in the town square is simply stunning. It’s undeniably the beating heart of Christmas in York, and the place to go if you want to fill yourself with festive cheer. The different stalls hold an array of food, crafts, beverages and, my personal favourite, is a stall which sports traditional yuletide garlands, scented with cinnamon and spice. They cost about £8 each but are well worth a purchase to make your room smell like Christmas. Perhaps buy one to take home for Christmas to add a piece of York to whatever traditions you already have.

Christmas at YSJ wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Christmas Archies day hosted by the Students Union on the 14th December. The final day of term calls for letting your hair day and having a final farewell with your uni friends before heading home for Christmas. Why not don your favourite festive jumper and see which of your friends managed to pull-off the most festive attire for an added piece of fun.

However, if Christmas food is your main priority, why not head down to Uni and book a table at City Kitchen for you and your friends. The schedule and prices are yet to be confirmed, so keep your eyes peeled for a separate post all about that!

If you’d rather head out for food somewhere else, why not try Russells Carvery in Coppergate. Probably not too far off the Sunday dinners you’re used to experiencing, for £10.95 a full roast carvery with a choice of meats (and glorious Yorkshire puddings) its very good value and the place itself is super cosy with great service. P.S – you can upgrade for more meat and some sausages if you’re going all-out. But remember to save room for the traditional desserts – apple pie and custard anyone?

A day out for Christmas is always a winner, and with the York bus service doing discounts for all students in York it’s a great way to fill in a day and explore outside the city centre. Whether you go to Monks cross outlet or the designer outlet further afield, a change of scenery is always good for the soul. Monks cross, if you’ve not been yet, houses shops such as New Look, a mahoosive Primark and Schuh. However, at the Designer outlet, a more festive activity can be found…

The Winter Wonderland attraction opens on the 17th November and encompasses a whole variety of activities. There will be an ice rink, Christmas stalls and a Santa’s Grotto so if your family are popping down for a visit with younger siblings, why not take them along? For me, a trip to an ice-rink is just so festive and fun that I can’t wait to go and get my skates on! With a huge array of restaurants and a closing time of 8pm, you can really make this a full, fun-filled day out.

Remember to tag us in your social media photos if you decide to try out any of the activities listed @lovewhereyoulive on Instagram. Have a great Christmas everyone!

 

Merry Christmas Everyone,

This month’s blog is all about things to do in York over the Christmas period, and I will be sharing a few of my favourite things. Which I feel should be done, as a YSJ student over the Christmas period.

The first thing that can be done over the Christmas period is to take a walk down Parliament Street, to look at the Christmas Market stalls; and support all the local businesses. These businesses come and sell their products in York over the festive period. I highly recommend checking out the Brown&Blond brownie stall, who have some amazing brownies in loads of different flavours. As well as seeing all the different arts and crafts stalls, alongside the arts and crafts why not have a look at all the different food stalls, from mulled wine to crepes and doughnuts.

In addition, located at the bottom the Christmas Market is Thor’s Tipi Bar, which is also another personal favourite on the list of things to do. Thor’s is great for something to do with your flat/house mates. Especially, if your wanting an evening where you all do something together. Moreover, with the Christmas Market only being 2 mins from St John Central and 5 mins from Percy’s Lane, it is good for having a social night with your flat/house mates. In addition, you can sit around the open fire with a drink and warm up from the cold, after you have finished walking down through all the market stalls. Alternatively, you start in Thor’s then go around the market.

A final thing to do over the Christmas period is to walk through The Shambles when the snow is on which is usually on a Friday and Saturday between 16:00 and 18:00 and you can share your pictures using @VistYork on Twitter and #YorkChristmas on Instagram. This enables people to see The Shambles in a completely different light as well as a chance to see some snow and have some fun with your friends.

 

Thanks for Reading and Merry Christmas

Adam- Residential Support Advisor

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Student Recipe Guide

We brought you our favourite, easy to make recipes from Sodexo in City Social this week. Throughout October we have been bringing you our ‘Look After Your Mate’ Campaign and there is no better way to feel good when the weather is cold than a hot meal! But better than that is a hot meal with friends, all the recipes are great to share and inexpensive.

The below recipes are all student favourites or remind them of home and come from your RSAs:
 
Adam’s Flapjack Recipe
 
Ingredients and utensils
· 125g of butter or margarine
· 100g of soft brown sugar
· 4 tablespoons of golden syrup *Top tip get the squeezy bottle and do 4 squeezes (less messy ?)
· Optional
· Chocolate (break into the individual squares and stir in later)
· Baking tin
· Large bowl for mixing
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180 C
2. In a saucepan on a low heat (3 or 4) add the butter/margarine, sugar and golden syrup and stir until the butter is melted.
3. In a separate large mixing bowl add the oats and chocolate (if using chocolate)
4. Once the butter mixture is melted slowly pour into the bowl with the oats.
5. Stir to ensure all oats are coated and are starting to stick together.
6. Once the mixture is sticking together pour onto the baking tin. The mixture should be fairly thick. (if it is looking thin only cover half the tin and make thicker squares.)
7. Bake for 30 mins or until the top is golden.
8. Once removed from the oven place on a large plate use a sharp knife to cut the flapjack into squares.
9. Leave to cool and enjoy.
 
Patrick is your RSA at Percy’s Lane!
Ziti al forno
This dish is a famed Italian comfort food. It is essential baked pasta with several layers of cheese and tomato sauce… Sounds enticing, no?
While (if prepared correctly) this can easily feed a small family, be warned: it can take several hours and a lot of preparation to capture the authentic Sicilian taste. It’s also best served with a glass of red wine, as you may expect.
Ziti al forno was first prepared in my own house this summer. Though it took me three attempts to cook properly, my family were greatly satisfied with the end result.
With that in mind, don’t panic if your first attempt doesn’t turn out quite how you expected. Practice makes perfect, especially with dishes such as these.
As the Italians say: tutto finisce a tarallucci e vino (it all ends with biscuits and wine!)
 
Ingredients
2 onions, coarsely chopped
180g olive oil
2 800ml cans peeled plum tomatoes, puréed
8 – 12 basil leaves
2 teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
450g whole milk ricotta
2 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano, plus extra for serving
225g mozzarella, diced
450g ziti or other tubular pasta
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
 
Instructions
In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the onions until they’re golden brown. Add the tomatoes to the onion. Add the basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered for 1 hour.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
In a large bowl combine the ricotta, eggs, parsley, 2 tablespoons Parmigiano, ¾ of the diced mozzarella and the remaining salt and pepper.
Cook the pasta for half of the manufacturer’s directions. Drain, and add it to the ricotta mixture. Mix in half of the tomato sauce. Coat the bottom of a 9 x 12 inch baking pan with a spoonful of sauce. Add the pasta mixture to the pan. Cover with the remaining mozzarella and Parmigiano and a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce. Bake, uncovered, at 180º C for approximately 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the sides are bubbling.
Serve immediately with a spoonful of sauce and grated Parmigiano.
 
Chris is also the RSA down on Percy’s Lane!
A simple Hunters Chicken recipe
 
Ingredients
2 skinless chicken breast fillets
4 rashers smoked streaky bacon
1 tub BBQ sauce
2 to 3 handfuls grated cheese
 
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 190 C / Gas 5.
Bring a small pan of water to the boil. Add the chicken and boil gently for 10 minutes, then drain and place in an ovenproof dish.
Wrap each breast with two bacon rashers, then cover in BBQ sauce. Finally, sprinkle with grated cheese.
Bake in the oven for 12 minutes, or till the cheese is bubbly and the chicken is cooked through.
 
Emily is your RSA at St John Central!
Tortilla wrap pizzas
 
Ingredients:
2x mini tortilla wraps
1x jar tomato passata
Toppings of your choice (e.g. ham, mushroom, pineapple)
Italian herbs
Mozzarella/cheese of choice
Salad bag
 
Method:
1. Heat oven to 180 degrees
2. Place tortillas on baking tray sprayed with frylight/greased
3. Spread passata thickly on top till all apart from outer centimetre is covered
4. Sprinkle Italian herbs on top, and arrange toppings as desired
5. Sprinkle cheese on top, and then bake for 20 minutes. Keep an eye on your ‘pizza’ in case the edges start to burn. Add 10 minutes extra if you want your ‘pizza’ to be on the crispy side
6. Serve with a portion of salad for a healthier alternative that will quash student comfort food cravings
 
Here’s an easy, not so expensive recipe I love to make when I’m on the go!
It’s high in protein so helps you stay fuller for longer and is extremely nutritious so gives you an instant boost in energy 🙂
 
Siya is also the RSA for St John Central
 
Chorizo Hummus Bowl:
  • 400g chickpeas
  • 2 olive oil
  • 1/4th tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 – 2 small cooking chorizo (chopped)
  • lemon juice
  • seasoning such as Italian herbs or chilli flakes
  • flatbread, to serve
1. Warm the chickpeas in a microwave. Drain and reserve the liquid. Tip half the chickpeas into a small food processor with 1 tbsp oil, the lemon juice and a splash of the liquid from the tin and whizz to a paste. Season with herbs.
2. Put the chorizo in a small frying pan and cook over a low heat until it starts to release its oils, then turn up the heat and continue cooking until the chorizo starts to crisp. Add the remaining chickpeas and stir for a couple of mins. Stir in the kale and cook until it wilts.
3. Spoon the warm hummus into a bowl and tip the chorizo, chickpeas and kale on top. Drizzle over the remaining oil, season well and serve with flatbread for scooping up.
 
Lauryn is the RSA at the Grange Site!
Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
 
You will need –
A Patak’s Tikka Masala Meal Kit which includes spices, curry paste and the tikka sauce.
500g Chicken
Bit of oil
Rice
 
How to:
Dice chicken
Fry the spices in the pan in oil for 30 seconds
Add the curry paste and add 50ml of water before adding the diced chicken
Let this simmer until the water is almost evaporated and the chicken is cooked through
Add the sauce and leave for 15 minutes to simmer
While this is simmering add the rice and water to a pan and cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
When the rice is ready serve while still warm with naan bread.
 
Rebecca is also down at The Grange!
Here’s a recipe I often follow when making a pasta bake. This is perfect to cook as a house or even for the house as a group tea! It also costs very little. May seem a very simple recipe but it goes down a treat!
 
1). Cut up some mushrooms and onions into thin strips and shallow fry them for five minutes.
2). Fill a pan with pasta and boil until thoroughly cooked. 3). Heat up a tin of tinned tomatoes/chopped tomatoes in a pan. 4). Drain the pasta of water and then add the mushrooms, onions and chopped tomatoes. 5). Alternatively, if you did not want to use chopped tomatoes, you could use a tin of pasta sauce and add it to the pasta. Then let it simmer on the hob for 4-5 minutes. 6). Once mixed together, transfer to a baking dish and top with grated cheese (optional but makes it very tasty!).
7). Bake in the oven at gas mark 5 for 15-20 mins until the cheese on top is golden and starting to brown.
8). Serve and Enjoy!
Could always add garlic bread to enjoy further!
 
Aneesa is your RSA at Limes Court!
Veggie stir fry
Preparation time: less than 30 minutes
Cooking time: 10 to 30 mins
Serves 2
 
Ingredients
· 1 tbsp sunflower oil
· 2 spring onions, cut into 4cm/1½in lengths
· ½ garlic clove, crushed
· ½ carrot, cut into matchsticks
· ½ red pepper, cut into thick matchsticks
· Sweetcorn
· ½ courgette, cut into thick matchsticks
· Sugar-snap peas or mangetout, trimmed
· 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
· 1 soy sauce
 
Method
1. Heat a wok on a high heat and add the sunflower oil. Add the spring onions, garlic, ginger and stir-fry for 1 minute, then reduce the heat. Take care to not brown the vegetables.
2. Add the carrot, red pepper and baby sweetcorn and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the courgette and sugar snap peas and stir-fry for a further 3 minutes. Toss the ingredients from the centre to the side of the wok using a wooden spatula. Do not overcrowd the wok and keep the ingredients moving.
3. Add 1 tablespoon water, hoisin and soy sauce and cook over a high heat for a further 2 minutes or until all the vegetables are cooked but not too soft. Serve with noodles or rice.
 
Recipe Tips
· Make sure all the food is prepared before you start cooking.
· Cut all of the vegetables to a similar size to ensure they cook evenly.
· The oil needs to be hot before you start cooking but reduced to a medium heat once you start cooking.
If you have any great recipes we want to hear from you, let us know your family favourites!
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Love Where You Live – October Edition, Quarterly Blog!

Welcome to the first edition of Love Where You Live quarterly blog!

We are bringing you all the latest campaigns, events and student led blogs that you could ever need. Throughout October there are loads that you can get involved in and so many ways not only to look after your room but the YSJ community as well. It is the start of our first campaign ‘Look After Your Mate’ we want you to explore and learn about YSJ and York, so as the temperature drops and the nights draw in why not get your flat together and make the most of autumnal York.

Your City Social Update!

2.5 billion disposable cups are being thrown away each year in the UK; enough to stretch around the planet roughly five and a half times. To help you break the cycle to landfill from the 5th of October “Love Where You Live” reusable cups will be sold at all outlets for £2.50, including your first cup of coffee or tea free. Alternatively you can bring your own reusable cup with you, when you visit the outlets. The university is introducing a 20p disposable cup surcharge across all outlets. Monies raised from the surcharge will be used to help fund environmental projects here at York St John.

Monday to Friday 5:30pm till 6:30pm – Dine in Nights

What to book in a meal with your friends to celebrate birthdays, beating fresher’s flu or completing your first essay. Then City Social have introduced dine in nights at the main dining room on campus.
Groups of 4 or 5 – save 10% off the final bill.
Groups of 6 or more – save 20% off the final bill.
Bookings must be made at least three days in advance via catering@yorksj.ac.uk
Terms and conditions – If you have any dietary requirements please make staff aware when booking. Bookings must be made a minimum of 3 days before your preferred day.

Look After Your Mate – October Campaign!

Week starting 8/10/2018 till 18/10/2018 – Your YSJ Bucket List

Explore York with your flat, every day two locations will be released on our social media pages.
Facebook: @york.accommodation
Twitter: @YSJHalls
Instagram: @ysjlovewhereyoulive
The rules are there must be at least three people in every photo use the hashtag #YSJBucketList and tag us in your photo. You can also download your checklist in the notes section of the Accommodation Facebook page.


5/10/2018, 8/10/2018, 15/10/2018 – City Social Recipe Cards
After the hectic Freshers Week has died down why not have a night in and cook a easy and inexpensive meal. You can collect your recipe card for free in the main dining hall in the Holgate building on campus.
If you have a great recipe that you want to share email it d.tucker@yorksj.ac.uk and it will feature in the blog at the end of the month.

19/10/2018 – Student Recipe Blog
Eating healthy on a budget can be difficult while at University, you can also miss the comfort of homemade meals. We have put together a student recipe blog with help from your RSAs to share their favourite meals.
If you have any recipes you would like to share please email them to d.tucker@yorksj.ac.uk by the 17th of October.

26/10/2018 – Dine in Deals
The first of the themed Dine in Nights is taking place on the 26th of October to celebrate Halloween. You will be able to book a 2 course meal for you and your friends.
Please email catering@yorksj.ac.uk for menus and to make a booking.
Terms and conditions – If you have any dietary requirements please make staff aware when booking. Bookings must be made a minimum of 3 days before your preferred day. A £10 non-refundable deposit will at booking confirmation per table, if you do not attend your booking no deposits will be returned.

Our Student Blogs!
How can you look after your mate?

York is one of the most beautiful cities in England, and it hasn’t earned that reputation for nothing. The students arriving at YSJ are some of the countries luckiest, as they have plenty of opportunities to eat, drink and play across the many great places that make up the city they live in. Here are a couple of fun ideas for Freshers to take part in:
– Take a walk along the City Walls. This one is best taken when you have a spare afternoon, as walking the full length can take several hours! However, there isn’t a much nicer experience in York than travelling its Roman walls from one end to the other. Whether learning about the city’s ancient history, taking in the beautiful scenery, or just breathing in that higher oxygen, the City Walls are a great chance to find out how York gained its fame over the years.
– Eat out! While there are far too many to list here, York is world-renowned for its wide variety of eateries. Whatever your taste, you can bet your student overdraft that it’s catered for somewhere in the city. Some personal recommendations of mine would be ‘L’Antica Locanda’ in the Shambles for Italian cuisine, ‘Fiesta Latina’ if you fancy a spicy Mexican, and ‘Bombay Spice’ for an authentic Indian dish. If you live at Percy’s Lane, check out Walmgate Sandwich Bar for a traditional English breakfast. Or, if you’re at City Residence, try Groves Pizza and Grill for a great takeaway pizza. I’ll leave it to you to find the rest… it may only take a short walk down the road to find your new favourite restaurant!
– Go for a drink. Now we’re not encouraging excess drinking. But it’d be crazy not to go for a pint or two in some of the warm old taverns that have served the city’s locals for hundreds of years. Here’s a fun fact: York has 365 pubs; one for each day of the year. With that in mind, set aside a couple of pounds a week so you and your mates can catch up over a round. For a great Friday night, take your YSJ Student card down to the Stone Roses Bar for special discounts on cocktails. Following that, head over to Club Salvation for a double vodka-and-coke and a dance with your mates! Or, if a quiet pint is more your thing, check in at the Red Lion on Merchantgate, one of many old-style pubs in the city centre. Cheap drink, a warm log fire, a good crack with your pals – What more could you ask for?
– Just go wandering! Okay, this may not sound like the most exciting advice. But York has far more cool things to do than I can talk about here, and the best way to find them is the old-fashioned way: Go looking for them. York was built in Roman times, and its narrow cobbled streets hide many treasures down alleyways and around corners. Where one minute you find a quaint chocolate shop on the Shambles, the next you’re watching a hip young busker ply his trade in the City Square. A quick turn from the high street leads you onto Coppergate, a long stretch of road containing several dozen pubs, cafes and quirky card shops. Attractions like the Minster are easy to find, of course, and you’ll hear about those from the other bloggers. But my own advice is hunt down the small places: you’ll find the biggest surprises.

Have fun in York!

Patrick Morgan

How to make the most of your student experience!

I and probably every other student has felt a combination of these things as we entered university life for the first time. It’s both the most exhilarating and nail-biting time, and if you make the most of it, you’ll have the time of your lives.
So, here’s how to make the most of Freshers week, YSJ style…
1. Join the SU
And that doesn’t just mean register online. Go down to the campus with your flatmates and course mates to check out the building which is arguably the hub of the university. With a top floor Starbucks café and bottom floor bar, there’s something for everyone down at the SU. They run events all year long in collaboration with the many societies which make up the university, including movie nights, karaoke and the infamous £1 a pint every Wednesday night. What more could a new student wish for?
2. Explore the city
Whether you are still in your home town or slap bang in the middle of unknown turf, a good stroll around the centre of York will show you just how good a place this is for a student to live. We have free access to the Minster all year long, simply flash your student card at the entrance and go and see some visible history! Head down to the Shambles if Harry Potter is your thing, rumour has it there are a few shops down there that might float your Gillyweed. If you fancy a break from nights out and takeaways (Denny’s near Percy’s Lane and St John Central is a must-try after a night at Kuda) then there are plenty of restaurants in town with good student discount deals. To name a few, Ask Italian is up to 40% off with a student card, and if you’re down by the riverside, go pick up a £4 Revs card to receive 241 offers on selected cocktails and up to a 25% food discount.
3. Hit the town
Although drinking and dancing till you drop might not be for everyone, it’s a large aspect of university culture and the official YSJ nights are not a thing to be missed. Everyone has their own favourite night depending on timetables etc, but all the clubs associated with the Uni are well worth a visit at least once. Kuda Mondays are a personal favourite and boast a spectacular Halloween party that is not to be missed. If you just fancy kicking off your dancing shoes and having a few beers with your mates, the SU is the perfect place to go; remember £1 a pint? Comes in handy when you want to party but are short on cash.
4. Have a night in
As controversial as this might seem to the stereotypical Uni boozing culture, having a simple night in with your house mates can bring you so, so close together. Pick a movie, head down to your local shop together to buy snacks or order a Domino’s, and have a night filled with laughs and carbs. Nothing brings friends together like comedies and food. And waking up without a hangover is an added bonus.
5. Treasure every minute
Amongst the madness of moving in, making new friends, settling in your new home from home, it is easy to forget that this week of partying and getting to know your way around is the last long segment of free time you’ll have before lectures start. Make the most of every minute. Take tonnes of photos, let your hair down and enjoy every second. But once Freshers is over, don’t despair. You can look forward to freshers in 2nd and 3rd year as well – just because you get older doesn’t mean the fun stops!

Emily-Jane Knight

All About Respect

All About Respect aims to highlight the importance of healthy relationships, consent and respect. We engage in open dialogue with our student and staff communities to strengthen the prevention of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse. This semester we are running a range of training for students: IDAS Champions training, Bystander and Consent. If you are interested in taking part in the training or would like to get involved in All About Respect in other ways, please email allaboutrespect@yorksj.ac.uk
There will opportunities to assist at events, get involved in campaigns or create your own piece of work. We really need students to get involved and to share your ideas so please do get in touch if you want to find out more.
Gemma Linfoot-King, All About Respect Adviser g.linfoot-king@yorksj.ac.uk
To access support contact:
York St John University Welfare Adviser at wellbeing@yorksj.ac.uk or 01904 876 477
IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Service) www.idas.org.uk or 03000 110 110
Survive www.survive-northyorks.org.uk or 01904 638 813
Bridgehouse SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) www.bridgehousesarc.org or 0330 223 0362
We have implemented a new online reporting system where you can report any incidents of sexual misconduct or domestic abuse anonymously www.reportandsupport.yorksj.ac.uk
For more information on the project:
https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/student-services/welfare-advice/all-about-respect/

Students Union!

Black History Month – We have tonnes of events over the entire month of October celebrating at the University and the Union celebrating Black Excellence.
World Food Festival – On Tuesday the 16th outside the SU from 11:00 – loads of different types of food to feast into!
Tuesday Quizzes – Every Tuesday we have our weekly quiz and tonnes are being hosted by Sports and Societies this month to raise money for charities, so get down and support!
Hate Crime Week – 15th and 16th of October is Hate Crime Week at YSJ and there’s a variety of stalls in Holgate supporting our zero tolerance to Hate Crime at YSJ. Come down and support our cause by signing the pledge board and find out other forms of information you may need to support the cause.
Breast Cancer Awareness Event – On Tuesday the 30th will be a concert that is raising money for BCAM, full of music and a raffle – a brilliant event led by Liv your President of Wellbeing and Diversity!
Halloween! – From Monday the 29th the entire SU will be transformed into a Haunted House!

Enjoy the festivities and attend our Halloween party on Wednesday evening!

Your next edition will be coming to you in January!

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Student Cleaning Guide

How to avoid problems.

Keeping your bedroom, bathroom and shared living areas clean and free of mess, will benefit you in many different ways. It will create a pleasant, hygienic and comfortable environment for you to live, socialise and study in.
This cleaning guide will hopefully help you achieve this!
It is important to remember that you may be living with people from different backgrounds and cultures and everyone has their own view of what is acceptable or how things should be done.
Get together with your flatmates and talk about how you are going to divide up the cleaning to make sure that everyone is doing their fair share.
This will cut out problems such as:
 – Someone not doing their share
 – One person making all the mess but never cleaning up
 – One person spending lots of money on cleaning products for the whole flat.

Introduce a cleaning rota.

The communal areas are the responsibility of the whole flat, this includes keeping them clean and taking out the rubbish.
To stop any disagreements and your flat becoming dirty, it is fair that you all agree to take on equal share on the work. One of the easiest ways to do this is by a cleaning rota.
You will find a cleaning rota in your flat and board marker for you to fill in and divide the workload. This way you can make sure that a reasonable level of hygiene is maintained at all times.

Some examples of jobs you might put on your rota are:

 – Taking the rubbish and recycling out.
 – Vacuuming or mopping the floors.
 – Cleaning the cooker, grill, hobs and oven.

Some important things to take into account when you are setting your rota up are:

 – Some students will do more cooking than others.
 – Some students may have more pressures than others.
 – Some have part-time jobs or other commitments.
 – Make sure it is fairly divided.
 – Ensure that if someone is busy on a certain day, their workload is not set for a day they cannot do.

Please remember that if you are having issues with the level of cleanliness in the flat please contact the Accommodation Team for advice.

Tips on Cleaning

It is always handy to have a cleaning kit in your flat/house! Here are our suggested essentials:
 – Washing up liquid
 – Oven cleaner
 – Toilet cleaner
 – Floor cleaner
 – Anti-bacterial cleaning spray
 – Rubber gloves
 – Cleaning cloths

 – Clean up spills or marks as soon as they appear (if they are left for days they will take you longer to get them off)
 – Keep cleaning products and equipment in easy-to-access places, rather than hiding them away .
 – Soak stains before they set (this makes them easier to wipe away)
 – Rotate chores weekly no one wants to be solely responsible for the smelliest jobs like taking the bins out!
 – Kitchen surfaces. Encourage everyone to keep food and crockery in their own cupboards and not out on the surfaces—this makes cleaning easier
 – Washing up. Don’t let dirty dishes pile up – it’s annoying for others and smelly.
 – The fridge. Make it a rule that whoever is responsible for cleaning out the fridge has an unreserved right to chuck out anything mouldy or rotten for the sake of hygiene.
 – The oven. Don’t skip this task, though you only really need to do it once a month. The same goes for the microwave – just be sure to mop up spills as soon as they happen.
- Rubbish. Make sure rubbish is taken out on a regular basis to avoid any problems.
 – Vacuuming: Think about doing a quick whip round the common areas every time you clean your own room.

Do…

– Use proper cleaning products. Check the labelling on the package, always use the advised safety equipment and follow instructions.
– Store all cleaning products in a cool and dark cupboard.
– Change cloths regularly and wash in hot detergent. Harmful bacteria live in cleaning cloths and tea towels. Cloths can be washed in a washing machine. Also wash mop heads in very hot detergent.
– Use different cloths for different areas, for example, one cloth for the kitchen, a different cloth for the toilet, another one for the sink and wash basin.

Don’t…

– Mix chemicals– when you combine them they can be toxic.
– Use bleach or bleach based products because it can cause health problems. For example, if you suffer from asthma using bleach could cause breathing problems.
– Leave cloths and sponges in water—always wash after use and leave dry.
– Leave wet washing over radiators or heating as this is a health and safety risk and can cause damage to furnishings.
– Leave water on the floor when mopping. Sweep hard floors regularly and mop using all-purpose cleaner and a mop.

Micro-fibre cloth

Fridge/freezer All purpose cleaner Micro-fibre cloth

Cooking hob All purpose kitchen cleaner Non-scratch cleaning pad
and/or cloth

Oven Oven cleaner Scouring
pad and/or cloth

Oven grill shelves Oven cleaner Scouring pad
and/or cloth

Disinfecting bathroom, kitchen and rubbish bins

Disinfectant Cloth (never use the same cloth for bathroom, kitchen
and rubbish bins)

Microwave Washing up liquid Micro-fibre cloth

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Top ten things to bring to university with you!

As well as being super exciting, getting ready to go to university is also super stressful. Particularly when it comes to packing all your stuff. Most new uni students haven’t spent more than a few weeks away from home, so it’s almost impossible to know what you may need to bring with you for an entire year and what can be left behind.

1. Bedding

This may seem simple but having the perfect bedding for your room is key to making sure you have that great night’s sleep. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get great quality bedding; the high street offers some great options at the fraction of a cost. During the first week of university your main priority will not be sleeping with so many great events taking place over Fresher’s Week but trust me you will be grateful once all the partying and socialising has stopped that you spent time arranging your room. Making your bed feel comfortable and familiar will also help with the transition from home, remember that your bedroom is your space and you will most probably spend a lot of time here.

2. Photos from home

Photos, snapshots of friends and family will make you feel closer to home. Not only are these photos a great way to share memories but also to decorate your room. Why not get some photo frames to put around your bedroom or notice board to create a collage? The best things about photos collages are that you can add to them throughout your time at uni. You will be able to take the photos with you wherever you go.

3. Teabags, milk, coffee

The main three, now after a day of moving in and travelling a cup of tea will be your best friend, and for the morning start the next day coffee. Not only will these be your best friends during your first week, but this friendship will last throughout your three years of university. Not only can you unwind in the evening, but offers a great ice breaker is to offer a new house/flat mate a cup of tea or coffee. It gives you the chance to meet you people and find out ore about them, interactions you make in the first week will shape your first year. In case you can not get to the shop of your first day bring these three with you, trust me you will thank me later.

4. Storage boxes

You will be surprised how much stuff you bring to university that you may not need straight away. You will find that there is normally space under the bed, make the most of this by using storage boxes these boxes will also be useful when moving out at the end of the year. Making the most of the space in your room also helps when you come to tiding and cleaning, the less stuff that s left on the floor the easier the room is to clean.

5. Comfy clothes

For those lazy days or days writing essays comfy clothes will be your saviour. There will be nothing better than spending evenings on the sofa or in your friend’s bedroom catching up on TV or watching movies. You will spend the first week spending hours on getting ready and going out or exploring York, so it is always worth having some comfy clothes that you can unwind in.
6. A calendar
It may seem like a weird item to bring with you to university but once the craziness of Fresher’s week has calmed down you will need to organise lectures around social activities (don’t forget to leave yourself time to see your friends and call home). A small desk calendar or a large notice board one, it means you can keep up to date events and campaigns.

7. Wash basket

I hate to break it you but at some point, you are going to need to do some washing, and it will be much easier to carry it to the laundry rooms in a wash basket rather than in your arms. You can get washing baskets at a low cost in high street stores such as Home Bargains or Primark. But having a wash bag will make your life easier and it stops dirty clothes piling up on the floor, so it keeps your room tidy. It is better than trying to get which socks are clean on the floor.

8. Medicine and vitamins box

It is always worth having a medicine and vitamins box, every year there is an outbreak of Fresher’s flu the best way to make sure it passes quickly is to be prepared. Make sure you have registered with the university doctor’s after Arrivals Weekend and have plenty of water and vitamin C as this helps to raise your immune levels. Having a medicine box means that you are prepared for every headache or late-night early morning start.

9. Laptop, Computer or tablet

Unsurprisingly you will be doing work while you are at university and you are going to need something to do your work on. Your room will have access to Wi-Fi so make sure you get connected to this (this you are having problems connecting then contact KeySurf). Make sure you do not forget to pack your charger, or you might find that your work will take longer than expected.

10. Warm clothes

Although you will be joining us in September it is also worth remember that soon it will be colder, and the weather up north can change quickly. It is also worth bring a waterproof coat and a warm hoodie or jumper that can be chucked on over whatever you are wearing.

Remember that if you forget any of these items then you can buy them once you are in York, from town or a supermarket. Not everyone will need to bring the same items with them to university and our top ten is only a guide.

Why not post your top ten ideas below in the comments!

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Welcome to Love Where You Live!

Love Where You Live

Love Where You Live is campaign run by the Campus and Residential Services Team here at York St John University, with the focus of making sure that you get the most out of your time living in university managed and owned accommodation.

We will be running campaigns and events across campus and throughout your accommodation, so keep up to date on Social Media and follow the latest event!

Facebook: @York.accommodation/@YSJLoveWhereYouLive
Twitter: @YSJHalls
Instagram: @ysjlovewhereyoulive

Why not tag us in a post using #LWYL