Fun-filled Welcome Village provides one-stop shop for Uni life

Students can get glitzy at the glitter bar, watch graffiti artists and circus performers and even get jabbed at the pop-up vaccination centre (@BristolUni).

This is the first time the University has run a Welcome event like this for new and returning students.

Running from Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 5pm, the Welcome Village adds to Bristol SU’s Welcome Fair on the Downs on Friday and Saturday, where students can learn about societies, volunteering opportunities and student networks.

The Welcome Village takes place in Royal Fort Gardens and Tyndall Avenue, which is closed to traffic for the event. On offer:

Food and drink: A coffee stall and smoothie bar; plus Enggi’s Kitchen, Jikoni, Los Hermanos and Smoked Vegan food vans.

Performances: Student societies will be performing in the tipi throughout the week. Plus, there will be stilt walkers, jugglers, graffiti artists, DJs from Burst FM and glitter artists from Painted Peach.

Advice: You can get advice from the Student Life and Wellbeing teams, the Student Inclusion team, the Uni’s Multifaith Chaplaincy, the Sustainability team and the Global Lounge.

Support: Bristol SU will be on hand, plus you can get free bike repairs, tune-ups and security marking from Taylored Cycles.

Sport: Staff and student ‘activators’ from Sport Exercise & Health will be running an inflatable coconut shy, table tennis and teqball, a mix between table tennis and football.

Classes: The Yoga Society will be offering classes from 10am to 10.45am in the tipi; mats provided. Ther will also be a Zumba class on Wednesday 12 to 12.30pm; no need to book.

Student panel discussions: Students from the Be More Empowered for Success programme present a panel discussion looking at students’ experience of living and studying at Bristol with a focus on identity and belonging.

Vaccines: Vaccinations are available from 10am to 3pm on Tuesday via St Johns Ambulance. Vaccine advisors will be at the Village on all three days.