Churches across the UK are starting to prepare for Freshers Week 2014!

We thought it might be helpful to have a handy checklist as you get prepared for this exciting season.  These are the very basics and a few extra ideas - look out next week for 2 fundamental questions as you prepare for Freshers week. 
 

The Basics

• Is your website up to date with accurate contact details?  Is it clear that students are welcome / what’s on offer for them?
   
• Use Student Linkup well - does your point person have access and are you contacting those who have already signed up to come to a uni near you?
   
• Enquire about a freshers week stall - charity rates are often available, sometimes its even free.  Ask yourself - what’s the best way to use your stall?  If its a church stall you’ll likely just get Christians, could you do an alpha course stall or a stall for your football team?
   
• Get on the Chaplaincy/CU/Agape/Navs etc. websites and lists - make sure Christian freshers who find these guys can find you - they're often keen to help students find local churches.  Don't rely on this alone to meet freshers but don't neglect to help these guys connect students with church
   
• Communicate on Sundays how welcome students are and have a clear point person to connect them with.  Students sometimes don’t come to church until Oct/Nov and will be trying different ones so you need to keep consistent and welcoming throughout the first term and into the start of the second
   
• Get praying for those who are coming to your uni/s this autumn

 

Making the most of freshers week

So, the basics are in hand, but what could you be doing to make the most of this opportunity?  Here are just a couple of ideas...

• Hang out on campus, be available - this doesn’t just have to be the student worker, current students are great people to meet up with freshers
   
• Help students move in on day 1 (if you can), or hand out welcome packs as people are moving in
   
• Invite Student Linkup people for a meal…and then offer for them to invite their housemates too part-way through freshers week
   
• Contact the Student Union and see how you can help during freshers week/term
   
• Hand out water outside popular clubs and bars (where are the Student Union bar crawls in your town?) - this is a great way to connect with both Christians and those who aren’t Christians
   
• Be active in international students week - many international students arrive a week earlier than British students and whilst there are some activities there’s less going on - how could you serve those who are arriving early into a whole new culture?
   
• Get current students back early so that they can catch up with each other and be ready to get involved and welcome new people from week 1
   
• Prayer walk on campus / near halls
   
• Encourage your students to be Mums and Dads / STYCS / big brothers and sisters to the freshers, most Student Unions have a scheme where older students ‘look after’ freshers flats in freshers week

These are just a few things to get you going.  Get your students together and ask them 'What would have helped you to feel welcome / connect with a church / make the most of your freshers term?'  Get ideas sharing and get committed to making the most of this gift we're given as student workers - the crazy, full on, full-of-opportunities freshers experience.