And just like that, another academic year is in full swing!

It was a busy Welcome period for Arts SU, with a wide range of events taking place across London.

The Arts SU Advice Service hosted three mixers in partnership with your Sabbatical Officers, as part of the Buddy Up initiative.

This year’s mixers were:

• Tues 1st Oct 2024: Disabled, SPLD and Neurodivergent Mixer at the Chelsea Marquee
• Weds 2nd Oct 2024: Students of Colour Mixer at the Chelsea Marquee
• Thurs 3rd Oct 2024: Pre-Degree Mixer at Lime Grove

Student attendees were invited to play board games, participate in ice-breaking tasks, and there was even a badge-making workshop. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to meet, socialise, and swap contact details.

There was also an opportunity to meet members of the Arts SU Advice Team, learn more about the support that the team can provide with academic and housing issues, and hear about their work on the Buddy Up initiative.

Buddy Up is an Arts SU initiative to students meet and make new friends during their time at UAL. There are two parts of Buddy Up:

• Our 1-2-1 friend matching programme; sign up with a few preferences, and we'll introduce you to a new friend at UAL via email! It is up to you and your Buddy how you continue your friendship- online or in-person.
• Our Buddy Channels are Microsoft Teams networks where you can chat, share, and network with other UAL students who self-identify as belonging to the same community as you.

Sign up here to either or both of these initiatives.