Seeing them leave for University?

This is a great resource from UCCF with helpful advice for any Parent or Youth Worker seeing a student leave for University this year. It sends you in the direction of a fantastic ''sign-up'' style website where you can link your student(s) up to the University Christian Union they'll be heading too - they'll get a free freshers pack with recipe book too.

 

Christian Unions: Making student life taste great

I remember the time when I was a Fresher going to university.  I had been a Christian a month and was really excited about all the adventures and exploits I would get up to.  The first few weeks were just a crazy experience – everyone was up for meeting new people and wanted to go out and party. Even though I was a Christian, I ended up spending a third of my student loan going out, drinking and partying within the first month.  And I distinctly remember ending up in some girl’s bedroom, smoking pot into the early hours, listening to Jane’s Addiction CDs.

As I reflect upon those first few weeks at university now, I am so thankful that my youth leader contacted UCCF on my behalf, gave them my details, so the CU could make contact with me when I first arrived.  Spending time with other young Christians, who lived distinctive, godly lives was a real eye-opener for me.  Friends from the CU both encouraged and challenged me and my CU Staff Worker set up a one-to-one for me with someone from the local church.  It’s crazy to think how fine the line was between being a Christian at university and just falling away into the crowd.

Calling all parents, grandparents, youth-workers:

There’s no doubt that September can be a time of some anxiety for us. We can fear for those whom we send to university, that they may get lost in the crowd and swept away by all the pressures that life away from home can present.  Christian Unions are a great place to be supported and grow as a Christian.  Our hope is that young people going to university will be welcomed by a friendly face from the CU and encouraged to live Christ-honouring lives, and very importantly be introduced to a local church where discipleship and mentoring can take place.

School-Leavers’ Link-up - www.uccf.org.uk/freshers

This year we’re launching a new website, specifically aimed to help school-leavers think through some of the issues they’ll face when going to university.  Here they’ll find short testimonials, helpful advice and videos tackling some major issues for young Christians.  Most importantly they can register their details to link-up with their CU.  Please do encourage school-leavers to go on the website and register, so that the CU can make contact with them, help them settle in and find a local church quickly.

Making student life taste great

We also want to put something useful into their hands before they get to uni, which is why we’re producing some recipe booklets, in order to make sure they’re well fed spiritually and physically. Here they will find top tips about university life, as well as some basic recipes to keep them from going hungry in their first few weeks!  Both the booklet and the registration process are completely free.

Please do call or email if you have any questions about any of the above. We’d be glad to chat.

Pod Bhogal,  
Head of Communications,
with with Jonathan Greenaway,  
Media Producer

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it     Phone: 0116 255 1700

What can I do?

Visit www.uccf.org.uk/freshers and:

•    Send us the name(s) and email address(es) of people you know who are starting as students. We will then make contact with them and send them some useful stuff.  

•    Order free student recipe booklets to give to school-leavers.  We’ll send you as many as you need and they’re a great gift to let them know you’re thinking of them.

OR

•    Send them the link to the website and encourage them to register their details themselves. This will start the process of connecting them with their local Christian Union.