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Get Connected!

11th November 2016 / Yasmin Mortuza / 0 Comments

Get Connected Week is your chance to meet new people and discover all the amazing opportunities and services open to you as a King’s resident. Did we also mention we’re giving you the chance to win massive prizes? Win the ultimate Mexican flat night, London Dungeon tickets and more by taking part in some of our ResiLife events next week.

What’s happening in your residence?

KCLSU Societies Mixer & One World Variety Show

Meet new people, learn about KCLSU societies/activities and eat free food. What could be better? We’ll be meeting at Waterfront Bar at The Strand before heading to the One World Variety show to see some of our groups in action. Sign up now as tickets are limited.

Get Connected Week Photo Hunt

Win a night out on us! Successfully complete the Get Connected Week Photo Hunt and go in the draw to win tickets for your team to London Dungeons and dinner at Pizza Express! Sign up now!

The Great King’s Cook Off

Fancy yourself a bit of a king (or queen) in the kitchen? Sign your flat up to The Great King’s Cook Off. See what you can cook in a team of four using only £10 worth of ingredients! Win the ultimate Mexican flat night for your team, cinema tickets or amazon vouchers. Sign up quick!

RA Kitchen Talks

Your RAs will be dropping into your kitchen to have a chat about how your time at King’s is going so far. This is your chance to discuss anything you like, you could have a welfare concern or be wondering how to deal with that flatmate who plays Disney theme songs at 1am.

Don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook and remember to tag your Get Connected Week photos and videos with #kingsresilife and #getconnectedweek.

7 Tips to get through Reading Week

1st November 2016 / Yasmin Mortuza / 0 Comments

It’s that time of year. Time to bunker down with a cup of tea and the hundreds of pages of university readings.

So Reading Week is supposed to be about getting work done without the pressure of lectures and copious group assignments and not about lying in bed and binge watching Stranger Things on Netflix (by the way, if you haven’t started watching it you really should!)

We have compiled some tips for you to get through the week and come out of Reading Week with your sanity still intact.

Give yourself a break

Whilst Reading Week is designed to give you time to get through your many readings for your many classes, it is also an opportunity for you to realise you made it through your first month of University. You, a fully-fledged adult made it through Fresher’s week, dorm life, group projects and Monday mornings at 8am. Give yourself a break and remember to not overload yourself with more than you can handle.

Make a plan / to-do lists

You know it is getting serious when “Write To-do List” is actually an item on a separate To-Do list. Make sure you have a plan of how you are going to tackle the different readings on different subjects. A great way of doing this is by writing down all the things that need to be done by the end of the week, breaking these out into smaller goals and giving yourself deadlines. Remember to always prioritise those things with the shortest timeframe and the earliest deadlines. This ensures you don’t panic. You’ve got this!

Once you complete a task, cross it out. Once you start making lists this way it becomes a habit and you won’t believe how beneficial it is later in life.

Find your study space

Everyone has a place where they are able to sit down with a textbook that hasn’t been opened all semester and immediately absorb the information. For me this is in bed, with a bag of Jelly Beans and reruns of Gilmore Girls on in the background. For others, it is Starbucks. Everyone is different. Find your place and make it a routine. This will become your new home come exam period.

Don’t forget to go outside once and a while

There is such a thing as too much reading. Remember to take a break once in a while and do something different. Go to the gym, join that yoga class or just go for a walk through the park. It’s amazing what fresh air can do to your productivity levels. The work will still be there when you get back but clearing your mind for an hour or so will have a positive effect. And writing notes is much easier whilst the endorphins are still pumping through your body after that spin class.

Check out the BeActive Halls timetable for their upcoming classes.

Stay positive

Don’t let the study get you down. Just remember that there are thousands of students going through the same issues. We have a number of services available to help you handle the stress of study. These services have been specifically designed to assist King’s College students and any questions you may have around studying and life in general.

For a complete list of King’s Support service click here.

Make time for yourself

Do what makes you happy. If you are reading and your brain is not taking in the information, it is less likely it will come back to you later on. Don’t stop doing the things you like to do. Take time out of your reading schedule to do things like going to coffee with friends, Netflix, wine and cheese night and cooking.

Connect with others

Chances are there are other people in your residence studying the same things as you. Put the call out via your Facebook group. There are people looking for learning groups and study partners. This is also a great way to make friends and enjoy the aforementioned wine and cheese night.

Don’t forget that life is about new experiences and learning is one of those experiences. Look at the support around you and remember that Winter Break is only 45 days away.

Wellbeing Week 2016

15th October 2016 / Yasmin Mortuza

Next week is Wellbeing Week. It’s time to take a break and attend our events, planned specifically to nurture your mind, body and soul.

Your social life and workload can easily get in the way of keeping healthy, but it’s important to take the time out to think about your wellbeing. Click here for some handy tips from the King’s Wellbeing Team.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

Smoothie Bikes
Make your own healthy smoothie and work out at the same time! Choose from a wide range of healthy ingredients and use your own manpower to blend it all into a tasty treat. Guaranteed to give you a boost and improve your physical and mental wellbeing.

Your Happy Space

This fun, interactive session will discuss the importance of creating a space full of wellbeing around you. *Spoiler alert!* Crafting may be required.

Mindfulness Walks

Join King’s Wellbeing Coordinator, Julia Haas, on a mindfulness walk around your neighbourhood. Julia will talk you through the importance of being aware of your surroundings and keeping your physical and mental health on track.

Hula Hoop Competitions
When’s the last time you took to a Hula Hoop? Show us your skills at the Wellbeing Week Hula Hoop competition. Join your BeActivators and compete to win prizes.

Inflatable Bubble Football and 5-aside League Sign up
Have you attended 5-aside league on Saturdays? Grab your team and head to the Astro Turf near Moonraker point for the official sign up. Why not try Inflatable Bubble Football while you’re there!

Film night: He Named me Malala

We’ll be concluding Wellbeing Week with an open film night at Stamford Street Apartments Lecture Theatre. Join us for popcorn and a screening of He Named me Malala, an intimate portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai. Open to all residents, but make sure you reserve your ticket ASAP as numbers are limited.

RA Events

Your RAs and Wardens are planning their own Wellbeing themed events in your residence. Join your Facebook group for more information, or ask them about their event when you pass them in the hall.

Make sure you also check out the BeActive Timetable, these sessions are free and on your doorstep! There’s no need to spend money on a fancy gym membership when you’re BeActivators are nearby.

Don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook and remember to tag your Wellbeing Week photos and videos with #kingsresilife and #wellbeingweek.

30th September 2016 / Yasmin Mortuza / 0 Comments

A warm welcome from the Sustainability Team at King’s

The Sustainability Team at King’s works to reduce our carbon footprint, extending our recycling provision and pushing for sustainable education and careers.

One of our most important roles, and what we enjoy most, is to engage students in the exciting global conversation about sustainability. As well as sharing tips on how to reduce your impact on the planet, we also encourage discussion on pressing sustainability issues. We often come together over tea and nibbles to discuss eclectic subjects ranging from aquaponics to energy security in the EU.

The 3rd of October will see the inaugural launch of Sustainability Week in halls which will feature a series of sustainability-themed events and the launch of the energy saving campaign Student Switch-Off. Prizes include Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and NUS Extra Cards. Save some energy, win some ice-cream – what’s not to like?

King’s Student groups such as EcoSoc, Fossil Free and Enactus also host events, put on socials and run campaigns throughout the year. Check out their websites and get involved!

Now it’s time for our top sustainability tips:

Transport
London is a super city to explore by bike. Cycling is cheaper, will get you from A to B a lot quicker and will also keep you fit.

Food and drink
Eating less meat, hitting up your local farmers market and buying organic are all super ways to reduce your environmental impact.

Energy
Switching off appliances that you are not using is a no brainer for the planet and will reduce the College’s bills.

(Thrift) Shopping
London charity shops and your local freecycling group are treasure troves of pre-loved stuff.

Occasionally we miss stuff, so please report any egregious non-environmentally friendly things (e.g. dripping taps, left on lights) you see on campus or in halls to ask@kcl.ac.uk.

You can get in touch with us by emailing sustainability@kcl.ac.uk and also through Facebook or Twitter. Keep up with the latest updates by reading our blog and subscribe to our mailing list by clicking here.

Meet Ben Hunt, your KCLSU President

20th September 2016 / Yasmin Mortuza / 2 Comments

Hi – I’m Ben Hu KCLSU_Ben nt, KCLSU President.

I’m a Philosophy student, was Vice President for Education (Arts & Sciences) last year and am your elected President for 2016/17. As part of the Student Officer team, my job’s to lead KCLSU (our Students’ Union), represent your views to the university and make sure your student experience at King’s is the best possible.

Our Union’s where we can get involved in university life outside our courses, make a difference for ourselves, each other and the world around us, socialise and connect with one of the most diverse networks of people in the world and access support when we need advice or help to make the most of our time at King’s.

King’s students are an incredibly diverse group – we study different subjects, at different levels and we all have different backgrounds and identities, so we all need different things. Leaving with our degrees is of course a huge priority, but we’re also here to build memories, meet people and explore the interests that make us who we are.

Together, we’ve done incredible things to improve the lives of our fellow students, at King’s and beyond, as well as for our communities. Here’s just a tiny snapshot:

Ensured the University would act as rent guarantors for International students. Previously, International students were struggling to secure accommodation.
Put Kosher food on the menu in KCLSU and University spaces.
Worked with disadvantaged communities in outreach projects, inspiring young people to pursue Higher or Further Education.
Made sure free sanitary products were available for free to students in our Student Centres.
Raised hundreds of thousands for charity, every year.
Campaigned against cuts in the NHS.
Reduced the number of redundancies made in the Health Schools.
Campaigned for microwaves in our spaces so we can eat our own food.

If you’re planning to work while you study, you could work with the Union. All our staff earn the London Living Wage – something we campaigned for and won. There are usually jobs going in our venues, Student Centre and in the offices, but check out kclsu.org/workwithus to see what’s available.

You’ll find us on campus, online and we always want to hear from you!

Ben

KCLSU President 2016/17

kclsu.org/studentofficers

How am I going to find my new home?

14th September 2016 / Yasmin Mortuza / 0 Comments

A lot of our residents are making their way to London for the first time. Whether you’re arriving by car, plane or train it’s going to be tricky navigating to your residence with a suitcase or two. To make thing’s a lot smoother, make sure you download a navigation app like Citymapper or Google Maps before you arrive. Here are King’s College London’s tips for getting around:

Arriving in the UK – Getting from the airport

Confusingly, London has several major airports. Each has several routes for getting into central London, some of which are quicker and more expensive than others.

From Heathrow: you can get the Piccadilly Line all the way into central London. This is by far the cheapest option, but can be difficult if you have lots of luggage. Alternatively, the Heathrow Express is really quick (just fifteen minutes!) but more expensive. It goes directly to Paddington Station. A taxi can cost around £85, but if you are travelling with other people and can share the cost this can be a good options if you have lots of luggage. National Express coaches go to London Victoria and are a cheap option.

From Gatwick: there are plenty of trains and buses that go to central London. You can get the Gatwick Express direct to Victoria. However, it is far cheaper – and almost as quick – to take a normal train (Southern or First Capital Connect) to Victoria, London Bridge or St Pancras, which run regularly. Tip: there is usually an option to buy a ticket that allows you to travel on all routes except the Gatwick Express. National Express coaches leave fairly regularly and are one of the cheapest options.

From Stansted: London Stansted Airport is quite a long way from London itself. You can take the Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street, which takes around 45 minutes. Alternatively, several coach services go to central London, but travelling times are much longer. Don’t get a taxi from Stansted as it will be really expensive!

From London City Airport: London City Airport is actually within London so is on the TFL network (see below). You can get the Docklands Light Railway into central London and connect with various underground services to reach your final destination.

Getting around London

Getting around London can be confusing. The Transport for London (TfL) network is huge and is comprised of the London Underground (colloquially known as the “Tube”), buses, trains, river transport, trams and even a cable car! Most Londoners get what is known as an Oyster Card as this is cheaper than buying single tickets for every journey. You can use this by topping it up with money and paying for journeys individually or if you’re travelling around London regularly (i.e. you’re using public transport most days) then you can buy a weekly, monthly or annual travel card and upload it to your Oyster card. Many students are entitled to a special 18+ Student Oyster card that allows them to get a discount on these weekly, monthly or annual cards (see below). Oyster Cards work on most forms of London transport, though fares are higher for riverboat services and the Emirates cable car. They should also work on local train services within the London area.

We found this light-hearted, useful guide to using the London Underground, which you might find helpful.

Many people cycle in London and you can now hire what the locals call “Boris Bikes” (because the scheme was started by London Mayor Boris Johnson) for a small fee. You need to be careful if you cycle in London that you take safety precautions, and ensure that your bicycle is secure. You can find more information and useful tips on the TfL website and through the Metropolitan Police.

View more about Oyster Cards, 18+ Cards and cabs on the main King’s College Website.

Get active with BeActive Halls

8th September 2016 / Yasmin Mortuza / 0 Comments

Hey there!

I’m Alyx, the Sports Participation Coordinator at King’s Sport. Working in the Sports Department, everyone always asks me what ‘my sport’ is, but in truth I’m not particularly good at any sports – I just love being active and teaming up with friends. 13124814_645156652299847_6755941854234291869_n

The majority of my role is coordinating BeActive, which is our Recreational Sport programme and it’s all about giving something a go in a social, non-competitive environment. Usually there is a membership fee, but as a resident in a King’s College London Halls of Residence for 2016/2017 you get free access!

You’ll get exclusive access to the BeActive Halls programme, as well as being able to attend all the sessions included in the standard programme, which is open to all student at King’s. This means you have more than 45 sessions to choose from every week during term time – and all for free! Every session takes place within walking distance of halls of residence, and all students living in halls of residence can attend any session at any of the locations, regardless of experience or how sporty you think you are.

To get involved all you need to do is choose a session from the timetable included in your welcome pack when you move into halls, then show up to the venue with your King’s College London student card. There will be one of my trusty Activators there to welcome you and get you started with the session.

The timetable starts 12186378_561167030698810_1556061476874814786_o on the Monday 3^rd October but you’ll also be able to catch me and the team before then at campus and residences events and at fresher’s fair during Welcome Week. So if you have any questions about BeActive Halls or more generally sport at King’s – be it club sport, King’s Move, facilities – don’t hesitate to ask us!

I’m sure you’ll enjoy your first weeks moving into halls, and I hope to see as many of you as possible down and enjoying a BeActive session in the near future!

Alyx

Sports Participation Coordinator, King’s Sport.

Kcl.ac.uk/sport/beactive

Welcome to King’s Residences

19th August 2016 / Yasmin Mortuza / 0 Comments

Welcome to King’s Residences and therefore welcome to ResiLife. Our new blog is a place where you can find events and keep up to date with what’s going on at King’s Residences. Enjoying your stay at King’s is not about the size of your room or the colour of your curtains. Residence Life is all about making connections, getting involved in your residence and opening your mind to new things. Want to know how to stay connected? Here’s how to get started:

Join your Facebook Page and Group. Our residence Facebook pages are the best way to keep informed about what’s happening in your hall. You can also meet your neighbours before you even move in to your residence. Facebook pages can be found on the right side bar of our blog.
Bookmark our events calendar. We run an events programme throughout the year that is a great way to make new friends and learn life skills that will help you make the transition to independent life. Make sure you regularly checking our calendar to find Residence events.
Get sharing. Use #kingsreslife on Instagram to share your journey. Your photos will be reposted to our King’s ResiLife Instagram account.

Lastly, congratulations on making it to King’s! We look forward to seeing you all at our residences.

King's ResiLife