FAQs

• What is the Buddy Scheme and how does it work?

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  The Buddy Scheme is a peer to peer support and friend-finding programme run by the Students’ Union, that helps new students settle into life at Sussex, or to help students in need find a friend if they’re feeling lonely or struggling to make friends.

  
  We match current students (Buddy Volunteers) with those new or in need students (Buddy Scheme participants/members/sign-ups), according to their preferences such as interests, course, language, and many others.

  
  The volunteers will meet up or communicate with their matched sign-up for a minimum of one hour a week, but it is flexible and informal in how this is done depending on the volunteer and sign-up and what suits them best. We just say to be sensible!

  
  Volunteers have valuable experience from having studied at Sussex and can share tips about campus life, or Brighton and the local area, that can be really valuable to new students. They can answer questions, and be a relatable source of information; after all they’ve already gone through the transition to University life themselves. 

  
  The Buddy Scheme runs a series of events and activities for buddies to get involved in such as coffee afternoons, walks, collabs with various Sussex societies and trips off campus!. Check out the list of upcoming events.

  
  The programme runs from April to March (spring break) each year, and is currently open for 2024/25 participants and volunteers. You can sign up at any time during the year but we don’t match over summer.

  
  Matching for the new academic year beings on A level results day in August.

• How does the scheme work?

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  If you want to sign up to the scheme, you need to sign up via the Buddy Scheme website. 
  
  
  1. Fill in the relevant application form for you, and state your preferences for being matched with another student (please note: this can not always be guaranteed but we try our best to match as close to the stated criteria as possible).
  
  2. A member of the Buddy Scheme team will read over your application to ensure you understand the scheme and you are signing up for the right reasons. If there is a problem you will be notified by email, otherwise you are automatically entered into the scheme.
  
  3. You will receive a confirmation email of your application with useful information about the scheme.
  
  4. From August 2024 onwards, you will be matched with a Buddy Scheme Volunteer. You will receive an email informing you of who you are matched with and their email address. Volunteers can choice to be matched with up to 5 Members, if the mentor has opted for more than one Buddy Scheme Member you will be put into a small group of new students with one Volunteer (max 6).
  
  5. The Buddy Scheme Volunteer will contact their new students prior to Freshers’ Week -please make contact yourself as well. You can start chatting online before you arrive!
  
  6. Meet up at your own convenience. If you choose to meet in person we recommend that you meet on campus during the day in a public place for the first meeting. Please only meet in person if you and your buddy feel comfortable doing so.
  
  7. Meet up once a week for at least an hour (online or in person)– this is completely down to you where and what you want to do. Just be sensible.
  
  8. Join in with the events and activities offered to buddies via the Buddy Scheme, Active US and the Language Cafe.

• My Buddy isn't right for me - what can I do?

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  If your buddy isn’t right for you, don’t worry!

  There can be many reasons they’re not the right person for you, such as if you feel you have nothing in common with your buddy, or they don’t have the information you need, or perhaps they can’t offer the kind of support you would like. This is okay! 

  
  Please email us at BuddyScheme@SussexSudent.Com to let us know, and we can find you a new buddy. Please do not ghost your buddy. If you let us know there’s a problem we can help and hopefully find you the right match!

• How do I apply to the Buddy Scheme?

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  Have you been at Sussex University for at least a term and want to help new students? Sign up here to be a Volunteer.

  New to Sussex? Would you like to be matched with a current student to help you get to know Sussex University and Brighton? Sign up here as a new student. We match new students from August to March every year, so it is never too late to join the Buddy Scheme! Even if you are not ‘new’ to Sussex, are in second or third year and want a Buddy to widen your social circle, that is completely fine too! Sign up today.

• Who can join the Buddy Scheme?

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  Any Sussex student can join the Buddy Scheme.

  
  For volunteers;

  If you have been at Sussex at least one term we would love to have you as a Buddy Volunteer! We welcome students from all schools, study levels and backgrounds, and can find you matches with common interests or shared communities.

  
  For participants/sign-ups;

  Anyone is welcome to join the Buddy Scheme to receive the support of a Buddy Volunteer. We welcome new students to sign up before they come to Sussex in their first year, to have a friend already here before they arrive! We also welcome them to sign up any time of the year if they are struggling to settle in or would like the support of a volunteer. We also welcome students who are not in their first year to sign up if they would like to make a new friend; anyone is welcome!

  
  We can match by a huge number of factors, including match you with someone else who also belongs to the following groups:

  • Similar Age
  • School (ie. MAH, EngInf, Psychology etc.)
  • Level of Study (including Masters, PhD etc.)
  • Gender (same gender only)
  • Interests
  • Postgraduates
  • Mature Students
  • Country
  • Languages Spoken
  • Students of Colour
  • Trans Students
  • LGBTQ+ Students
  • Disabled Students
  • Autistic Students
  • Student Parents
  • Care Leavers
  • Living on Campus

  We are always open to suggestions of other things we could match you by!

• What happens when I sign up to the Buddy Scheme?

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  As a new student you will be invited to a launch event in Freshers Week where you will be able to meet and mingle with other new students and Buddy Scheme volunteers. Matching will happen on a first come, first served basis but we hope to have everyone matched up before Freshers’ week and you can get in touch by email to organise meeting up. Matching will continue throughout the year as and when students sign up. 

  Volunteers who have applied to the Buddy Scheme will be contacted and asked to complete some online training.  It explains the expectations of the role, involves some skills training and signposting information.  

  You are expected to contact the students you have been matched with as soon as you receive the email notifying you. We recommend that you contact each other via email and/or Social Media to begin with and get to know each other prior to the new student arriving at Sussex. Then you can arrange to meet up in a public place on campus at first. You can meet up individually with your Buddy Volunteer at first or in the group that you have been matched with - it is entirely up to you.  

  Check out the website for more useful information and resources.

• What should I do with my buddy?

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  The great thing about the Buddy Scheme is that it is very informal and you can go to events with your Buddy, meet up for lunch or just hang out (online or in person). It is up to you, just make sure you and your Buddy have discussed what you feel comfortable with when meeting up! Why not meet in a public place on campus for coffee or come to one of our Buddy Scheme events together?

  We have a series of events and activities taking place across the year which are perfect socialising opportunities for you and your Buddy to check out. You can find the full program of Buddy Scheme events here, or on the Students' Union website.  You don't have to come to an event together, many people come by themselves with the goal of making new friends!

  Why not try out the Language Cafe? Or get involved in the wide variety of activities on offer via the Active US project.

  The Students' Union offers lots of things to get involved in such as Sports Clubs and Societies, find out what your Buddy likes to do or are interested in and help them get involved.

• Do I have to join the Buddy Scheme at the start of the year?

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  Nope! You are welcome to join the Buddy Scheme at any point in the academic year! If you find yourself needing a friend in January for example, or suddenly have some extra time to Volunteer, then you are absolutely welcome to sign up in January!

• Can I practise a language through the Buddy Scheme?

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  This is not the main focus of the Buddy Scheme - the purpose of the Buddy Scheme is to help incoming students settle into life at Sussex and in Brighton.

  It is possible for us to match you with someone who speaks the language that you are interested in, all you need to do is ensure that you state the language you speak on the application form and set your matching preference as "language". 

  The Buddy Scheme is linked in with the Language Cafe which provides students with the opportunity to learn and practice languages with each other in an informal setting. Why not check it out? The Language Cafe runs every Tuesday during term time from 7pm - 8.30pm.  

• My buddy has asked me for advice, I'm not sure what to say?

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  If your Buddy asks about something and you're not sure what to say or find yourself in a difficult or compromising situation, please don't hesitate to email us at BuddyScheme@SussexStudent.com and we will help you as much as we can. There is a list of University support services in your Buddy Scheme Handbook.  

• My Buddy isn't replying to me - what can I do?

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  If you haven’t heard from your buddy or they stop replying to you, please let us know at BuddyScheme@SussexStudent.Com, and we will chase them for you. It is possible to match you with another person if we need to!

• I no longer want to be a part of the Buddy Scheme

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  Please email buddyscheme@sussexstudent.com or complete this form. This will notify a member of the Buddy Scheme staff who will be in touch about your reasons and to get feedback. 

  It is absolutely fine to opt-out of the scheme if that's what you feel you would like to do, we just ask that you notify us so that any matched buddies are not left on their own. We are able to match them with someone else.

   

• I've still got questions about the scheme, who should I contact?

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  Kael Rigelsford - Volunteering Projects Coordinator

  Jane Trueman - Activities Manager

  We will do our best to answer any questions you have. Any feedback, comments and suggestions are always welcome. 

  You can get in touch by:

  Email: BuddyScheme@SussexStudent.com