I joined the Buddy Scheme when I started at Sussex and was matched with a Sussex student who did a similar degree to mine, was part of the LGBTQ+ community and was also from Germany, which was ideal as she had faced common struggles as I did coming from Spain. They really helped me with my degree, as I had questions regarding the UK university experience, and they have been a wonderful guide, even until now as I am starting my third year I had questions regarding dissertation and graduation which they eased by sharing their experience from a year before.

We enjoyed sharing coffee dates together from the very start in freshers’ week, went to the language cafe together and had a brilliant day in the Pavilion Ice rink with the Buddy Scheme as well as a brunch in the Breakfast Club. Together we kept in touch through apps such as Instagram and WhatsApp, but often we also met on campus by accident and she checked on me.

Without the Buddy Scheme my experience would have definitely been different, I believe I would have been much more alone and lost in a new country and education system, and it really helped me make the most of university and Brighton. What I really found rewarding about this service is how it helped me with my identity as I struggled with internalised homophobia to find myself in a brand-new environment. 

Since joining as a new student, I volunteered in my second year and was matched with new students. We enjoyed cultural exchanges, trips to Brighton Bouldering organised by the Buddy Scheme and nights out with both our friends. I tried to give back to the Sussex Buddy Scheme all they gave me in my first year, and therefore I am volunteering again in my last year. 

I found in both my experiences of receiving and giving to the buddy scheme, that often, the safe network we built, extended to our common friends as my friends also created new friendships with my buddy’s friends, relationships which have lasted until today. I believe, especially in this challenging year for all, the buddy scheme is a great service for the university, which a lot of new students will benefit from.

Lucrecia Sanchez

(Third Year Student)