The Buddy Scheme is coming to an end for this academic year and it has been a lot of fun. We hope everyone has enjoyed being a part of it as much as we have!

A total of 844 students have taken part in the scheme this year from 74 different countries speaking 65 different languages. The Buddy Scheme is a great way for new students to settle in at Sussex, meet people from all walks of life and to make the most of their time here. We have heard some great stories from buddies becoming the best of friends, becoming housemates, going travelling together and starting new hobbies together, such as bouldering.

To all of our 226 volunteers, we would like to say a big Thank You for taking the time to help your buddies throughout the Autumn and Spring term. You have really helped the new students this year settle in and enjoy their time at Sussex.

This year we treated our members to a wide range of events and trips such as Afternoon Tea, Laserzone, Ice Skating, the Sealife Centre, Arundel Castle, Harry Potter Studios experience, and bowling. Thank you to our colleagues at Active US for working with us and introducing us to new experiences such as Bouldering and Air Hop. Particular thanks to Marc Slowey for hosting our Christmas quiz and for making us laugh on a regular basis 🙂 Thanks needs to go to the amazing Ukulele Society for agreeing to play for us at various Buddy Scheme and Volunteering events – if you haven’t heard them play, you must! and last but by no means least, 85% of you rated our events as “excellent”, so thank you all for coming along!!! We’re so happy that you enjoyed yourselves.

Big thanks for the continued support from University Schools, Departments and Support Services.

Brittney, a new student from the US, summed up the scheme perfectly:

“I love it! It made me so much more comfortable arriving here knowing that there was someone at the university who I’ve talked to and who could help me out. The trips have been so helpful, because they’ve gotten me off campus and given me the opportunity to do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise (most of the trips would have been too expensive for me to feel they were worth it otherwise). Finally, I’ve met my very best friend here through the Buddy Scheme. My experience here would have been very different without her, so I appreciate that”.

Whoever you are, wherever you are from, whatever course you’re studying, whether you’re Undergraduate or Postgraduate, the Buddy Scheme is open to everyone. We hope our volunteers will continue to be involved next year and ‘new’ students on the scheme are invited to share your experiences with a new student starting in September.

The Buddy Scheme has closed for this year but applications will open again shortly for academic year 2015/16. Come and be a part of something great.