Part one of this blog includes information on Christmas in the UK, traditions in the UK, Royal Mail last posting dates, shop opening hours, travel and more.

Part two gives you some recommendations on events and community over Christmas if you are staying in Reading. Plus some Ambassador Tips for staying in Reading over Christmas.

RUSU Christmas meet-up 

This Friday (18 December) from 17:00 -18:00 RUSU are hosting a virtual Christmas Meet-Up over Zoom. Join Bandy Karki, the RUSU Welfare Officer, and Rachel Wates, the RUSU Diversity Officer, to play some games and to have a chat. You do not have to celebrate Christmas to come to the event, everyone is welcome.

Find out more about the RUSU Christmas Meet-Up on the Facebook Event page.

RUSU Facebook community group

The RUSU Facebook Community page is ideal for keeping up with the latest news, events updates and more from the University of Reading during the Christmas closure period. The page has posts by students, from societies, and more. It is also the best place to find out about opportunities to meet and engage with other students who may also be in Reading over the coming weeks.

Feel free to check out the RUSU Community group.

Support this Christmas from Student Space

The Christmas holidays can raise mixed feelings for different people – you might be worried about the safety of returning home, or maybe you can’t or don’t want to go home. That is why we are promoting Student Space and who have just added a whole new section all about the holidays. Student Space is here to support students with:

• Staying at university over the Christmas break
• Worrying about not being able to go home

Student Space will be here 24/7, even Christmas day over the break for students in England and Wales, they can provide:

• Support services
• Text support (24/7)
• Phone support (3 pm to 12 am every day)
• Webchat support (4 pm to 11 pm every day)
• Email support (24/7 – response within 24 hours).

Please note that The Counselling and & Wellbeing team at the University of Reading will be closed from the Tuesday 22 December and will be open again from Monday 4 January 2021.

Support this Christmas from Togetherall

Fancy trying out your own Christmas dinner?

Well, you are reading the right section. Home at Halls has put together a video on making a roast for Christmas. Check it out on Instagram, oh and while you’re there give us a follow uor_studentlife 

Christmas at the University of Reading website

Detailed and up to date information about Christmas at the University of Reading is now live on Essentials. On these pages, you can find a range of useful information including:

• opening times and support services available to you over the Christmas break
• advice over end of term travel
• events that are happening over the holidays
• some advice for students who are staying in Reading; and more

Take a look at the Christmas at Reading pages.

Key things to note:

• Halls of residence catering will remain open, with catering available if required and support for anyone who needs to self-isolate between 22 December and 4 January.
• All other catering facilities will operate on a takeaway-only basis for everyone other than catered students. Bars will be closed.
• The Library will close at 17:00 on Monday 21 December and open again at 08:30 on Monday 4 January 2021. Opening hours can be found online.
• The IT Service Desk in the Library will close on Monday 21 December at 17:00. Telephone lines (6262) will close on the same day at 18:00. The services will be available again from Monday 4 January 2021, the IT Service Desk in the Library at 09:00, and other at 08:00. All visits to the Library IT Service Desk must be made by pre-booked appointments – please use this form to book. The DTS team will be able to accept enquiries by email dts@reading.ac.uk and via the Self Service Portal during the closure period, but these will not be responded to until after the Christmas closure period. You can find more information on this page.

Useful contacts and links

• Security: emergency calls – 0118 378 6300. Non-emergency calls – 0118 378 7799
• Extension 7799 (internal) and 0118 931 6300 (external calls and for emergencies). Email securitycontrol@reading.ac.uk. Security are based on the ground floor of Whiteknights House (north entrance).
• Health and Safety Services: Telephone 0118 378 8888. Email safety@reading.ac.uk. All health and safety policies are available on this page, including guidance specific to COVID-19.
• Estates: Telephone 0118 378 7000. Email estates@reading.ac.uk. For emergencies please contact Security (see above).
• Employee Assistance Programme: Find details of the programme, including 24/7 support on offer, on this page. Telephone 0800 085 1376. Email assist@cic-eap.co.uk.
• COVID-19 Staff FAQs – see the latest COVID-19 guidance for University staff.

Pok Lim Lai’s Top Tips for Enjoying Christmas in Reading

Congratulations, we finally made it to the end of the term! A massive well done to all of us for managing through the workload for the Autumn Term. Now, we all deserve to take a break – have a KitKat. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In today’s blog, I’ll share with you, some of my top tips to relax, have fun, stay safe and to stay proactive & productive for this Christmas in Reading, and what you can do to make the most out of this Christmas break.

Firstly, make sure you make time to relax and enjoy yourself during the Christmas period. Make sure to have a break from studying and do something fun related to Christmas, for example, a Christmas quiz or some games. Relax and have fun so that you feel reenergized again, ready for the next term.

Secondly, due to the current coronavirus pandemic, you may not be able to travel back home this Christmas but do be sure to make time to catch-up with your friends and family through online video calls.

Thirdly, stay safe and be proactive with safety measures e.g. wearing face masks and maintain 2m social distancing if you are going out or planning to visit places in Reading this Christmas. Do this to not only just protect yourself but others as well following all the safety measures outlined by the UK Government.

Perhaps, one of the most important tips is that this Christmas Break is an amazing opportunity to dedicate some of your time for studying. You can use this break to catch up on lectures, working on assignments (due in January 2021 of course), reading from the reading list and more.

Now is the time to consolidate all the content that you’ve learnt during the first term and make sure that you understood what you’ve been taught and be ready for the new content in the Spring Term. This way, you will have a really productive Christmas Break alongside the fun and relaxing time that is Christmas.

Finally, plan ahead. Start thinking about what you could do during this Christmas holiday and beyond into the New Year. Consider spending some quality time in designing and setting up a new study timetable for the New Year 2021 or allocate some time to looking at what really interests you and grabs your attention in the degree that you are doing? Could you possibly do further reading on the topic that you are interested in your degree?

For 2021, why not spend some time now and apply for a part-time job? If you are thinking about getting some work experience in, why not look for an opportunity for a summer placement or a placement year between your 2^nd and 3^rd year of your undergraduate programme?

Thank you all for reading! I hope this blog has inspired and motivated you to plan for a more productive, fun Christmas in Reading this year.

Written by Pok Lim Lai – one of your Student Voice Ambassadors

From Student Services – we wish you a happy and restful holiday.