Arrivals Guide Wantage Hall
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ARRIVALS GUIDE WANTAGE HALL 2016–17 WELCOME Contents Congratulations and welcome! 3 Welcome from the We are looking forward to welcoming you to Wantsge Hall JCR Wantage Hall at the start of what we hope 4 Before you arrive in hall 5 What to bring will be an exciting and fulfilling year. 7 Arrival day This Guide aims to give you all the 9 International students essentials to make your arrival at 10 Welcome Week Wantage Hall as smooth as possible. 11 Group facilities 13 People to help you in Hall 14 The local area 15 Arrival and group map 16 Wider area map Please note All photos are examples of facilities on offer and individual rooms may vary. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the details outlined in this guide are correct at the time of publication, some arrangements may be subject to change. 2 email [email protected] tel +44 (0)118 378 4203 WELCOME FROM THE WANTAGE HALL JCR Hello new Wantagian, and congratulations on getting a place at one of the most sought after halls in Reading! We, as your JCR Committee, would like to formally introduce ourselves and explain the part we will play in your time at Wantage. The JCR committee are elected representatives who you can come to to if you have any issues while you live in Hall. We are also a voice for you at the Student’s Union, and will arrange events throughout the year so that you can meet your fellow residents and get fully engrossed in the community spirit that Wantage is known for. Our main aim is to make sure that you enjoy living at Wantage, and as a result we have designed a Freshers’ Fortnight that caters to all residents and should help you settle in effortlessly. As current residents of Wantage ourselves, we have an insight to living in the hall that is invaluable, and we intend pass on this experience and Wantage Hall JCR Committee wisdom along with the extensive list of traditions that Wantage 2016/2017 prides itself on. Councillor Millie Farquhar Wantage offers you the best environment for both your studies Councillor Calum Brown and your free time, with our grand dining hall and on site bar. The sense of community in Wantage is also second to none and Treasurer Katherine Long friends that you make here will likely be your friends for life. Welfare Reps Moon Wynn , Katie Taylor We can honestly say that choice of Wantage as your home for the Librarian Chris Ryder next year is a good one, and a great start to your time at Reading. Once again, congratulations for getting into Wantage, we cannot wait to see you. www.rusu.co.uk/activities/jcr/10755/ www.facebook.com/groups/1273144692698985/ www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation 3 BEFORE YOU ARRIVE IN HALL … Find out more about joining your hall … COMPLETE THE social committee (JCR) E-INDUCTION See pages 3 and 13 for more details. If you would like to join your JCR Go to www.reading.ac.uk/applicantportal, click go to www.rusu.co.uk/activities/JCR/ on ‘My Accommodation’ and follow the links to ‘Manage my arrival/departure’ To make your arrival as smooth as possible, don’t forget to … As part of e-induction you will be able to … Arrange funding Book your arrival slot Make sure that you have sorted out your student loan or other Arrival times are staggered to help ease congestion. We rec- funding: www.reading.ac.uk/Beforeyouarrive/ww-finance. ommend you book early as the most popular arrival slots will fill aspx up quickly. Get enrolled on your course Print your arrival confirmation Complete online enrolment in the personal applicant portal. and parking permit You become a fully enrolled member of the University when Please bring them along on arrival day and display your parking you collect your Campus Card. For more info on enrolment see permit on your car dashboard if you’re arriving by car. www.reading.ac.uk/applicantportal Check your contents insurance and Tip Don’t forget your photo ID (e.g. passport, driving licence). purchase extra cover if needed You’ll need this to collect your Campus Card and move into hall. A basic level of insurance cover, provided by Endsleigh, is included for everyone living in hall. Full details can be viewed through e-induction. You’ll need to check this cover is adequate for all of your personal belongings – you can arrange extra cover if you need to either via Endsleigh or another provider. www.endsleigh.co.uk/reviewcover 4 email [email protected] tel +44 (0)118 378 4203 WHAT TO BRING All of the rooms in Wantage Hall are single occupancy and Other essentials you will fully furnished. Each room contains a single bed, desk and need for your room desk chair, bookshelves, desk lighting, wardrobe and drawers • Coat hangers as these are not provided in the wardrobes as a minimum. Bins and toilet brushes are also provided. • Cleaning products Bedding and towels • Warm coat, hat, gloves, scarf and raincoat for the winter months! • Don’t forget toilet paper for your en-suite! We supply a mattress protector which must always be used. You’ll need to provide your own bed linen such as: Tip Antibacterial cleaning wipes are really easy to use and • Duvet and duvet cover can be handy for cleaning bathrooms and bedroom, surfaces etc. and they are widely available from convenience stores and • Fitted bottom sheet supermarkets. • Pillow(s) and pillow cases Tip Don’t over pack. Remember you have limited space. • Bath and hand towels Tip Bring along some drawing pins so you can put up pictures, Tip Remember that you’ll need to wash your own bedding so notes, photos etc on the noticeboard in your room (there are you may want to bring a spare set. poster sales on campus during Welcome Week). You may also want Bedding packs to bring some personal items to make your room nice and homely e.g. cushions, photo frames. Small boxes/containers are really If you want to save on packing you can purchase a bedding useful for keeping your belongings tidy in your room. pack online before you arrive. This can be done as part of Tip We encourage students to register their property at e-induction. The single bedding packs include a duvet, duvet www.immobilise.com. This is a free service which helps police cover, pillow, pillow case and fitted sheet at a cost of £25. identify stolen property and makes insurance claims for lost property easier. www.reading.ac.uk/accommodation 5 • Cooking utensils (including tin opener, bottle opener etc) • Foil/cling film Tip Don’t bring too much kitchen equipment as you may be able to share with your flatmates. Tip International students – please don’t bring kitchen equipment such as rice cookers with you. You can buy all the items you need easily and cheaply in the UK. Electrical equipment You shouldn’t need to bring any additional electrical equipment for the kitchen with you as the accommodation is well supplied with all the basics. Electrical items that are for use in the kitchen e.g. kettles, fridges and toasters, must not be used in bedrooms. Internet access • Electrical equipment must be safe – preferably it should be new. If there are any doubts about the safety of the equipment, it must readingConnect is a University service that provides a managed be given a formal inspection and/or test (Portable Appliance Test). network connection to hall rooms delivering access to the Internet Hall staff can conduct a check for you – please ask at your and the University’s data network. This service is included in your hall group reception. fees. Further information can be found at www.readingconnect.net • The UK electrical supply is 240V and all appliances must be rated Wi-Fi is available in all halls giving access to the University services for this voltage. Do not use electrical items made for other and the Internet. The recommended way to connect is via the countries’ electrical supply. Eduroam secure access service. Further information on how to • Only use CE marked plugs and appliances with the correct configure computers and devices to connect to Eduroam is available rated fuse. from wifi.reading.ac.uk • Never overload electrical sockets or use adaptors unless these Communal cleaning have been provided in your room Communal kitchens will be cleaned weekly (but you are responsible • Electric heaters, electric blankets, air conditioning units and mains for your washing up!). Rubbish and recycling will be removed from powered Christmas/fairy lights must not be used or brought the kitchens at least twice a week by our dedicated housekeeping into hall. team. The specific details of the cleaning provided and your respon- sibilities will be on a poster in your kitchen. Adaptor plugs Catering Students from outside the UK should only use adaptor plugs which are CE marked and fused as shown below: Wantage Hall is a catered hall and residents receive the catered meal Permitted Not permitted package. Your nearest catering outlet is Eat at Wantage (see page 11). You can of course use your weekly credit on your Campus Card at some of the other catering outlets on campus. For more informa- tion about the catering package and participating catering outlets see: www.reading.ac.uk/catering You also have the use of a kitchen for preparing snacks and drinks. These kitchens are equipped with a cooker, microwave and fridge/ freezer.