Page updated: 02 September 2022
First year students (with the exception of international students, Foundation Year students, and Maths students who are asked to arrive early for a pre-term course) are asked to come into residence on Saturday 1 October from 10am (by 5pm at the latest). The following day there are a number of meetings and events which you will need to attend.
Parking is available in Mare's Run for you to use during Freshers' Weekend.
Maths students are asked to arrive in College on Sunday 25 September. Information about the pre-term course can be found in the letter which has been emailed out to our Maths Freshers. Further details about the course will be sent to you nearer the time.
International students are invited to arrive earlier than 1 October if they wish to take part in the International Freshers Week. If you arrive early you will be charged for the additional nights before your tenancy starts on the 1 October at the same rate as charged during term. Further information about International Freshers' Week can be found on the International Students page.
Our Accommodation Manager will send you an online form to book your arrival. If you do not receive this email, please check any spam/junk folders, otherwise email accommodation@girton.cam.ac.uk. On this form you will also be able to order bedding and other items that will be in your room when you arrive. If you order an Ede & Ravenscroft Girton College undergraduate gown, these will be given to you during Freshers' Weekend.
Hello! We are Katie Lane (she/her) and Joe Hanlon (he/him), this year’s Welfare Officers on the Girton JCR (which is like a student council).
First of all, congratulations on getting your place at Girton! As your Welfare Officers, we are here to provide any support or advice you may need during your time here, from offering a listening ear to pointing you in the direction of appropriate support services (including counselling and sexual health support). We have weekly drop-in hours throughout the year where you can have confidential chats with either of us about anything concerning you, or you can just come by for a break from work and some tea!
We’ll be around during Freshers’ Week to introduce ourselves, and keep your eyes out for a special welfare event during the first few days! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with either of us if you have any questions or worries at any point, including in the run-up to moving in over the next few weeks (our contact details can be found at the end of this letter). In addition to us, there are several other members of the JCR who are here to provide support, such as our LGBTQ+ Officer (Ursula Cranston), BME Officers (Kia Powell and Weza Magalhaes), Women’s Officer (Kirsty Newman) and Socioeconomic Inclusivity Officer (Melissa Gentles).
As Welfare Officers, we also organise the college parents system. College parents are usually second-year students, at least one of which will be studying the same subject as you. As such, they will be your first port of call for answering any questions you might have throughout the year. You’ll have a chance to meet them properly during Freshers’ Week, but before you arrive at Girton you should receive an email or letter from them introducing themselves and explaining everything you might need to know about college life. Don’t be afraid to ask your parents questions! They’ve been through it all before and they are more than happy to help. And if you haven’t heard from your parents by the end of September, please do send us a message.
Another part of our role is to provide free sexual health supplies, which are delivered in plain envelopes to pidgeonholes via an online form (which is here, and can also be found on the Girton JCR website): Sexual health supplies order form (google.com).
We will be organising many events through the year, such as petting farms and arts and crafts evenings, so keep an eye out for announcements!
If you want to get in touch with us, we have an Instagram page (@girtonwelfare) or you can email us at jcr-welfare-women@girton.cam.ac.uk (for Katie, the Female & Non-Binary Welfare Officer) or jcr-welfare-men@girton.cam.ac.uk (for Joe, the Male and Non-Binary Welfare Officer).
We are so looking forward to welcoming you to Girton in just a few weeks!
Gir’tons of love,
Katie and Joe