Fresher's Helpers
Freshers’ Helpers are current students clad in bright orange t-shirts and they have become a familiar sight at the beginning of each academic year. Freshers Helpers are students who have completed at least a year of study at Bucks. They are keen to help new students settle in to university life quickly and easily.
They operate from the moment new students start to arrive on campus, in halls or residence, or in tenancy houses, and adopt a pro-active and highly visible role for the early days of a freshers’ experience.
As new students arrive, freshers helpers are there to welcome them and help them settle in, They try to make it easy for new arrivals to meet with others, and begin to make friends - reducing the likelihood of home-sickness and anxiety. Freshers helpers receive training, so that when any queries, concerns or issues arise, they know where within the University the student should be directed to. Liaison with faculty staff enables freshers helpers to support induction programmes and assist that all-important transition into university life.
Freshers helpers provide help in so many different areas but their main responsibilities include:
- welcoming new students to Bucks
- helping new students move into halls
- pointing students in the right direction if they are looking for a location on campus and in the local area
- answering questions about life as a student at Bucks
- making conversation, introducing students to other freshers and assist them in establishing friendship if required
- visiting the accommodation and checking if freshers have settled in and either escorting and accompanying them to the Students’ Union bar, if they fancy a night out, or staying for a cup of tea and a chat
- organising tours, questions and answer sessions and events to enhance their freshers experience and providing opportunities to form friendship groups if desired
- issuing NUS cards, assisting with enrolments and other formalities.
Fresher's Helpers are recruited in February/March of every year. If you would like to be a Fresher's Helper, we are always looking for hardworking team players with a great work ethic, who are genuinely interested in helping new students. If you are interested please email katie.smith@bucks.ac.uk for more information.
For more information on Fresher's Helpers at Bucks, check out bucksstudent.com/freshershelpers.
