A Big York welcome to York St John University’s new students

Every September York gets around 1,300 new neighbours when York St John University’s first year students arrive in the city. This year, between 17 and 23 September, the local community is being encouraged to help the University give its new students a Big York welcome for the chance to win £100 to spend in one of the city’s favourite restaurants, Café No8 Bistro.

The Big York welcome has been introduced to help the University’s new students settle into York and quickly become part of the community they will be a part of for at least the next three years.

Anyone who lives in York or knows the city well is invited to share their ‘city secrets’ using #BigYorkWelcome on Twitter, posting on the York St John University facebook page or emailing bigyorkwelcome@yorksj.ac.uk. These ‘city secrets’ can be anything from the best place to get a coffee to a favourite spot for viewing York Minster.

Students will be encouraged to visit and take photos of themselves in these ‘city secrets’ for the chance to win prizes including York Passes, which will give the winner and a friend free entry to over 30 of York’s best attractions. There will be additional prizes for the most quirky and inventive secrets and photos the University receives.

Adam McSkimming, York St John University Students’ Union president, said: “We’re lucky to be in such a beautiful city with so many places for students to get excited about. Our students tell us that they love living in York, many stay long after graduation to work or start businesses, and we have a great track record of students volunteering in the community which we plan to build on this year.

“We always start the new term with welcome week, which is all about helping our new students settle in to university life. It’s often the first time they’ve lived away from home, so it can be quite scary moving to a new city where they don’t know anyone. As a small university we try to create a close community and get to know as many students as possible. This year we hope that involving local residents and businesses in the Big York welcome will really make our students feel at home in York.”