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  • Welcoming new students

Welcoming new students

Each September, hundreds of thousands of students arrive at university for the first time. Some will already be Christians, but many will never have met – or even heard of – Jesus Christ.

The time between results day and the first few weeks of term is a crucial one for CUs. You'll be inviting new students to join the CU, and strengthening the team of returning students committed to living and speaking for Jesus. You'll also be welcoming the many students arriving with big, unanswered questions and who could embark upon a journey to faith through the friendships with Christians they meet early on at uni.

These resources are designed to help you and your CU plan how you'll welcome new students to your uni this autumn.

Start here

Introduction: planning to welcome new students

Introduction: planning to welcome new students

These resources are designed to help you and your CU plan how you'll welcome new students to your Uni this Autumn.

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Welcoming with social media

Welcoming with social media

Welcoming new students over summer, using Facebook, Instagram and more.

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Making welcome videos

Making welcome videos

Great welcome videos made by CUs all over country can give a huge invite to all new students.

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Running a 'CU welcome call' after results day

Running a 'CU welcome call' after results day

This page will give you everything you need to know about how to run, promote and follow up a CU Welcome Zoom Call.

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International student welcome

International student welcome

Welcoming internationals can lead to cross-cultural friendship and opportunities to share the gospel

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Start Here: sessions for new students before they arrive

Start Here: sessions for new students before they arrive

Start Here is a four-session course designed to help new students coming to your uni.

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Mobilising returning CU members

Mobilising returning CU members

Get your returning CU members ready to welcome new students.

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Making the most of your freshers’ fair

Making the most of your freshers’ fair

It’s very likely freshers’ fairs will be substantially different this time, running either virtually or with social distancing.

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First contact evangelism

First contact evangelism

First contact evangelism is about connecting with new students where they are at and starting a conversation.

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Events in freshers’ season

Events in freshers’ season

Alongside things like Impact Groups, meals-with-a-message and Uncover, you’ll want to plan some larger events to introduce new students to the CU.

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Hosting a Freshers’ Getaway

Hosting a Freshers’ Getaway

The vision of a freshers’ getaway is to help new students build friendships with one another and with returning students, and to explore what it’s like living and speaking for Jesus at university.

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Choosing a 'church search' model

Choosing a 'church search' model

Part of welcoming new students is helping them to find a church family. You may have done a church search in the past or it may be new to you. See some ways you can make the most of this opportunity!

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Adopt-a-fresher: friendship from the start

Adopt-a-fresher: friendship from the start

As new students join your uni they will be keen to make friendships. You may want to pair your new students with members of your CU. Here are 5 examples of how to grow in those relationships

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Making the most of the Student Welcome Box in CU

Making the most of the Student Welcome Box in CU

UCCF’s Student Welcome Box is designed to help new students settle into uni life and make friends. But what’s in it, and how can you help your CUs make the most of it?

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