With the Christmas holidays coming closer, there will be a lot of movement around campus: students leaving to go back to their homes for the winter break or to travel abroad with friends to take advantage of the extra free time.
The student spaces may become emptier as a result, and social spaces will have more free seats. Christmas certainly brings along a strong pressure to leave your student accommodation and spend time with your family, but there are a million reasons why you might choose not to do so.
For some of you, home might be way too far away, or you simply don’t relate to the expectations of a traditional family reunion. Whatever the reason, this choice might lead you to feel a bit more lonely than usual.
We want you to know that, even though classes are not running as usual, this University can still feel like home! If you decide to stay in London, you will certainly not be alone, and there are many ways to either meet up with people or find the support you need during the break:
Free counselling sessions at King’s
King’s offers free counselling sessions to support your mental health all year round, and this service is still available for you during the holidays. This happens through an online portal, called King’s Counselling Online (KCO).
They follow a solution-oriented approach, which should be especially helpful to you if you are experiencing a particular hardship during the break, such as loneliness or homesickness. You first need to register with Counselling and Mental Health Support, which will collect your information and personal preferences related to therapy. After registering, you will complete the ‘CORE-34’ questionnaire, which will evaluate your request and the kind of help you need.
This evaluation will result in a score, ranging from low and moderate to high or severe. KCO will be able to help you for low or moderate circumstances, but you will still be redirected towards appropriate resources regardless of your score.
Meeting up and making friends during the holidays
Although it may sometimes feel like you’re the only person left on campus on Christmas, you are not! So many students have been staying in London over the past years, and it is actually a very exciting place to be for the winter.
If you want to meet your fellow students during the break, King’s has a wide range of events for you to check out. A good place to start is the Winter Buddies Christmas Lunch, a free Christmas meal to socialize and have some delicious food.
The lunch will be held on Tuesday 17 December, and you need to sign up in advance through this form. We recommend paying a visit, to take part in the many proposed activities and meet your Winter Buddy!
Chaplaincy events
If you want to combine social activities and spiritual support, look no further! King’s Chaplaincy is especially active during the festive season, and it offers many events for you to reconnect with your community and meet new people.
From Carols singing to board games and so much more, you are bound to find your ideal event! To keep yourself updated on all socials and services, keep an eye out for upcoming events on the Chaplaincy website and on the Advent & Christmas 2024 page.
We hope this list has given you some inspiration for the upcoming holidays, and that you will be looking forward to them! We want you to always feel comfortable and welcome here during your studies. Remember to check out the KCLSU Events page as well for future social events, and we wish you a lovely winter break!