October is the  time when the nights start to draw In and mornings become light later. It is an exciting time of year which sees beautiful colour changes in nature, decorating for Halloween, and knowing that the holiday season is finally here,Here we share top tips on how to enjoy your new city during Ocrtober as A Student in kingston

HALLOWEEN

• If you like most are looking forward to Halloween there are ways you can enjoy it without spending a fortune. For most the first thing they would like to buy is a pumpkin. Pumpkins are great because they cost no more than £2 in most supermarkets. The closest convenient stores of course are Poundland and Wilko which offer great student discounts for Halloween goodies. At Bright House and Green Coat house we also do fun packed halloween events! for Halloween 2021 we did a cross over event at green coat house to bring the residents of bright house and green coat together for a big halloween party! this years theme was Squid Game with a prize of Amazon Vouchers! check out the snaps we got from it!:

STAY ACTIVE AND EXPLORE THE CITY

• Getting out and about is a great way to feel settled into your new home. Get out and enjoy Kingston! It has many parks and open spaces which make it a perfect place to meet friends and stay active. There are lots of coffee shops, art galleries and places to sit outside. Getting out and about is a great way to release tension and stress from everyday life.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY

• As a student it has been a long time coming to get away from home and have your own freedom but let’s not forget the people back home. It is very important to contact them and let them know how things are.

TALK TO MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN

• If you are not used to meeting new people, suddenly being in a new University or accommodation can be daunting but it is an opportunity to meet new people and talk. Bright House student accommodation is the perfect student hall because they have shared kitchens which is perfect for speaking and getting to know your fellow flat mates. Greencoat House will also be hosting an event on the 29^th October in the Common Room. Przym is also a local nightclub which will be hosting a dedicated night to Halloween called “Halloween Carnival of the dead” 31^st October . Halloween 2021 All these activities will help you feel less alone.

 PLAN AHEAD AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK   

• Let’s not underestimate the stress that can bring rushing towards a coursework deadline. Be proactive and give yourself small deadline targets in order to achieve the overall big deadline with ease. This will ensure less stress and give you more time to enjoy yourself. 

ASK FOR HELP AND SUPPORT IF YOU NEED IT 

• Moving to a new city and or university is a difficult task and with courses going online and less time in the classroom there may be times when you feel the need to ask for help. More often than not it is difficult to work out problems on your own whether it be not knowing how to complete your coursework or a personal problem. Please do not feel overwhelmed. Be honest and ask for extra support from your lecturers or speak to someone that may be able to help. This could be a friend, manager, a family member or anyone from University. It can make all the difference! There are also independent registered charities in Kingston affiliated to National Mind and part of Mind.

LOOK FOR JOBS

• Find time to sort your finances and look for possible sources of income to help support your studies and whilst living away from home.
• Linked In, Word of Mouth, Social Media sites such as Facebook, Websites such as Joblist, Indeed, Monster, Reed, Jobs go public, Jobsite. Shop windows also display when they are seeking staff also.

GIVE YOURSELF INCENTIVES AND REWARDS

• Nobody knows you better than you know yourself. Have a movie night in with friends and a home cooked meal of your choice. Treat yourself to something that makes you happy. It could be as small as your favourite Ice cream for example. Download your favourite book or track.

We hope that these top tips from Amro Vantage see you through Gost October with ease and watch our Instagram account for up and coming student nights! Wishing you

a fun and spooky Halloween filled with lots of yummy treats!

At AmroVantage, we have two options for Student Accommodation in the UK, one being our student accommodation at Bright House and the other being at Green Coat House,

Market Square in Kingston upon Thames

Greencoat House is our modern Kingston University accommodation located in very close proximity to Kingston rail station. It is an ideal place to stay for students enrolled at Kingston University, Kingston College and St Mary’s University.

We have 64 studios, each with its own bathroom and private kitchen. The bright and airy studios are fully furnished to a high standard, with quality bedroom and storage furniture. With rooms of various sizes available, there is a room to suit every budget. The popular communal lounge is where students love to meet up in the evenings to play table tennis or pool, or to watch TV. There is a quiet reading room and group study area too. Greencoat House‘s excellent location makes it very easy to travel into Central London. It is a popular place to stay for international and British students who are keen to explore London.

One of the rooms at Bright house, Kingston Student Accommodation

 

Bright House offers luxury Kingston student accommodation located on Kingston Hall Road, within a few minutes’ walk from Kingston University, Kingston College and Kingston town centre.

This stylish and affordable accommodation offers 54 Rooms that are split into two types  – Classic and Premium. All rooms are fully furnished to a high standard and have en suite bathrooms. Community life at Bright House centres around students cooking and sharing social time in the large modern kitchens with communal space and TV screens. It is a socially enjoyable place for undergraduate and postgraduate students to live.

We all have very busy lives, it can be hard to find time to even think about becoming a volunteer, it doesn’t seem possible that there is time in the day to dedicate to helping others before yourself, right? However, the benefits of volunteering can have a huge impact on you! Volunteering offers crucial help to people in need or worthwhile causes, and your local community, but even more so benefits can be great for you, the volunteer.

Finding the right place to volunteer can help you to make friends, connect to your local community, learn new skills that could advance your career. It reduces stress, helps depression, and can keep you mentally stimulated. Giving up some spare time provides you with a sense of purpose that you can only get from helping others.

Here are some local services always in need for an extra pair of hands

Shed X–The SHEDx project encompasses a range of activities to activate and engage the local community ofKingston, and surrounding areas, to take ownership of their unused and green spaces to help define and improve the future for their town. Utilising original and accessible ideas, The Community Brain are engaging and helping to energise the community; enabling them to shape the future plans for Kingston.  They have also recently set on a collaboration between students from Kingston University, and The Community Brain has resulted in a playground makeover at local primary school!

Oxfam– There are several Oxfam charity shops in Kingston that are always looking for help. Now you may think this is not for you, but the customer service experience alone is a great skill to learn and have on your CV. I recommend everyone works in retail at the starting point of your career, it’s a great insight into dealing with the general public.

Maritime Volunteer Service– If you are a fan of the river in Kingston then this one is for you. They are a dedicated team that patrol our stretch of the Thames to keep us all safe. Along with life experienced you can also get many qualifications with them.

Volunteeringkingston.org– This website will help you find all other community-based volunteer work available in Kingston Upon Thames.

While it’s true what they say. “The more you give the better you will feel”, that doesn’t mean volunteering has to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day.

Kingston upon Thames is home to some of the best Universities in the UK. There is so much to see and do in Kingston and you can catch a train into Central London every 15 minutes!

Shop ‘til you drop

Kingston is one of the best places to shop! There is a huge range of high street and independent shops as well as The Bentall’s Department Store, full of designer and high street clothing brands, beauty products, homeware, book stores, stationers and more!

The centre also hosts regular events and pop ups – past events include a mini food and drinks market, gin sampling and an art pop up. I know some of our residents from Greencoat House, Kingston, enjoyed these earlier this year.

Just around the corner from Greencoat House is Old London Road, you’ll find a mixture of quirky vintage, antiques and charity shops, as well as an old record store. That Vintage Shop is super cute, inside and out, and the prices are very good compared with other vintage stores.

Don’t forget to take a snap at the Iconic fallen telephone boxes!

It’s also worth noting that the Jo Malone store, just off the main square, has to be one of the most Instagrammable ones I’ve ever seen!

The Rose Theatre

The Rose Theatre is also in the town centre. It’s a modern theatre that opened in 2008. The theatre is quite relaxed and tickets are reasonably priced – there’s even the option of bringing your own cushion and watching the shows from the floor at the front of the stage hoe cool is that! I have enjoyed every production I have seen there and always keep an eye on what is showing next!

Restaurants in Kingston

Kingston has all my go-to restaurants such as Busaba Eathai, GBK and Bill’s. But if you’re looking for something more unique, the riverside features some gorgeous pubs and restaurants – all with outdoor seating, perfect for a sunny day!

Don’t worry guys there is two McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Pizza Express! 😉

Nightlife in Kingston

There are many Bars, Pub’s and Clubs in Kingston. My favourites are the ones on the river, just a short walk from both Greencoat House and Bright House. There is also the Rotunda which is opposite Greencoat House, here there is an Odeon Cinema, David Lloyd Gym, bowling and a few restaurant’s. The bowling is half price on a Tuesday!

Fun-filled walks

For those interested in discovering a little bit more about the history of Kingston, for a few pounds, there are guided walks every Sunday where you can learn all about Saxon Kings, local heroes and villains, and much more. The tours start from the doors to the Market House in the Ancient Market Place.

Richmond Park is also a 10-minute walk away:

Escape to the great outdoors in Richmond Park with its wide open spaces, grasslands and deer herds.

The park is a top UK site for ancient trees and supports a range of rare species including fungi, birds, beetles, bats, grasses and wildflowers.

Discover the Isabella Plantation woodland gardens, refuel at Pembroke Lodge tea rooms and enjoy distant views of St Paul’s Cathedral from King Henry’s Mound.

Try your hand at power kiting, horse riding or golf, or hire a bike for some off-road cycling along the Tamsin Trail.

Richmond Park is a great space to clear your head of any of life’s stresses, take time for you and recharge.

We’ve all looked at student accommodation and wondered how we can turn a house into a home. Make your room Instagram-able with these handy tips!

1. Home Comforts
Everyone has one item that they can’t live without. Be it a dressing gown, a cushion or a teddy (yes even adults have these), bring these to your halls with you for a piece of familiarity.
Home décor to liven up your room will always help so think clever and purchase storage boxes with an arty pattern or reed diffuser to make the space truly yours.

TIP: Look at our Instagram for inspiration of a decorated room!

2. Photos!
Surround yourselves with photographs of your family and friends. This will be comforting when you are feeling a little home sick; especially in the first few weeks!
Add to these throughout the year with your new friends and memories made whilst staying in Winchester Student Accommodation.

TIP: Try using a piece of string or ribbon and print off polaroid to make it more creative.

3. Bring the Outdoors In
Believe it or not there will periods of time where you will be studying in your room; so bringing the outdoors in will allow you the best of both worlds.
Here in Winchester we are lucky enough to have vast amounts of greenery so bring a taste of this into your room; plans are said to have a calming effect and will also boost your oxygen levels so win win whilst studying.

TIP: Something easy to look after is key – go for a cactus.

The Fantastic Clubs and Societies 

The first thing you will want to do once you have settled into your accommodation at Kingston University is to start exploring everything the campus has to offer. You can start by looking into all the different clubs. You will find over ninety societies and clubs available at Kingston University. You can make a connection with your community, political group, faith or country. You can join other people interested in your subject for entertaining and educational events. You can make new friends, enjoy a wide selection of films, fun games, great music and delicious food. You can join forces to promote numerous worthy causes. You can even begin your own society to share new ideas and concepts with the other students.

The Sensational Campus Events 

One of the best things about having an accommodation in Kingston University is attending the wide variety of events on campus. The college frequently hosts events on campus such as theater performances, lectures, dances, movie screenings and so much more. These events are usually free for the students, provide the opportunity to meet new people and are much safer and more satisfying than attending a wild Uni party.

The Variety of Jobs on Campus 

The various Kingston University campuses offer a wide selection of available jobs. You can choose to be a part of the bat staff, help out in the library, organise different events, etc. There are a lot of worthwhile opportunities.

Student Government Participation 

You can be a part of the student government. You can even do a lot more than just join. You have the opportunity to become involved with the important matters happening on the campus and improve your resume at the same time. You will improve your leadership skills, be able to show you have been a participant in an activity for making central decisions and connect with a diverse and wide body of students. One of the best parts is you are going to hear about all the upcoming events at all of the Kingston University campuses. You will enjoy just getting out and attending these events.