Winter Vacation Update: College Services and Activities

A row of bikes covered in a layer of snow
14/12/2023

This year the Christmas closure period begins at 5pm on Friday 22 December 2023 and the College reopens on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

A row of bikes covered in a layer of snow

We know that many of you will remain in residence in College or in private accommodation in Cambridge over the winter vacation. Here are the key things you need to know about College services and the support on offer during the holiday period.

Access

During the vacation period, outer doors for all buildings, the main gates and the electronic pedestrian gate will be locked but accessible using your access card. Please remember to carry your access card with you at all times to avoid getting locked out while the College is closed. During the holiday period it is important to be vigilant and safe in College with regard to security. Please do not let strangers, guests or anyone that you do not recognise into any of the College buildings.

Porters’ Lodge

The Porters’ Lodge will be open as usual throughout the holidays.

Christmas Catering Closures

There are some changes to this year’s schedule as a result of the College Kitchen Refurbishment and relocation to the temporary kitchen at the end of December.

The College Kitchens will close a week earlier than usual to give the Kitchens Team time to relocate to their temporary kitchen before the winter break. The closures are as follows:

  • The Coffee Bar will close at the end of the day Friday 15 December
  • The College Bar will close at the end of the evening Saturday 16 December
  • The College Kitchens will close after dinner service on Sunday 17 December

The Kitchen will reopen in its temporary location in the Betty Wu Garden on Tuesday 2 January 2024. Arrangements for a temporary bar and coffee facilities will be confirmed as soon as a programme is agreed with the contractors. You can keep up to date with news and information related the kitchen refurbishment on the College website.

Finance 

The Finance department will close on Friday 22 December 2023 and will return on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

Housekeeping 

The service operates as normal until the Christmas closure begins on Friday 22 December 2023.  Housekeeping staff will stock all areas where students are in residence with appropriate amounts of toilet rolls and refuse sacks before the closure.

Kitchen and communal bins will be emptied between 27 and 29 December 2023.

Normal service will resume on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

IT 

The department will close on Friday 22 December and reopen on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

Keeping Well Over the Winter Break

The festive season can allow us time to connect and celebrate with family and friends. However, we recognise that it can also be a stressful time which can impact on our emotional, physical, or financial wellbeing. We also recognise that many will remain in Cambridge over the break away from home. If Christmas is a challenging time, it’s important to remember that you are not alone and that there are many things that each of us can do which might help. 

To help combat loneliness and isolation over the festive period, Cambridge SU produces a Winter Holiday Activities Guide which highlights activities and events in Cambridge as well as events organised by student clubs and societies that are open to all.

There is also the Cambridge City scavenger hunt which takes you all around the city. All you need is to log in with your CRSID and have a map handy.

Mental health and wellbeing support

  • The Student Wellbeing Advisor will be unavailable from 18 December 2023, and will reopen 4 January 2024 
  • The College Nurse will be unavailable from 5 December 2023, and will return on 3 January 2024
  • For First Aid or other support, visit or call the Porters' Lodge on 01223 335900
  • The University Student Support Services such as the University Counselling Service and the Accessibility and disability services will also be open until 17:00 on Friday 22 December and open again at 8:30am on Tuesday 2 January. There will be a voicemail message between these dates signposting to available support options on: 01223 332865
  • To discuss a medical matter, contact your community pharmacist, GP practice or call NHS 111 (for urgent medical advice and assessment).  If you are unsure which service is most appropriate the local Stay Well website can help
  • For serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only, notify the Porters and call 999 or attend Addenbrooke’s A&E
  • If you need to talk to someone, call The Mix on 0808 808 4994 from 4-11pm Monday-Saturday or text SHOUT to 85258 (text support).
  • If you are having suicidal thoughts, call Samaritans on 116 123 (24/7) or HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (9am to midnight daily, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year).
  • Alternatively, call the SOS helpline on 0800 102 0505 (8pm-12am weekdays and 4pm-12am Saturdays and Sundays).  

Library

The Library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the vacation so you can continue to use the study space and borrow resources.

If you are looking for a break, there is a range of jigsaw puzzles and works of popular fiction to choose from in the Sir David Williams Room. You don’t need to check these out, just return them when you have finished. You’ll find other fiction in the Literature section of the Reading Room (these do need to be borrowed!). 

Winter craft is available in the foyer: make an origami bookmark, a paper snowflake or do some wintry colouring.

Please send us your book suggestions over the vacation or arrange to meet us for a one-to-one academic skills session. The Library staff will, however, be unavailable from 17:00 on 22 December until 09:30 on 2 January. We won’t be checking email during that period but will respond as soon as possible on our return. Please consult the website for information or the College LibGuide for academic skills support.

Tutorial Office

Any letters certifying student status for banking, Council Tax, GP registration or visa purposes must be requested not later than 19 December at 10:00am so that Tutorial staff can prepare them before the Tutorial office closes for the holidays on Wednesday 20 December at 4:30pm.  Letters requested after this time will not be prepared until the office re-opens on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

 

Practical information 

Mail 
If you want to send letters or gifts abroad, there are last posting dates to ensure items arrive before Christmas. Click on this link to find out more.  

Shops, Pubs, Restaurants 
Many shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes close for parts of the holiday period or operate limited hours. For information check individual websites. 

Note: Many shops may have shorter hours between 24 December and 1 January, and most will be closed entirely on 25 December. Plan ahead to ensure you have food on hand and check Christmas closing times.  The local Co-Op's hours are posted here  

Transport 
Many bus and rail services do not run at all on Christmas Day, and run a reduced service on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. 
For up-to-date information, check Bus timetables and Train timetables 

Entertainment in and around Cambridge 
Key websites for happenings in the Cambridge area are www.visitcambridge.org and www.admin.cam.ac.uk/whatson. Another good website for students is www.joinagora.com. 
  
Pantomimes 
The Christmas pantomime is a famous British tradition in the form of a musical-comedy theatrical production and is well worth trying. The Cambridge Arts Theatre is staging Mother Goose until Sunday 7 January 2024. Also worth checking out is the ADC Theatre. 
  
Music 
Cambridge has a wealth of musical events occurring throughout the year, but these take on a distinctly festive theme in December. King’s College has two famous music events: Carols from Kings, is recorded for television early in December and broadcast by BBC2 on Christmas Eve. A Festival of Nine Lessons is broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 at 3.00 pm on Christmas Eve. For more details click here. 

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