Creating an inclusive student community through events

Run by our Resident Ambassadors, our student events programme has never been more popular with our residents. We look at what events are most popular and why it matters.

Around 7 in 10 applicants want to be an active part of the student community when they arrive at university. Events bring people together and help students to settle into new surroundings.

In 2016, we launched our Resident Ambassador programme. Supported by our student experience teams, Resident Ambassadors are a friendly face for residents, trained to provide peer-to-peer support and organise a range of engaging events for their community. They’re also paid at the Real Living Wage, topping up their student loans.

91% of our buildings currently have either a Resident Ambassador or university equivalent in place – the highest proportion to date. Between them, they’ve run almost 1,000 events since the start of the 2024/25 academic year.

What events are most popular?

Students have historically been portrayed as party animals in the media and popular culture, but Gen Z are far less interested in drinking: a 2023 Drinkaware report found that 21% of young adults in the UK don’t drink – up from 14% in 2017.

Instead, our residents have been getting creative. Arts and crafts events have been a huge hit across the country, with residents getting involved in events like tote bag painting and making friendship bracelets.

Why are they so popular? Residents have fed back that creative activities help them to relax away from their studies, as well as being a great way to meet and bond with others.

Other events that have proven popular this year include Murder Mystery nights and ‘swap shops’ – an affordable, sustainable way for residents to get new clothes.

Attendances have been boosted by the ‘Property communities’ feature in our new resident app, which launched in September. Managed by our teams, these chats help residents get to know their Resident Ambassadors and stay up-to-date with the latest events in their building.

The hidden benefits of events

Another benefit of events is the opportunity to celebrate different cultures and those from marginalised groups in society, creating a sense of belonging.

One example of an inclusive cultural event was a ‘Year of the Snake’ party held at Aberdeen’s Causeway View. More than 100 residents turned out for free food, a raffle and an opportunity to socialise.

“The event was a huge hit with loads of new faces joining us – many [residents] said it was the best event of the year so far,” said Kelsi, Resident Ambassador at Causeway View.

In Durham, our Resident Ambassadors worked together to put on a citywide LGBTQ+ History Month art evening. Residents made Pride-themed paintings, which are now displayed around the properties.

Events can also be more practical in nature. At Raglan House in Coventry, where there’s a high proportion of international students, our Resident Ambassador arranged for local GPs to visit the property. More than 20 residents were able to sign up with a local doctor, all while getting to know their neighbours.

And, while events are on the back burner during exam season, simple events like a ‘de-stress walk’ run by Glasgow’s Merchant City House are there to offer fresh air and some much-needed downtime.

Creating a strong sense of community

We use the Global Student Living Index to listen to what our residents think. Thanks to our Resident Ambassadors and the events they run, we’ve seen a 9-point increase in the last year in the number of residents who think there’s a strong sense of community where they live.

Sense of community was highest at Adam Street Gardens in Cardiff, where around three-quarters of residents agreed. This may have been helped by a Halloween flat decorating event in October, which encouraged flatmates to work together and get to know each other early in the academic year.

Community makes people feel they belong – so it’s no surprise we’ve seen an increase in student satisfaction overall. The evidence is clear: social events play a key role in providing our residents with a Home for Success.

Find out more about our targets for Resident Ambassadors in our 2024 sustainability report.