Warden's speech at welcome dinner on Sunday 14th September

Hello everyone. I’m Adrian Clark, your Warden.

Let’s say a big thank you to the kitchen staff for preparing tonight's meal for us.

Tonight, you get the short version of my speech. I thought it simply wasn’t really fair to put you through the same speech three times over the next three weekends, just because you’re the first people to arrive!

Well, my first job tonight is to extend you all a very warm welcome to Connaught Hall. Wherever you’ve come from, whatever you’re studying, I look forward to meeting you – if we haven’t met already – and I hope you settle in and feel at home here very quickly.

You might have seen this logo on a poster at the front door. It symbolises how we respect, enjoy, and celebrate diversity in our Hall community – and I hope you will join us in making everyone sitting around you now feel welcome and at home here.

Connaught Hall has a reputation for being the friendliest and most social hall in London – this year, keeping up that reputation is down to you. So I hope this year will be one that you look back on as one of the best of your life.

And we’re all here to help make sure you do. This is my team. Becca, Bill, Jing, Jon, and Leah. I’m a doctor in the emergency department at University College Hospital. The senior members are all students in at least their fourth year of university study. We’re here to help the Hall community grow together, look after you when you need a bit of support, and help you resolve conflicts with other residents. Talk to me or a Senior Member if you’re feeling lost, sad, or anxious about something. We’re here to listen to you. We all have down times. And it’s OK to ask for help.

  

We’re really lucky at Connaught Hall to have a fantastic hall management team who look after the building and all the facilities and services you use every day. Alice is our Hall Manager, Julie is her assistant, and we also have Dave, our admin. assistant, with us for a little while longer. They’re based in the office behind reception and they’re very happy for you to pop in talk to them during their office hours.

 

You can also write to us with any ideas, suggestions, or complaints about pretty much anything in Hall at this suggestion box address. It’s well publicised in the Hall Handbook, online, and on posters in reception and in the dining hall. We really do want to hear from you. We will always reply and will always do our best to take action on your suggestions wherever possible.

Another way you can shape what happens in Hall this year is by standing for election to, or voting for, the Residents’ Club Committee, who organise most of the social, sports, and entertainment events in Hall. I’ll talk more about that next week.

Now, the last bit of advice I have for you tonight is that the bar is staying open until 10:30, so maybe it’s time for another drink? But before you run off to the bar, let’s make a toast with the last drops of whatever drink you got earlier… 

To a very happy and successful year for all of us!

FAQ: How does the health service work in England?

Most healthcare in England is free of charge on the National Health Service if you’re a student planning to stay for longer than six months.

To make best use of the health service, you must be registered with a general practitioner (GP). We very strongly urge you to register with a GP within your first few weeks in London.

If you need urgent healthcare advice or treatment, check out this guidance: http://goo.gl/4JIujo.

Some colleges operate their own health service:

• UCL: University Health Centre – telephone 020 7387 6306. 
• LSE: Health Service – telephone 020 7955 7016. 

Other colleges are affiliated to 20 Gower Street Practice – telephone 020 7636 7628:

• ALL OTHERS (excluding UCL and LSE). 
• KCL: Register at 20 Gower Street or at one of the three KCL Health Centres. Contact KCL for further details

FAQ: I’m an international student. Do I have to register with the local police?

Students from some countries do need to register with the Metropolitan Police. If you need to register, it will say so on your visa in your passport or biometric residence permit.

If your visa does not say that you have to register with the police, then you do not need to register.

For more information, visit http://content.met.police.uk/Site/overseasvisitorsrecordsoffice

FAQ: Can I have a guest to stay overnight?

You’re allowed to have someone stay with you in your room up to ten nights per calendar month. That could be a single stay of ten nights, or ten separate one-night stays, or anything in-between.

All you have to do is tell the security officer when your guest arrives how long you want them to stay for. You will complete a one-line sign-in sheet, and the security officer will issue a temporary pass for your guest.

If you want a guest for more than ten nights in one month, or if you want to have two or more overnight guests at the same time, you must seek the Warden’s permission in writing. Email the Warden at least seven days in advance at warden@connaught-hall.org.uk.

For more information about guests: http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/welfare/guests.html 

Meet our staff and senior members for 2014-15:

Photos of our Hall Manager, Assistant Manager, Warden, and five Senior Members for this academic year, on our Connaught Hall Tumblr:

http://connaughthall.tumblr.com/post/96604455816/connaught-hall-staff-senior-members-for-the

Diversity at Connaught Hall

We heard from an external speaker yesterday that 40% of people who are bullied at school think that it will be the same at University.

Not here. We don't tolerate bullying or harassment of any kind. So we are excited to share our new diversity message:

Welcome to Connaught Hall

This is a safe space for everyone. Please join us in respecting and celebrating all our residents, staff, and guests, of every age, race, religion, sexuality, nationality, disability, and gender identity.

Contact the Warden if you have any questions or concerns about equality and diversity in our Hall.

Some sources of help if you're feeling unwell, stressed, or upset

Health	NHS CHOICES & NHS DIRECT High quality information about health conditions.	www.nhs.uk
		www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
	HELPGUIDE “Helps you to help yourself with health challenges”	www.helpguide.org
	PATIENT.CO.UK High quality information about health conditions	www.patient.co.uk/pils.asp
	MEDLINE PLUS High quality information about health conditions	www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
	FPA “Talking sense about sex”	www.fpa.org.uk
		0845 122 8690
	TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST Sexual health & HIV	www.tht.org.uk
		0808 802 1221
	MENINGITIS TRUST Students should be aware of meningitis symptoms	www.meningitis-trust.org
		0808 80 10 388
	ZAFASH 24-HR PHARMACY (24-7-365) 233-235 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 0EA	020 7373 2798
		www.zafash.com
Alcohol, drugs & smoking	DRINKAWARE Sensible drinking tips & help with alcohol problems	www.drinkaware.co.uk
	DRINK SMARTER Sensible drinking tips and help with alcohol problems	www.drinksmarter.org/drinkline
		0800 7 314 314
	CAMDEN ALCOHOL SERVICE Information & advice on alcohol related problems	http://bit.ly/XHnhCv
		020 3227 4950
	FOUNDATION 66 Individual sessions with people aged from 11-22 who have concerns about alcohol use	http://bit.ly/UspAf3
	LONDON FRIEND The UK’s only LGB&T run and targeted drug and alcohol support service	http://bit.ly/WZwFlN
	CAMDEN ALCOHOL SERVICE Information & advice on alcohol related problems	http://bit.ly/XHnhCv
	TALK TO FRANK  National Drugs Helpline	www.talktofrank.com  /  0800 77 66 00
	DRUGSLINE Support, counselling and information about drugs	www.drugsline.org
		0808 1 606 606
	SMOKEFREE NHS help to stop smoking	www.smokefree.nhs.uk
		0800 022 4 332
Mental wellbeing	SAMARITANS Talk things through with a trained volunteer on the phone, by text, or at their Central London branch (9am-9pm): 46 Marshall Street, London W1F 9BF Central London branch: www.cls.org.uk	08 457 90 90 90
		www.samaritans.org.uk
		Text: 07 725 90 90 90
		jo@samaritans.org.uk
	LONDON NIGHTLINE Student volunteers offering telephone support	020 7631 0101  / Skype: londonnightline
		www.nightline.org.uk
	THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION	www.mentalhealth.org.uk
	MIND Support for people with mental health problems	www.mind.org.uk
		0300 123 3393
	ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS	http://bit.ly/MHVyz5   (www.rcpsych.ac.uk)
	CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIVING MISERABLY	www.thecalmzone.net
	STUDENTS AGAINST DEPRESSION	www.studentsagainstdepression.org
	CENTRE FOR ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH	http://bit.ly/LGM7we
Eating disorder	B-EAT	www.b-eat.co.uk
	NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSN	www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Connaught Hall welcome pack 2014 released

Download our welcome pack for September 2014 at http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/home/documents.html

Freshers' calendar 2014 published

Keep an eye on this calendar for our freshers' social events - the programme is still very much in development! 

http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/community/freshers.html

Facebook group 2014-15

The only official group for residents living at Connaught Hall for the 2014-15 academic year: https://www.facebook.com/groups/connaught20142015/.

FIRE ALARM

The fire alarm has sounded several times today. I want to ensure that no one is confused about it. 

IF THE FIRE ALARM EVER SOUNDS FOR MORE THAN FIVE SECONDS, YOU MUST EVACUATE THE BUILDING. 

That's the most important message to remember. If you're still interested in what's been happening, read on...

Following the fire on Tuesday night, we had reports that some people's sounders didn't go off, so they slept through the whole thing. 

So THIS AFTERNOON, between 11:45 and 12:00, we tested the sounders in those rooms and a random selection of other rooms. In fact, we only found one sounder that wasn't quite right and that is being repaired very urgently. We sent an email to everyone yesterday warning you that we would be testing the alarm for that fifteen-minute period. 

We are going to conduct another test of all sounders in the building in the summer, but to do that we shall have to ring the alarm for about half an hour continuously, so that will be after you have all left. 

TONIGHT at around 22:30, burnt food set off the smoke detector in the fourth-floor pantry. The Duty Senior Member saw there was no fire and no hazard, so the alarm was silenced. Our guidelines are that we will silence the alarm only if it sounds for less than five seconds; if it's been sounding for more than five seconds, even if there isn't a fire, we will conduct a full evacuation. Unfortunately, on this occasion, there was so much smoke that the alarm kept being re-triggered, so you might have heard brief bursts from the alarm about five times. That's very unusual. 

We are not planning any more tests or practices. So from now on, if you hear the fire alarm ringing for more than five seconds, please do leave the building by the shortest route. 

Did you not hear the fire alarm?

We are hearing reports that some people failed to evacuate the building last night. One or two people think they did not hear the fire alarm sounding.

The alarm sounded for 13 minutes at 02:00, and everyone who did evacuate was out in less than 10 minutes, which is satisfactory for a night-time alarm when most people would be sleeping.

No one reported their fire alarm sounder not working on Saturday, when we held a fire practice.

If you did not wake up last night when the fire alarm sounded (so presumably only found out about the evacuation this morning), it is imperative that you contact us immediately at info.connaught@london.ac.uk to tell us that you did not hear the alarm.

We will need to check the sounder in your room to ensure that you and future occupants of that room do hear the evacuation signal to allow them to leave the Hall safely and in a timely manner in the event of an emergency.


At Connaught Hall, we always tell you in advance if we plan to hold a fire practice. That way, if you hear the alarm and we have not given prior warning, you can be reasonably certain that there is a genuine emergency and you must get out. Pre-warning about fire practices also means you can look for the shortest escape rout even before the drill so you get used to leaving the building by the safest route, rather than always going through the front door.

During planned fire drills, we check every room to make sure you have left. But in a real emergency, we do not check any rooms. We might only have two members of staff in the building at night (as a guaranteed minimum), and they have other responsibilities during an evacuation. It would not be safe for me to ask our staff to knock on every door trying to ensure that everyone has evacuated.

Your personal safety is your personal responsibility. Please always evacuate when you hear the fire alarm sound for more than 5 seconds.

Fire 4th June 2014

Those of us who were in the Hall at 2 o'clock this morning were awoken by the fire alarm.

(If you were in but did not evacuate / did not hear the alarm, please see this post as well: http://connaughthall.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/did-you-not-hear-fire-alarm.html).

There was a real fire inside the third-floor ladies' bathroom. The fire brigade attended and made the area safe within about an hour and a quarter, so that by 3:30 everyone was allowed back into their rooms. We did have some rooms available to move residents into if their own rooms (on the third and fourth floors) were too smoky to spend the night in.

The evacuation at 2 am was calm and efficient. Everyone was very patient, waiting until the fire brigade allowed us back inside. I want to thank everyone who was here - staff but even more so, residents - for the way you conducted yourselves during the emergency.

I can confirm that nobody was injured last night.

There is significant damage to the affected bathroom, which will require a complete refurbishment. The electrics were also damaged but we were fortunately able to isolate the bathroom circuit without losing power to anybody's bedrooms.

Now we need to work out exactly what happened. The fire brigade believe there are suspicious circumstances around how the fire started - that this was either a deliberately started fire, or at the very least, that someone was doing something they shouldn't have been doing in the bathroom that could have led to an accidental fire.

If you know anything about how the fire started last night, please come and talk to me in confidence. If you think you might have done something that could have accidentally caused this fire, please come and speak with me urgently, before this becomes a full criminal (police) and internal (disciplinary) investigation.

I will be in my office on the ground floor today (Wednesday):

• 3:00 to 3:30 pm
• 7:30 to 8:00 pm

Or feedback to a senior member if you don't feel you can approach me directly.

We do already have a number of leads to follow-up, and we are being assisted by the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade Fire Investigation Unit. So any more detail to flesh out those little bones of information will be welcomed, even if you are unsure whether or not what you saw or heard was significant.

I also will take this opportunity to remind everyone of the correct action to take if you suspect there is a fire. At least four people were talking about a lot of smoke coming from the bathroom before a senior member went to investigate and set off the alarm.

If ever you suspect there is a fire in Hall, please break the glass on a red fire alarm point to start the evacuation. Every minute that a fire continues to burn without us getting people out of the building places people in greater danger from smoke and fire.

Connaught Hall annual photo 2014 is now available

It has been very difficult to schedule our annual photo this year because the weather has been so bad for late May. But we finally did manage to get together outside the front of the Hall on Saturday afternoon.

The full-resolution photos are available to download from our Flickr photostream here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/connaughthall/tags/annualphoto2014.

You can also purchase hardcopy prints of this year's photo direct from Photobox: http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/2610271323. No money from the sale of these photographs come to Connaught Hall; you only pay for the cost of printing and delivery charge.