Student Update: Updated Christmas Bubbles, Library opening hours and Welfare Checks
Please be aware that this information was shared with students by email and correct at the time of sending. For the latest Covid-19 guidance, please visit our coronavirus webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/coronavirus. If you are a student who has a query or needs support, please log a helpcall with ASK@WLV in e:Vision (www.wlv.ac.uk/evision).
The Government recently published guidance to enable all students, including those who have travelled home for the winter break, to return to university and resume their learning in 2021. This requires us to put in place a staggered start for next term for the on campus element of our programmes.
I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that you can visit our Light the Way webpage which contains lots of important information for students over the Christmas break. This includes library opening times, a programme of festive events, how you can access mental health and wellbeing support and emergency contact details. I would encourage you all to use this page as your point of reference and to get involved with some of the activities to help you stay connected with the University community.
I realise that there are still some challenges to overcome before we can return to more normal University life. Yet, with the launch of the national vaccine programme, real progress is being made, and we can now have hope that we can all be together again on campus in the not too distant future.
Christmas bubbles - Updated on 21 December
Below is the updated advice from the Government about Christmas bubbles:
Meeting friends and family
On 25 December
This Christmas, it’s safest if you spend time only with your own household or support bubble. On 25 December you may choose to form a Christmas bubble if you feel you really need to. This only applies to people who do not live in a Tier 4 area.
In a Tier 4 area, you must follow the rules in your tier over the Christmas period. This means that you cannot meet other people indoors over the Christmas period, unless you ordinarily live with them, or they are part of your existing support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household.
A Christmas bubble can meet in a private home, a place of worship or an outdoor public space. In all other settings, if you do form a Christmas bubble, you must still follow the rules for the tier you meet in.
After Christmas
From 26 December, you must follow the guidance for the tier in your area, as a minimum. Christmas bubbles will no longer apply. In most places across the UK, that means you cannot mix with other households indoors, including on New Years’ Eve.
Those who choose to form a Christmas bubble should exercise additional caution and cut down on unnecessary social contact after seeing their Christmas bubble to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Further information is available on the Government’s Advice for the Christmas period webpages.
Students staying in accommodation
In University Accommodation, a household is the people with whom you share a corridor and kitchen area. Your Christmas bubble can include students from other corridors and blocks but must not exceed a maximum of 6 people.
Please note that external visitors are not permitted to enter University accommodation and cannot be included in your Christmas bubble.
Library opening times for the Christmas break
- Sunday 20 December: Closed
- Monday 21 December: 10 am - 4 pm
- Tuesday 22 December: 10 am - 4 pm
- Wednesday 23 December: 10 am - 4 pm
- Thursday 24 December: 10 am - 4 pm
- Friday 25 December: Closed
- Saturday 26 December: Closed
- Sunday 27 December: Closed
- Monday 28 December: Closed
- Tuesday 29 December: 10 am - 4 pm
- Wednesday 30 December: 10 am - 4 pm
- Thursday 31 December:10 am - 4 pm
- Friday 1 January: Closed
- Saturday 2 January: Closed
- Sunday 3 January: Closed
Covid-19 Lateral Flow Tests in Wolverhampton
Testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19 will be available at the City of Wolverhampton Council's Civic Centre from 8 am to 7 pm weekdays, and 10 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays from Monday (December 14).
Find out more
Volunteer to Support the Vaccine Rollout in Walsall
There are roles which will provide admin support, guiding people around the vaccine sites, and assisting the vaccine team with non-clinical support.
It is simple to sign up and there are no checks or references required. For more information email: volunteering@onewalsall.org or visit the One Walsall website and complete the Volunteer Sign Up Form.
Request a Welfare Check
you, please don’t hesitate to request a Welfare Check.
More information about support available to you can be found here: www.wlv.ac.uk/support.
Request a Welfare Check
Please keep checking your emails and reading these updates, we are committed to keeping students up to date, and we do this by email, on our social media channels (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) and the University Student News web page.
Visit our dedicated Covid-19 webpages for information on how you can stay safe and help protect our University community during the pandemic. This includes information on our Covid-19 Reporting Procedures and the latest guidance on local tier restrictions.
Professor Julia Clarke
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.