Photograph: Globe Cafe

A local church is offering to take 50 international students on a weekend trip to the Lake District.

On 16th December, the Global Café, which is hosted by Jesmond Parish Church, will take the 50 students to the Bassenfell Manor in the Lake District, famous for its lakes, mountains and attractive market towns to celebrate an early Christmas (with traditional Christmas dinner).

The organisers say it will be a time full of fun and rest, activity and conversation – a chance to escape from the city.  The cost is £70 per person and includes all food, accommodation and transport. The final date for bookings is this Monday, 12th December.

Globe Café is an international students’ meeting point that takes place in Jesmond Parish Church hall. Every Monday night from 7.30 to 10.00pm free coffee is served, and an additional meal provided  for £2. A variety of activities are also organised, from “desserts from around the world” to line dancing.  The café’s organisers say they understand how arriving in a foreign country can be very challenging for many students – the difference in customs and in culture can be radical so their purpose is to help make this transition a little less painful.

They also organise day trips and weekends away, like a recent visit to Hadrian’s Wall. The café, which has been running for more than 14 years, aims to offer a welcoming and safe meeting place for international students studying in Newcastle. Students get the opportunity to meet British people, to learn about their culture and practise their English. Organised by Christians who live locally, the café aims to help international students feel more at home in Newcastle during their time here and around 120 international students visit the café every Monday night.

For more information on the trip and the café’s activities, visit Globe Cafe’s website at www.the-globe.org