Newcastle University has is running an initiative aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour and helping prepare its students for living in a community like Jesmond. 

The initiative, called Res Life, is being run in the university’s three student “villages”: Castle Leazes and and Park View, to the north and west of the city centre, and in the Kensington/Park “village” which includes university-run student residences on Windsor Terrace and Jesmond Road.

Each village has Res Life student ambassadors who take a three-pronged approach to helping students that involves education, support and a full social calendar. 

The educational curriculum, for example, includes teaching students a number of life skills such as cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. 

“We want their experience to be a welcoming one, where this is their home for the time they’re staying with us and not just a bed for the night,” said Sharon O’Donnell, a Res Life co-ordinator. “Some students are moving away for the first time so they may have never cooked or laundered before. We’ll be touching on those tasks.”

The Res Life team also hold a number of lectures which are delivered on a Monday, Thursday and Friday afternoon covering everything from managing finances and fire safety, to how to find a flatmate.

Another important aspect of the educational curriculum is teaching students about the effects their behaviour could have on others. “It teaches the students how to live in a wider community,” said O’Donnell.

If a student is caught misbehaving, they are invited to attend an informal chat with Res Life instructors. Where relevant, their behaviour is discussed, highlighted and support provided if needed.

So far students have responded positively, with many stating that they did not consider before how their behaviour could impact others. “It’s a new approach and it has been a complete flip from the simple straightforward discipline approach we had implemented previously,” said O’Donnell.

The University says it hopes to work closely with community groups, to help further its knowledge on how best to support students moving into those areas. 

Since September, Res Life, which is a voluntary scheme, has had more than 8,000 engagements with students, ranging from students getting involved in social events, attending meetings regarding issues within halls or attending lectures. 

You can find out more about the Res Life initiative here.