The weeks leading up to Christmas has been a busy period at Bangor University, with students continuing with their studies, a series of Open Days and a wide range of activities and events involving staff, students and the community.
The Community Day, held in the University on 14th October, was a huge success. Around a thousand people from the Bangor area and beyond visited the University and enjoyed the activities, workshops, performances and exhibitions on display in the Main Arts Building and Pontio. The purpose of the day was to welcome local communities and share with them the wide range of work that goes on in the University. It was an opportunity for the public to meet staff, for staff to meet the local community and for people of all ages to enjoy a wonderful autumn day on University grounds.
The entertainment and activities were centred around five themes: Our Planet; Our Health; Our Economy; Our Technologies; and Our Cultures and Society. The public were encouraged to visit the exhibitions and interactive stalls in Powis and Prichard-Jones Halls, musical performances and sporting activities in the outer quad, the exhibition in the University archives, a wide range of demonstrations, performances and activities in Pontio, and also a walking history tour of the Main Arts Building along with visits to the trading floor in Bangor Business School and the Moot Court.
The Community Day was an opportunity for people to see how relevant University work can be to people’s everyday lives, to see opportunities to learn and to grow and to develop as individuals, and also feel a sense of ownership of their local university. The Community Day certainly helped to bring University staff, students and the local community closer together and we would like to thank everyone who visited, took part and contributed towards the success of the event.
The University’s three-year partnership with the Institute of Welsh Affairs continues. The latest event took place in M-SParc on 5th October. ‘Powering the Energy Island and its people’ looked at the potential of Ynys Môn in a number of energy sectors, and how the development of Energy Island can benefit its communities. The event included Dr Simon Middleburgh and Prof Simon Neill as speakers from the University as well as a panel session that included Dylan Williams, Chief Executive, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Dr John Idris Jones, Morlais, and Virginia Crosbie MP. The next event will take place in Penygroes on 19th March, with further details to follow.
The University’s Community Fund continues. The latest call for University staff to submit proposals that strengthen or kickstart new collaborations with community partners closed on 8th December. On 16th November, the Fund helped to support the Children’s University Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit, hosted by the University. Pupils from five north Wales secondary schools attended the summit, which included a series of presentations and workshops.
The University continues to work closely with Bangor City Council. The University supported the Council with the delegation visit from Soest, Bangor’s twin city in Germany. As part of the 50th year twinning anniversary between the cities, the University hosted the delegation in Powis Hall on 4th October. The delegation enjoyed an evening concert with performances by the University’s music department. The University is also working with the Council on the Bangor Science Festival and North Wales Young Researchers Conference, taking place in Pontio and Penrhyn Hall on 8-9 March.
Undeb Bangor, Bangor Students’ Union, continues to work with the Council on the Hot Meals Volunteering Project. The student-led project, launched in September and held every Saturday afternoon in Penrhyn Hall (Bangor City Council), provides hot nutritious food for anyone who needs it in the Bangor area. The Hot Meals project is organising a Christmas meal and celebration on Saturday 23rd December (3-6pm) at Penrhyn Hall. Student leaders will run the session, supported by volunteers from Bangor Rugby Club. Anyone who’d benefit from a free hot meal in the community is welcome to attend and staff from local care homes will be attending with some of their service users. The project recognises that Christmas is a challenging and isolating time for many and is looking forward to providing some tasty food, music and an opportunity for everyone to get together and enjoy. Harlech Foods has agreed to sponsor the event, donating some catering and food items.
Student Leaders organised the annual Undeb Bangor Christmas Tea Party on 2nd December, held at the Activities Hub on Ffriddoedd site (12-4pm). The project continues to provide older people in Bangor with an opportunity to get out, socialise and help reduce isolation and loneliness. Students and service users got into the Christmas spirit and enjoyed food and entertainment together, helping to develop a more integrated community in Bangor.
Pontio continues to be a busy hub for the community this Autumn. fabLAB has held induction sessions introducing people to the spaces and equipment available to members. As part of Black History Month, PL2 hosted the ‘Celebrate and Elevate’ event on 18th October, the event included speakers, performances, film screenings and sample food from a catering collaboration between the University and Maggie’s Kitchen. ‘BLAS’, the Pontio Arts community programme, continues with monthly Caffi Babis sessions and weekly dance sessions for individuals living with Parkinson’s. BLAS drama workshops members performed their production called ‘Catwalk’ in Theatr Bryn Terfel following weeks of development in their weekly drama sessions.
In the run up to Christmas, a variety of events bring Christmas joy as well as performances from the local community. The University’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performed in Prichard-Jones Hall on 9th December, with a festive programme, Ysgol Tryfan’s students brought ‘MELA’ to Theatr Bryn Terfel for two nights on 13-14th December. Our Lady’s School and Ysgol Llanllechid perform their Christmas concerts, Our Lady’s School present ‘The Magical Christmas Jigsaw’ and ‘A Wriggly Nativity’ on 18th December, and Ysgol Llanllechid welcome Côr y Penrhyn to celebrate the festive season, directed by Mrs Delyth Humphreys and Mr Arwel Davies on 19th December.
Treborth Botanic Garden continues to be a hive of activity and exciting developments. The garden held a variety of workshops and talks throughout October and November including herbarium flower pressing, botanical soap making, alpine gardening talks and woodland wellness walks. December began with Christmas wreath making sessions and botanical art classes as well as festive forest school classes making use of the new oak framed gazebo built by Wild Elements for outdoor teaching. The team also took part in the Community Day, with plenty of interest from children and others in the Treborth stall.
M-SParc also continues to be a hive of exciting developments, activities and events. Ffiws ‘Makerspace’ Sessions were held in the ‘On Tour’ sites in Bangor and Pwllheli on 29th November, an opportunity for the public to develop their creative skills and use later cutters, 3D printers and other equipment. The latest engagement with local schools via Clwb Sparci took place on 14th December, focusing on digital skills and coding. Christmas ‘repair cafes’ took place in Pwllheli on 8th December and in the Bangor location on 19th December, with the intention to encourage people to bring broken or pre-loved toys, which will be repaired and donated to the Food Bank over Christmas. An event was held on 23rd November to mark a new partnership between M-SParc and the Football Association of Wales. The FAW innovation hub will provide a platform to work with M-SParc partners and encourage innovative solutions and technologies in grassroots and community football.
A busy and exciting period between everything, and we will continue to update you regularly on relevant University developments for the community. On behalf of the University, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
#YourUniversityYourCommunity
