The Big Welcome 2026: New year. New friends. New experiences.

From 2–10 September, our campuses were thriving, as students explored their new surroundings, met new people and discovered some of the opportunities waiting for them.

Start strong with Loud Speaker

The first few days of The Big Welcome, were all about helping students feel confident, connected and ready for college life.

Our Loud Speaker Workshops brought plenty of energy to induction, with interactive activities designed to help students build confidence, develop a positive growth mindset and create a strong sense of belonging.

Students also had the chance to think about what they wanted from their college experience – from making new friends and trying something different to getting involved and making the most of every opportunity.

Fancy a ghost hunt?

Who said getting to know your campus had to be boring?

Students took on the Ghost Hunt Challenge, a digital scavenger hunt with a spooky twist! 

The challenge encouraged students to explore the campus, discover key areas and get familiar with their new surroundings – all while hunting down clues and completing challenges along the way.

It was a fun way to turn the traditional campus tour into something a little more exciting!

Find your people. Try something new.

The Big Welcome was also a chance to discover everything happening beyond the classroom.

Students could meet local organisations, charities and businesses, find out about support available in the community and discover new opportunities. Stalls included NUS, Coca-Cola, Footbus, Changes Are Made and BH Live, alongside many more.

There were also plenty of ways to get involved in college life, including signing up for:

• Student Representative roles
• Clubs and societies
• Trips and enrichment activities
• Volunteering opportunities

Ready to escape?

Students at Poole Campus could put their teamwork and problem-solving skills to the test with the Virtual Escape Room Challenge.

Working together, groups had around 20 minutes to tackle the challenges, crack the clues and see if they could escape! It was a great way to meet new people while putting communication and teamwork skills into action.

Music, food and good vibes 

And, of course, it wouldn't be The Big Welcome without live music and food!

Back by popular demand, live entertainment and street food brought students together during lunch breaks and created a brilliant atmosphere across the campuses.

There was even more to get involved with, including:

•  Face painting
•  A live portrait artist
•  Outdoor games
•  Icebreaker activities
•  LEGO and crafts
•  Board games and quiet activities

For anyone looking for a quieter space, dedicated activity rooms were available at both campuses, giving students the chance to relax, get creative and take a break from the action.

And this is just the beginning...

The Big Welcome was not just about the first few days of college. It was also about starting your journey, finding your people and making college feel like your place.

College is about much more than what happens in the classroom. It's about the friendships you make, the experiences you have, the challenges you take on and the confidence you build along the way.

The Big Welcome gave students the chance to take that first step – and what a way to start!

Aly Ghicavaia, Student Engagement Coach, said: "The Big Welcome was designed to help students settle into college life, make new friends, and have fun! Over the nine-day programme, students had opportunities to connect with local support services and businesses, try new activities, and get involved in college life. 

From guest talks to football darts, the Big Welcome has given our students many opportunities to develop their confidence, resilience and teamwork skills in a safe and welcoming environment."

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make The Big Welcome 2026 happen, including our college teams, community partners, local businesses and organisations.

And most importantly, thank you to all the students who got involved, tried something new and helped make The Big Welcome such a brilliant start to the year.

Here's to new beginnings, new friends and an amazing year ahead!