UoD – Buxton kicked off the new academic year with its annual Freshers Fair held on Thursday 11 September. The event welcomed both new and returning students and a range of local businesses and community groups for a celebration under the beautiful Devonshire Dome.
From 11am to 2pm, the space offered a range of stalls to browse as students joined in with activities and got stuck into UoD – Buxton life. Local organisations and businesses in attendance included Travel Derbyshire, Derbyshire Police, The Astral Lounge, Zink and FashionActivistas.
Janis Wild, Enrichment Officer, said, “this is an opportunity for students to connect with their local community, help raise money for Blythe House Hospice, and get to know each other and staff members in the Dome. They can also use this event as an opportunity to find out more about the upcoming trip to Bali in 2026.
“As usual we’ve tried to make the Freshers Fair as fun and engaging as possible, so we have included games and asked the visiting organisations to bring along interactive elements for their stands.”
The Learner Journey Team, dedicated to supporting students throughout their time studying, also kept the atmosphere lively with a variety of games and competitions, from a careers-themed scavenger hunt to some FIFA inspired fun.
Students further had the chance to explore their enrichment options, with clubs and societies showcasing their activities.
A Bali stand, promoting the exciting Turing Scheme trip, (offering 70 students an adventure to Indonesia in 2026) drew in sweet-toothed visitors with a bake sale organised by Enrichment Officer, Janis Wild. Another popular stop was the Pride stall, with students enjoying making keyrings and bracelets.
Staff encouraged everyone to get involved, with attendance at the Fair counting towards students’ Enrichment hours, giving learners the chance to build their college experience beyond the classroom.
The day was met with great feedback from students and stallholders alike, many of whom praised the friendly atmosphere, useful info and fun approach to welcoming new starters.
All in all, a fantastic start to the academic year – and a big thank you to everyone who helped make it happen. 
