A Year in Furness
There are always events and socials happening but here is a taste of our core year...
The team in Furness - from the staff to the JCR Executive - bring you a variety of events and social activities through the year. There are also our core events, tournaments with other colleges and big University-wide challenges.
This page details the core calendar of events Furness students can look forward to and get involved in. Keep an eye on the website and our social media for more as it happens.
Welcome Week
The first chapter in your journey through university begins on Arrivals Weekend, when our peerless team of staff, dedicated JCR Executive and dozens of First Year Reps that have done it all before, welcome you into Furness and Lancaster University life. More information can be found on our Welcome Week page.
Ambleside Trip
The last day of Welcome Week sees us take a few coach loads of new students to the English Lake District for something distinctly Furness. It's the perfect way to get set for starting your studies the next day. Again, you can find more details and a picture gallery on our Welcome Week page.
Furness Sport
There's a good number of sports teams in Furness, from Football and Netball to Pool, Darts and Dominoes - and we cater to many different abilities! Highlights of the year include the Patriots Cup against Cartmel College, and the Roses tournament that pitches Lancaster students against the University of York.
Take a look at our Furness Sport page for more details and a picture gallery.
Inter-College Quiz
Every year the eight undergraduate colleges compete in a University Challenge style quiz, so if you feel you can support Team Furness please do get involved! Lancaster's academic staff set the questions and judge the various heats that culminate in the springtime final.
Inter-College Debating Competition
Taking place in the Michaelmas term and open to first year undergraduates, the Lancaster Debating Society and the Colleges organise the annual Inter-College Debating Competition. The Debating Society will provide training to help you develop your debating, research and public speaking skills, as well as setting the subject for debate. Members of the winning team will each receive gift vouchers as well as the honour of the College Debating Mace.
In 2019/20 and 2017/18 the Furness College team won the competition and were runners up in 2016/17.
Winter Ball
All of the colleges celebrate the end of the Michaelmas term but we like to think ours has the edge - and our students certainly seem to enjoy the classy surroundings of the Netherwood at Grange-over-Sands. Once again we take several coach loads of students out to the Furness region, this time for an evening of socialising, a three course sit-down dinner and then some dancing. The large country hotel looks like a castle on the approach and is decked out festively inside. Look out for tickets going on sale in November.
Charities Challenge
The Charities Challenge gives you the chance to help raise money and make a difference in the community. All colleges enter a team and each nominates their own charity to support and promote by way of events such as bake sales, sports tournaments and skill auctions. The teams write up their experiences in a report and the challenge culminates in a charity showcase, where certificates are awarded by the University.
In this video, John Garman (Furness) explains why he took part in the Charity Challenge and what he gained from it.
Furness College has chosen to support Eggcup as their chosen Charity for 2020.
Sustainability Challenge
Green Lancaster runs a sustainability challenge to encourage students to ‘think green’ and find ways to make life on campus more sustainable. Each team is coached by an academic, who will work with them to develop their concept into a plausible proposal, before presenting it to a panel of judges. The successful team wins a cash prize and the chance to make their project a reality.
Furness was the 2018 winner of the challenge with their idea of introducing rooftop gardens and living walls across campus. Congratulated on their quality and depth of research by the judges, the team won on the feasibility of the idea and took home a £750 cash prize.
Memorial Sporting Events
There are two memorial sporting events that happen every summer, bringing back previous alumni to play the current teams.
The Richard Slatter Memorial Pool Tournament and the Nick Lewis Memorial Football Match are both cherished events by the friends and families of two former Furness students, and the celebratory proceedings much enjoyed by all that take part.
Extrav
At the end of the summer term is Extrav Week, which culminates in a big themed party that many students come along to and celebrate the end of their exams or the end of their degree. In 2019 the theme was Grease and everyone made a big effort to dress up 1950s style, and in 2021 the theme was Carnival Tropicana.
Graduation Day
The last significant event of the year is Graduation Day when Furness puts on either lunch or afternoon tea in the college to fit around the time of the graduation ceremony. Many students come along with their families to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere in Furness Quad and its surrounding facilities. Look at our Graduation Day page for details and a picture gallery.