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Month: March 2019

Photo: Maximilian Bühn @ Wikimedia Commons

Review: This Time with Alan Partridge

Written by madeleinepeden on . Posted in Film.

It’s been twenty years since he starred in his own programme, but Alan Partridge is finally back on the BBC in a new six-part series This Time with Alan Partridge.

The pressure was arguably at the greatest it has ever been for Coogan and his most recent writing cohort, the Gibbons brothers, who have been responsible for the more recent Partridge content. Despite the absence of the character’s co-creator, Armando Iannucci, Alan Partridge has remained one of the most iconic characters in Britain’s comedy cannon.

As a long-term fan, I did have a touch of trepidation in the run-up to this first episode; I have adored every situation, context, and format this character has been placed in and I couldn’t help think “all good things must come to an end.” This unease was instantly pacified upon Alan’s plea for “a glass of water, please? My mouth is dry.” It was then transformed into pure, unadulterated glee at the return of Lynn, Alan’s long-suffering PA who has returned with a delightfully sinister side.

The new format is based on primetime live magazine programmes, like the BBC’s own The One Show. This enables a seamless amalgamation of previous Partridge greats; we get the talk show faux-pas of Knowing Me, Knowing You tied in with the wonderful mockumentary offerings that are found in his later specials, like Scissored Isle.

According to Coogan, we will get to see Alan present his take on a range of current events, hopefully showcasing the character’s attempt and inevitable failure at political correctness. In other words, we will be gifted with some comedy gold that might end up being quoted as much as the repeated shouting of “DAN”.

This first episode seems a promising taster of what is to come, and I can confidently say this latest offering seamlessly slides into the wider Partridge collection.

5/5.

Photo: courtesy of Mario Roberto

MANIFF 2019: The Runaways

Written by izzysharp on . Posted in Film.

The Runaways tells the story of three siblings from Whitby who are on the run with two donkeys. Firstly, it’s about time someone immortalised Whitby properly, and there’s some talented directing here to do it. Hazy Yorkshire fields, jet-black harbour at night, heathery swathes of moor, the gleaming cobbles of Whitby streets. There’s also a fantastically Gothic tone that pays homage, intentionally or not, to Yorkshire’s own bards. The children’s alcoholic mother I found genuinely unsettling, almost Bronte-esque, not an easy feat considering such a well-trod role. Blythe, the ex-con uncle pursuing the children, limps around the streets like Bram Stoker’s Dracula, straight out of Full Sutton.

The script can be a bit rough — some of the jokes are clunky — but the acting is wonderful, especially from the young cast. I cracked up when the kids hide a donkey in a train toilet and terrify a guard with its braying. There’s also a beautiful scene where the dead father appears to his daughter through a gate in a field. The director told us in the post-film Q&A that it was almost cut, which would have been a crying shame because it’s one of the most tender and realistic takes on the afterlife I’ve yet to see.

4/5

The 5th Manchester Film Festival is taking place at the ODEON Great Northern from 2nd March to 10th March 2019.

Manchester’s ultimate burrito guide

Written by Liv Clarke on . Posted in Food & Drink.

A good burrito can’t be that difficult to make, right? A wrap, some guac, and a tasty filling. Chuck in some optional extras (hopefully free of charge) and you’re good to go. But with so many options, where to go? This is where we come in.

As burrito aficionados, we decided to take one for the team and sample some of the very best (and worst) of Manchester’s burrito offerings. How hard could it be?

First off, we ventured to Pancho’s Burritos, which you can find by the Nando’s near Oxford Road. We’d heard good things — tales of free extras, juicy meat, and excellent student offers. Fresh out of Tuesday afternoon French grammar classes, we were in need of some food for the soul and Pancho’s did not disappoint.

“I had a cheeky glance at the hygiene rating. Five stars, you’ll be pleased to know,” Liv remarked as we went inside.

One of Pancho’s main attractions is the sheer quantity and quality of fillings available. We both opted for large chicken burritos which, with 15% student discount, will only set you back £5.78. You can choose from lots of different additional toppings, such as multiple types of rice and onions, as well as free guac.

Honestly, this was a pretty great burrito. It held its form well and had a lovely ratio of protein to carbohydrate. And the flavours were great, slightly smoky which worked well with the freshness of the toppings. The sauce wasn’t too runny either, which made for a relatively tidy burrito-eating experience.

Chloe even had to reassess her burrito preferences afterwards: “You know what? I think this tops Chango’s as my favourite.”

All in all, we gave Pancho’s a solid rating of 9/10.

The next stop, a mere 48 hours later and a result of us having no dates on Valentine’s Day, was Barburrito. Now, normally Barburrito is at the pricier end of the burrito market but, thanks to singles’ night, a burrito and a beer were only £5. Although, shock horror, you did have to pay an extra £1 for guac.

There were a reasonable range of fillings and a good selection of salsa. However, if you choose the meat option, you have to decide between either beans or veg, and with the veggie option decide between peppers or mushrooms. The spice level was well balanced, although overall the burrito was on the blander side. The tortilla wrap had a slightly strange, doughy texture but it did hold together better than some of Barburrito’s competitors.

It was great value with the deal, however, we don’t think it’s worth the usual £7.95 price.

“If you’re looking for an on the go meal it does the job, but if you want a truly good burrito go elsewhere.”  6.5/10.

On to our third burrito stop and we were beginning to flag. This time we brought along Amy Wei, our Deputy Editor, who was the inspiration for this burrito tour. She loves the SU burritos, but we wanted to prove to her that there’s more to life than soggy lettuce and mushy chicken. Chango’s lured us in with its £5.95 lunchtime deal, which included a burrito, tortilla chips, and a soft drink.

There was a variety of fillings, even offering crushed tortilla chips, which was a nice touch. The star of the show at Chango’s though had to be the sauce: we both opted for spicy mango and lime, which combined tropical notes with a kick of chilli. After Barburrito, the combinations seemed endless: you could have both meat and veg in the same wrap. The only downside was that the vegetarian filling was a little too runny, and they didn’t drain the beans very well.

“Overall a bit damp,” declared Liv. Moister than your average Tinder bio.

Chango’s is a pretty decent bet for a lunchtime treat, although beware the snaking queues outside, a testament to its popularity. 7.5/10.

And now to Chilango’s.

Oh, Chilango’s. What an experience.

We were so hopeful and full of enthusiasm when we ordered, nearing the finish line of our Tour de Burrito. And boy, were we disappointed. Where do we start? The lack of fillings? The wrapping so poor it had a gap bigger than the Grand Canyon? Or perhaps the pork belly so chewy you could have used it as gum. The cheese tasted sour, and the sour cream – well, let’s not even go there. And perhaps the biggest let down of all, the £1.50 extra that you had to pay for the privilege of guacamole. That’s a whole single on the Magic Bus. Having said all this, it was actually the only place to offer prawns, if you’re that way inclined. If you are, perhaps rethink your life choices.

“It’s actually the place that offers the most student discount at 21%, but don’t be fooled.”

We left Chilango’s, feeling like we’d aged thirty years, and with half-finished burritos in the bin behind us. It was a sad, sad end to the Tour de Burrito but hey, you can’t have it all in life. 4/10.

We’d like to give a special mention to the SU burritos, the flame that ignited this beacon, purely thanks to just how upsettingly bad they are. We’ve both tried them in the past and refuse to eat them again. Save yourselves and avoid at all costs. 3/10

So, what have we learned on our epic voyage? Well, wrapping is important, paying extra for guacamole ought to be a criminal offence, and it’ll be a while before we have another burrito …or not.

Photo: Ministry of Sound Group Limited @ Wikimedia Commons

Cubo is up for sale

Written by Rona McCann on . Posted in News.

Fallowfield nightclub Cubo has been listed on the property market for a free-of-tie lease of £33,000. The listing can be found on the property search site Rightmove.

The reason for Cubo’s selling is due to the owner’s “relocation”. Despite this, club nights are still being advertised to take place at the venue for the foreseeable future.

It is unclear when the site will change hands, or whether it will continue as a nightclub.

The bar and nightclub, previously named Koh Tao, is located on Wilmslow Road. It serves as a popular nightlife venue for the high-density student population in Fallowfield.

Cubo is regarded as one of the area’s last remaining nightclub venues serving students, following Antwerp Mansion’s closure as a nightclub last year. Withington’s Indigo remains open.

On its Rightmove page, the property is described as a “student bar operating around the university’s schedule” with a “strong reputation”.

Also listed is the annual gross turnover of the property, which is “in the region of £250,000”, with a net profit of around £70,000.

The news was shared on popular Facebook group Fallowfield Students Group (FSG), to which comments expressed ideas of what the property could become, including a late-night vegan takeaway and a falafel joint.

Photo: XAndreWx @ Wikimedia Commons

Rally to protect Manchester’s green sites draws thousands

Written by Rona McCann on . Posted in News.

Around 4,000 people gathered in Oldham over the weekend to rally against proposed plans to build on Manchester’s green sites.

Greenbelt land covers 47% of Greater Manchester, however, under the initiative presented, this could be cut down to 45%.

The move is part of a scheme called the Greater Manchester Spatial Network, which plans to improve the number of homes, jobs, and the environment in the region.

It was announced in January that 201,000 homes could be built in Greater Manchester to tackle the “housing crisis” by 2038.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has said that the plans are based on the assumption that 201,000 new homes will be needed between now and 2037, given current population growth predictions.

The plans follow a previous backlash against new housing being built in Greater Manchester, after a proposal, backing to 2016 for 225,000 new properties, received 27,000 responses in a consultation.

The feedback consultation for this year’s Spatial Network plans opens on the 18th of March.

A spokesperson for the GMCA has justified the plans by claiming that the board has a “legal duty to provide homes”.

“We believe that using greenbelt should always be a last resort, and we’re doing everything we can to increase the land available for development within our existing towns and neighbourhoods, while minimising the impact on our green spaces.”

Protest organiser Steve Lord has said that the need to build affordable homes is understandable, and that he agrees there is a housing crisis in Greater Manchester. However, he argued that this should not be done “at the expense of this cherished green belt.”

“It’s draconian, it’s criminal and dangerous,” he went on.

“There are so many brownfield sites in Milnrow that could provide genuine affordable houses,” said Kate Clegg, who attended the Tandle Hill Country Park rally.

“The types of houses they are building, my children won’t be able to buy when they are older.”

A green belt is an area of land that has been protected from being built on by urban planners, in an effort to maintain green spaces within towns and cities. They are also put in place to prevent the surrounding countryside being spoilt.

Photo: @Stephen Wright

Preview: Barber Shop Chronicles

Written by Anuli Changa on . Posted in Theatre.

Talking to Emmanuel Ighodaro (who grew up in Salford), he explained that he was “really happy to be performing at the Royal Exchange” for the first time.

Barber Shop Chronicles, written by Inua Ellams and directed By Bijan Sheibani, takes the audience on a journey across six different cities: Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra and London.

In the production, Ighodaro plays three characters, requiring Nigerian, Ugandan and South African accents. For Ighodaro, Nigerian comes most easily as he is “second generation Nigerian”, whilst he has “vague recollections” of South African from a previous play. The real challenge was finding the differences between Nigerian and Ugandan. Ighodaro explained that Ugandan accents are “lighter than Nigerian” with more of a “flow”.

Ighodaro explained that he “could see a lot of things” in the script that he’s experienced in barber shops and said: “whether you know people or not, it’s a space that people can come into” without being judged.

Barber Shop Chronicles explores different aspects of men and perceptions of masculinity, Ighodaro added that even though this story is “told through the black male perspective, the themes are universal”.

Ighodaro also promised that the singing and dancing in the show will keep the audience entertained. He also wants the audience “to take away a better understanding of black men and how the world is understood through the black perspective”

Barber Shop Chronicles runs at The Royal Exchange, in association with Contact Theatre, until 23rd March.

Photo: Roderick Eime @ Flickr

New heights reached in Virgin Galactic spaceflight

Written by Alex Moores on . Posted in Science & Tech.

Last month’s flight of Virgin Galactic’s Unity spacecraft marks the first time a passenger has been taken aboard a commercial spaceflight. Upon landing, the three crew members were given commercial astronaut wings by the US Federal Aviation Administration, a medal received by only four people before them.

Bringing passengers to space is an important milestone in the field of commercial space exploration, a business model favoured by Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, and to a certain extent Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The landmark flight has been lauded as a victory for Branson, but in this round, there’s been some accusations of foul play.

The controversy arises from ambiguity in the definition of space. There’s no clear boundary marking where the atmosphere ends and space begins since the Earth’s atmosphere thins gradually until it merges with the near-vacuum of interplanetary space. On the international stage, a threshold of 100km above the Earth’s surface is commonly accepted, but in the US, the FAA gives the astronaut title to anyone who’s flown over 80km.

On this mission in particular, the Unity spacecraft reached only 89km at the highest point of its suborbital hop, bringing some to question whether the mission should be classified as a spaceflight.

Flying any kind of spacecraft is very tricky, but ‘spaceplanes’ are notoriously hard to get off the ground. While the idea has been played with by many since the space race, the one success story was littered with failures. The Space Shuttle program overstepped its budget by more than a billion dollars every time it flew, failing its main goal of providing cheap, reusable orbital capability. Over its 30 year lifetime, hardware faults due to its unconventional launch configuration led to two total mission failures, killing 14 people in total.

The aerospace industry has come a long way since the Shuttle era and is understandably a little more prudent, but the concepts behind flying a modern spaceplane like Unity are more or less the same.

There are three main stages to a spaceplane’s flight. First, it must get to high up in the atmosphere where the air is thin enough so it won’t produce much drag. Secondly, it must accelerate to exceedingly high speeds, pushing its trajectory high out of the atmosphere. Finally, at the highest point of its arc, the spaceplane must push its speed high enough such that its trajectory lifts above the ground, reaching a stable orbit of the Earth.

The Space Shuttle used huge solid-fuel boosters to reach the upper atmosphere in its first stage of flight, using a vertical launch configuration similar to conventional rockets. Unity uses a less ostentatious method. A mothership takes off from a runway and carries the spacecraft up to 50,000ft (about one-and-a-half times the cruising height of a Boeing 747), then Unity detaches. After gliding for a few seconds, it activates its rocket engine, sending it blasting off to the edge of space.

Re-entry is another dangerous element of any space mission, and the Unity spacecraft makes some necessary improvements over the Shuttle here as well. Suborbital velocities are fast, and orbital velocities are even faster. Most orbital facilities like the International Space Station circle the Earth once every 90 minutes, about 30-times the top speed of a 747. If a spacecraft doesn’t slow down enough in the thin upper atmosphere, the high drag conditions of the soupy lower atmosphere will cause so much heating that the spacecraft risks burning up.

The Shuttle avoided overheating in the lower atmosphere by plastering its lower half in thermal tiles, leading to its distinct black and white look. Unity takes a more adventurous approach, and the spaceplane undergoes a dramatic transformation in the upper atmosphere. The entire back end of the spacecraft rotates and the whole vehicle folds upon itself, making the spacecraft much less streamlined. In this configuration, Unity’s high drag slows it down enough in the upper atmosphere so when it reaches the lower atmosphere, it can glide deftly back to the runway it took off from.

From take-off on the mothership, the whole flight takes about an hour and a half, spending some 15 minutes in the upper atmosphere. Entering space or not, the crew got some incredible views over North America – and bringing a passenger even to the edge of space is certainly still a significant achievement for commercial spaceflight.

Branson has often attracted criticism for his company’s over-optimistic promises. While putting a passenger in orbit is still far away on the horizon, it’s clear Virgin Galactic is striving ever higher in the pursuit of commercial space exploration.

Photo: Kyle Taylor @ Flickr

Million tonnes of waste to be dumped in Great Barrier Reef

Written by Ella Gerry on . Posted in Science & Tech.

Australian authorities have recently approved plans to dump over one million tonnes of industrial dredge spoil near to the Great Barrier Reef over the next ten years.

Dredging is an industrial process that moves material, or dredge, from one area of the water environment to another. The process has a variety of beneficial uses such as recovering materials of commercial value. It is also essential in coastal redevelopment and in maintaining waterways for port areas.

In 2015, the Australian government banned capital dredging and disposal near the Great Barrier Reef as means to protect the UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, dredging for port maintenance is exempt from this law and in January, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) issued a permit for North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) to dump maintenance dredge within the park’s boundaries.

“Just like roads, shipping channels require maintenance,” said the port authorities in a statement released on their website. “NQBP’s assessment reports found the risks to sensitive marine environments as a result of the maintenance dredging were predominantly low. The permits allow for the long-term, sustainable management of maintenance dredging at the port and will safeguard the efficient operations of one of Australia’s most critical trading ports.”

Experts are worried that this exploitation of a legal loophole will have devastating effects on the reef’s marine wildlife: “Government policy needs to change to ban all offshore dumping, so GBRMPA is not allowed to permit the reef’s waters to be used as a cheaper alternative to treating the sludge and disposing of it safely onshore,” said Greens Senator Larissa Waters in a statement to The Guardian.

“If it’s put in shallow water, it will smother sea life,” Dr Simon Boxall from the National Oceanography Centre Southampton told BBC News. Dr Boxall acknowledged that while dumping the dredge further out in the ocean could lessen the damage, it would still be releasing dangerous materials such as trace metals into the environment. “It’s important they get it right. It’ll cost more money but that’s not the environment’s problem – that’s the port authorities’ problem”.

The granting of the permit has occurred amidst reports that flood waters from Queensland rivers are flowing into the reef, resulting in the freshwater bleaching of corals. These freshwater bleaching events occur because of a decrease in the salinity of the ocean, which provokes a stress response in corals. Bleaching events can also be triggered by increased water temperatures, pollutants, and sedimentation. Algae living in symbiosis with the coral are expelled, causing the coral to turn white in colour. Coral can often survive bleaching events, but increased frequency and intensity of periods of stress often results in mortality.

The Great Barrier Reef is currently experiencing unprecedented back-to-back years of mass bleaching events, giving the reef little time to recover. As global temperature rises and industry grows, the likelihood of a mass extinction is becoming an increasingly real prospect.

A great amount of sea life depends on the coral. Extinction of coral species would have a disastrous domino effect on marine wildlife. This would not only be a tragic loss of one of the world’s most vibrant ecosystems but would have severe socio-economic impacts. Experts warn the economic loss to the fishing and tourism industries will devastate the livelihoods of thousands of individuals.

Since 2016, half of all the coral in the Great Barrier Reef is estimated to have died. This permit to dump port maintenance waste in the reef is “another nail in the coffin,” says Dr Boxall.

Photo: Sophie J. Brown @ Wikimedia Commons

The leader of the opposition was assaulted. That’s worrying.

Written by matthewgold on . Posted in Opinion.

In early March, Jeremy Corbyn was assaulted. He didn’t end up in hospital, he didn’t need stitches, but he was unmistakably assaulted. I find this very worrying, especially the reaction (or lack thereof) to the situation.

It is worrying for two separate reasons. The first is the level of hatred and animosity that is clearly festering in the UK right now. I have no way to tell if this is the most divided we have ever been, but there is an unmistakable schism running through the country.

When the leader of the opposition, democratically elected to lead his party by hundreds of thousands of Labour members not once, but twice, is presented as an ‘enemy of the people’, then it is not surprising to see hatred and direct action taken against him. We know and expect that not all news sources are going to agree with him, but constructing him as a direct threat to the country is beyond far-fetched.

Lest we forget when hatred and animosity reaches its worst extreme if allowed to grow and remain unchecked. In 2016 MP Jo Cox was murdered in Britain by a man that disagreed with her politically. He had been convinced by far right ideology; sold a lie that an MP, doing what she thought was best for the country, was an enemy of the people.

This leads to my second reason for worry; the minimal reaction to the whole incident. We are living in times of anxiety, anger, and hate. Corbyn has been projected as a threat to the country. People seem to have actually forgotten what happened to Jo Cox when thinking about this case because “it was only an egg”.

I don’t see it that way, I see the leader of the opposition assaulted on the street, whilst attempting to honour ‘Visit My Mosque Day’ in his constituency. My fear is that in the same way that Corbyn is being portrayed as an enemy, just like Jo Cox was. Although perhaps not to the same extremes, it is still a poisonous rhetoric.

Incidentally, this particular Mosque was targeted by a far-right terror attack in 2017; yet more evidence of violence being committed against groups that are falsely projected as threats to the UK.

Tory MP James Cleverly thought it more important to try and get one over on left-wing commentators by tweeting a gif that read ‘boom’, as opposed to condemning the assault. That’s very revealing of the mentality that is spreading across the country, even to Parliament.

Initial reporting suggests that the assault was motivated by the Labour switch to backing a second referendum. Portraying political leaders as a direct threat to the country, especially for taking fully legitimate political positions, is something that must be ended in this country. The risk of not doing so is too grave.

Britain is meant to be a country of democracy, choice, voting, equality, and rights for all in the 21st Century. We do not do politics through force. It’s time that we get back to a place where legitimate opinions can be debated without fear of the consequences.

Photo: Tembela Bohle @Pexels

Opinion: time to give initiations the boot

Written by Ellie Martin on . Posted in Societies.

Society initiations may, to some, seem to have more of an American vibe to them. We’ve all seen the films about crazy frat and sorority parties where new students are kidnapped, tied up, and covered in some kind of disgusting excrement while being forced to drink extreme amounts of alcohol. However, these kinds of events can be commonly found on our own shores, as anyone who’s ever tried to join a sports society before will know.  Initiations are banned by most SUs around the UK but it’s no secret that they still take place, with sports societies being the worst perpetrators amongst the groups.

The ‘welcome drinks’ cover-up is a common one used by societies around freshers time to disguise what is actually going on, making initiations very difficult to crack down on.  SUs trying to tackle the issue have a real challenge on their hands, as there’s no real way of distinguishing a team-endorsed initiation event from a group of friends who know each other from rugby on a night out that’s become way out of hand, provided nobody speaks up and the group chats are deleted.  Forcing people to do things they do not want to, pressuring, or coercing would all be considered bullying, which is forbidden at all universities by law.

Actually pinpointing this kind of behaviour is extremely difficult, leading universities to take a more education-based approach.  Some universities in the UK have special groups with students, uni leaders, SU members, and parents who work to discourage initiation processes.  Others have lectures or events specifically geared to educate students on the danger of extreme drinking around freshers time. These kinds of events were especially called for around two years ago, following the death of a student at the University of Leeds, who died during an initiation as a direct result of drinking too much in a short space of time.  The father of the student called for the expulsion of those older students involved in the initiation, and for universities to eradicate these kinds of events completely.

A quick Google search of initiations in the UK will show you that The University of Manchester has a particularly bad reputation for first-year hazing.  The men’s rugby team confirmed for The Tab rumours about freshers initiations involving urine, faeces, and vomit, and having chilli powder rubbed on genitals.  They said that a sheet would be brought to the event and laid on the floor. Anyone who needed to piss, shit, or throw up during the night had to do it on the sheet, which the freshers would than have to slide down at the end of the night.  The process also involves being force-fed one of the hottest chillies in the world, the Carolina Reaper. Another horror story to come from the club was students having to bob for a dead rat in a barrel of cider while others drink from the barrel.  Members all claim to know someone who’s needed their stomach pumped, or have had to visit the hospital themselves after an initiation event and say that drinking to blackout state or vomiting is basically obligatory.

Manchester has a no initiations policy like most other universities, and the recent addition of the “Inclusions Officer” as a compulsory member of any society committee by the SU is a welcome step forward.  The Inclusions Officer’s job comprises of increasing the amount of diversity and outreach for each society, helping to deal with any in-society conflicts, but predominantly is to help create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for every society. This includes stamping out harmful initiation processes.  The rugby team also have mentioned that they are aware of the stigma surrounding the sport and are working hard to make it open to all. But are the SU and the teams themselves doing enough to make people feel comfortable about joining sports societies?

One Manchester Fresher, when asked about what societies she would have liked to join during freshers fair, said that she did “not want to try out for any traditional sports societies for fear of being forced into an initiation process.” This idea that any traditional or well established sports society will probably have an initiation process is a common one among freshers and is an idea that is putting people off continuing their favourite sports at university level.  Many talented and able players choose to end their sports career at university as they do not want to be involved with the culture that comes along with varsity training, even though they may have played at a high level before coming to university. Others may choose to move to a more non-traditional sport, that doesn’t come with a hazing reputation. Sports societies are potentially putting off their best players with the culture surrounding initiations. But is it possible to stamp out the behaviour for good?

A passion for fashion (and charity)

Written by Chloe Hatton on . Posted in Societies.

A group of Manchester students have decided to tackle homelessness head on, raising money for homeless charity Lifeshare through the medium of the Manchester Charity Fashion Show. Sounds good, right?

Gabe Nwosu-Hope, Manchester Charity Fashion Show’s Chair, said: “We at the Manchester Charity Fashion Show are an organisation dedicated to raising funds for a different charitable partner each year through the creative population in Manchester. This culminates in a fashion show, presenting the music, art, and fashion talent that our students have to offer.”

Working in collaboration with Fuse FM and a whole host of other student groups, the Manchester Charity Fashion Show team have already been working hard to raise vital funds for Manchester-based charities. They’ve already put on a charity club night at Indigo on 27th February, with a pound from every ticket sale also going to Lifeshare.

Vice Chair Martha Bolton added: “last week’s collaboration with Fuse FM and SKUM was a sellout success, raising money for lifeshare on the door and showcasing some of the rawest bass music around.”

So why have they chosen Lifeshare?

Gabe explained, “This year we’re supporting Lifeshare, a charity who tirelessly and selflessly work to aid the homeless population in Manchester. As a small charity with little funding, we are making it our sole aim to help aid Lifeshare in their incredible efforts for those who need it the most.”

Lifeshare believes that all people regardless of race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, age, level of ability, or HIV status are entitled to respect and dignity and should be afforded equal opportunities. They work to prevent and break the cycle of homelessness, as well as reducing harm and promoting health.

The fashion show will take place in Academy 2 on Sunday 31st March. The theme of the event is ‘The City’, a celebration of 80s and 90s ‘Madchester’ culture. It will showcase graduate designers from up and down the UK, and they will also be collating some photos from Manchester’s up and coming photographers, depicting the city in their own unique way. If you want the chance to see some of the country’s finest young talent, definitely head on down. Fuse FM DJs will be playing throughout the night, and the VIP pre-party will feature plenty of Brewdog drinks, as well as being sponsored by Redbull.

They’ve also announced their models, and have recently had a photoshoot at Antwerp Mansion. Head over to their Facebook page for the full list of models, pics, and their bios.

The show comes at a very troubling time for Manchester’s rough sleepers. It’s so important because, as Martha explains, “homelessness is one of Manchester’s most prevalent social issues, perhaps now more than ever. Statistics relating to rough sleepers continue to grow exponentially at an alarming rate year on year. This, combined with instances like Lifeshare’s recent eviction from the Charter Street Ragged School, is proof that we need to act now. Manchester’s homeless population need our support right now in a focused and sustained manner. We can’t just sit around and hope the problem sorts itself out.”

If you want to get involved with the Manchester Charity Fashion Show, follow them on Instagram and give them a like on Facebook. Check out the event page for ticket information.

The Manchester Charity Fashion Show is currently looking for plus-size models to take part in the event. If you would like to be featured, please contact the team before Saturday, 9th March, via their Facebook page. 

Preview: The Bass Music Awards 2019

Written by alexwain on . Posted in Music.

On the 21st of April 2019, The Bass Music Awards are coming to one of the biggest and best venues in Manchester — O2 Victoria Warehouse — which in my eyes is the ideal place for an underground style rave of this calibre. After an award ceremony recognising some of the biggest and most current names in bass music, a club show is set to blow your minds across two rooms ‘The Expanse’ and ‘The Bunker’ in the 5000 capacity venue. This insane line up will have any bass fan reeling with stars including: Dimension, Friction + Linguistics, General Levy, Hype B2B Hazard, Pendulum, Guv + Eskman, Sub Focus, DJ Q B2B Jamie Duggan, and so many more.

Previous winner Dimension is set to headline the evening, after having an incredible 2 years within the industry following his signing to MTA – the same record label as Chase and Status. DJ Hype and DJ Hazard also appear at the top of this already insane lineup, playing a B2B set which has blown up across the bass music scene. Pendulum is another huge name whose DJ set will no doubt have the room non-stop moving. The Australian band are legends in the drum and bass world and imagining the production and sound of the impressive warehouse light up is a very exciting thought. Drum and bass heavyweight DJ Friction alongside MC Linguistics are also set to play at the event. The legendary duo has played alongside each other for many years, and so know exactly how to make it a night that could never be forgotten.

Voting is free and open until the 21st of March for anyone who wants to support their favourite bass artists and DJ’s. There are 5 categories: Best Drum & Bass DJ, Best Bass DJ, Best MC, Best Live Act, and Best Group with a shortlist of five of the biggest names in each category. You can send your selection here at: http://www.bassmusicawards.com/vote/.

Many of these acts have played across Manchester, in places such as Antwerp Mansion as well as the infamous Warehouse Project. For them all to be playing in Manchester on the same evening will be refreshing, and an experience not to miss. For any lover of bass music, the tickets to the show are still available (with a discount for students on Skiddle!) and I’d quickly snap them up as this is undoubtedly going to go off as one of the biggest industry events in 2019.

Tickets available: http://www.bassmusicawards.com/tickets/

Photo: HOMESHAKE via Flickr (Jeff Marquis)

Live Review: HOMESHAKE

Written by Jasmine Bennett on . Posted in Music.

The problem with artists so reliant on atmosphere (such as HOMESHAKE, the solo project of Peter Sagar), is when that atmosphere isn’t provided, the entire gig lacks. When swamped by an overwhelming cascade of chatter, the performance can become incredibly lacking. In this day and age, the ability to keep an audience enraptured is vital. On this front, Sagar failed. It is deeply unfortunate that someone whose music – beautifully hypnotic and entrancing – did not captivate a crowd to such a significant level. The gig was frankly ruined by the permanent conversation of the crowd. It felt like everyone in the audience had purely come for their hit ‘khmlwugh’, and decided all other tracks were not part of the set but merely an opportunity for a nice conversation.

The slow, dreamy synthy songs of the band were – it can’t be denied – nothing short of stunning. Opening with the low electronic tones of ‘Just like My’ provided an ethereal, dreamlike setting. The quality of the tracks – sometimes a problem with artists so production-based – translated live wonderfully, and Sagar’s voice was honey-soaked and as beautiful as ever. There was something very dreamlike and moving about the entire affair – but once more the atmosphere that could have been so powerful was ruined.  It was also a case that the songs from Fresh Air stuck out as fan favourites. The live performance of ‘Call Me Up’ was exceptional, and it was helped by being one of about three songs the crowd gained the ability of being quiet for. Similarly, the drowsy and romance-drenched ‘khmlwugh’ captured the audience’s seemingly brief attention span just long enough to sing back the hit. However even HOMESHAKE’s most well-renowned songs didn’t manage to quite cease the incessant conversation.

At one point during the performance, there was even a brawl towards the front left of the audience. Set to a soundtrack of the dreamy vocals, overlaid with the gentle strings and synths played, began a fight that appeared to resolve itself in a matter of moments. The idea of such an event would be comical – the combination of lo-fi pop and violence seemed like something out of a film – however it was appalling when occurring in real time. The sheer disrespect involved in such behaviour, when it so vastly detracts from an artist’s style and intention, is something I have never previously experienced and do not wish to do so again.

It could be suggested that HOMESHAKE is simply not made for bigger venues – the tracks did begin to feel repetitive and samey after a while, but again this would be easier to change if it was possible to concentrate on the artist rather than a conversational ruckus. Despite requests for silence from Sagar himself, the crowd seemed to determine to derail the sold-out performance — something odd in itself.  Even songs that seemed sensational such as the drawling and erotic ‘Give It To Me’ were impossible to enjoy, and that can only be due to the crowd, given Sagar and his band’s fantastic delivery.

While my recommendation has not changed (HOMESHAKE live was marvellous musically), I cannot applaud the gig. While any artist must keep an audience engaged, and Sagar’s stage presence was not the strongest, the level to which HOMESHAKE was mistreated by the audience last night was undeserving and disgusting. An artist of ambience, beautiful sound, and soft lyrics, it did feel as though he belonged to a smaller room.  Intimacy was lost and sound was discarded for the sake of pints and disrespect. A true discredit to Manchester’s audiences, HOMESHAKE was one of the most appalling gigs I have ever attended, and it had very little to do with the music being played.

5/10

Yonaka Press Shot Feb 19 1 - Thomas Coe-Brooker

Preview: YONAKA

Written by Georgina Davidson on . Posted in Music.

Melodic, a little metal, and taking off with meteoric force — meet YONAKA, a quartet who pack some serious punch across their unique discography of guitar-heavy riffs, punk rock aesthetic, and production of pure lyrical dynamite. YONAKA (which translates as “the dead of night” in Japanese) explores the band’s aesthetic prowess as a band with the potential to embody a darkness associated with the ideas surrounding metal and heavy rock culture.

However, upon listening to their vast plethora of work it becomes clear that their influences in music stretch much further than metal and embody elements grounded in rock and mixed with a distinctive pop style. It’s not femme rock, it’s not punk, and there are some nods to the elemental features of grime and hip hop which seems wild if you’ve never heard their music. In fact, so striking is their disregard for genre, that their sound seems to repel any form of concurrence, with hip hop sound sampling prevalent across tracks such as ‘Creature’ and yet a riotous tone of rebellion on singles such as ‘Bubblegum’. To some, this could indicate a type of indecisive nature within the band’s creative and production process. The results of their genre blend have quite a different impact with an apparent cohesive and direct message across their lyrics. A regular theme throughout the song is the power of the nightmare. The lyrics often berate nightmarish figures and celebrate the free spirit of youth which rises above the darker characteristics that can be found in others or in the self.

Lead singer Theresa Jarvis has the kind of cutting, rock-tinged vocal that unashamedly spits the intended venom of the lyric whilst still providing a somewhat striking explosion of punk rock elegance within her stage presence. During their recent stint as support for Bring Me The Horizon’s MANTRA tour, she proved her salt alongside the likes of FEVER 333 easily stealing the show with a unique performance that seems to cut directly to the core of the band’s ethos. The desire it seems is not to conform to the existing guidelines and instead explore the wild possibilities of letting a sort of reckless abandon take over the very experience of the track. This makes for an exciting live performance and indicates the band’s ultimate passion to lead a movement of new music that collaborates and develops subcultures.

The taunting tone of ‘Teach Me To Fight’ captures an exciting, punk-infused current that translates into a vigorous and reckless abandon in their live performances. It is the continuation of this strong, energetic vigour that will be interesting to track across their album Don’t Wait Till Tomorrow which is set for release on 31st May 2019.

YONAKA’s Don’t Wait Till Tomorrow tour begins in Birmingham on 15th March 2019 and includes a sold-out stint in Manchester at the legendary Deaf Institute. Capturing the attention of rock, punk, and metal fans can be tricky as a new band so it is exciting to see how YONAKA will take on this opportunity. If their performance on The MANTRA tour is anything to go by then expect a furiously energetic gig, defiant of genre boundaries!

Live Review: Billie Eilish

Written by PASCALE CHALMERS-ARNOLD on . Posted in Music.

To describe the crowd as excited would be an understatement. The thundering sound of two thousand teens, screaming in anticipation of Billie Eilish’s arrival, was quite simply overwhelming and overpowering. Any view of the stage was obstructed by an endless sea of mobile phones, poised at the ready. If the deafening sound in the Manchester Academy wasn’t clear enough, blue lights turning red signalled Eilish’s entrance, along with the melodic start of ‘My Boy’. Singing along, the crowd matched the 17-year-old songstress word for word as she made her feelings on double standards and dishonest boys clear.

With over one billion streams worldwide, Billie Eilish offers a fresh take on what it means to be a young pop star. Her sombre, twisted tunes reflect the anxieties, vulnerability, hurt, and hope of a generation, putting into words the feelings of teens today. Eilish wears baggy clothes which she could have stolen from her brother, her long hair dyed silver and gothic jewellery round her neck – nothing like the pop princess stereotype. She is as she is, and her fans love it, helping her sell-out headline tours in minutes.

While Eilish writes in a way often left up to interpretation, she certainly doesn’t shy away from tough topics, aware of the influence her words have. Throughout ‘Idontwannabeyouanymore’, the crowd were shouting “If teardrops could be bottled / There’d be swimming pools filled by models” back at her, adding strength and validity to her social commentary, twin voices recognising the sadness of having self-worth based on looks.

Her melancholic chart-topper ‘Lovely’ (with Khalid) was the next big crowd pleaser. The track, which is about being trapped in a depressed state, has received over 170 million streams and featured on the soundtrack for the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why, alongside the next song ‘Bored’. Delivered beautifully, the lyrics of this under-rated gem rang with poignancy, describing a toxic relationship — “I don’t want any settled scores / I just want you to set me free… Can’t you see that I’m getting bored? / Giving you every piece of me.”

The subsequent songs, ‘Bitches Broken Hearts’, ‘Six Feet Under’, and ‘Watch’ ‘& Burn’, all followed a theme of unrequited love. Struggling to recover from a heartbreak, and missing her ex even though they were no good together, Eilish sang “I can’t help but wonder / If our grave was watered by the rain / Could roses bloom / Again?”

Unable to exercise total control over her personal life, ‘Watch’ ‘& Burn’ – two versions of the same song — sees Eilish creatively take charge. The second imagining features rapper Vince Staples and offered more kick, with Eilish spitting out “Go ahead and watch my heart burn / With the fire that you started in me / But I’ll never let you back to put it out.” Her venomous passion grew stronger as she belted out ‘You Should See Me In A Crown’, the lead single off her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, with her voice then turning sinister. ‘Hostage’ started out slow, Eilish whispering about how “nothing hurts… When you’re with me and we’re alone,” before the lyrics turned darker and obsessive — a tone which continued for ‘Bury A Friend’ and ‘Bellyache’.

Taking a break from the darker side of her music, Eilish slowed the pace again for ‘When The Party’s Over’, asking her fans to take a moment. “Let’s be here, right now, together”. Words met with a sea of hands making hearts as she began ‘Ocean Eyes’. The room went quiet as Billie whispered, “I’ve been watching you / For some time / Can’t stop staring / At those oceans eyes.” After finishing the hauntingly beautiful track which landed her a record deal, Eilish took a moment to thank her parents and her producer/bandmate and brother Finneas, before one last energetic song ‘Copycat’, through which she reminded her fans to be themselves.

For a girl so young, Billie Eilish sure knew how to whip up a frenzy on stage, but as I watched the queues of teens leaving the venue, it felt important to recognise her status, not just as a musician, but as an alternative role model reaching out to the masses.

8/10

Photo: Ulla Karhumäki.

Turkish students faced torture, says Manchester academic’s report

Written by The Mancunion on . Posted in Investigations.

Students in Turkey faced torture whilst being held by authorities following an anti-war demonstration, according to a University of Manchester academic.

A report by Ulla Karhumäki – a PhD student in mathematical logic – details how a group of 32 Turkish undergraduate students were arrested on ‘terrorism propaganda’ charges, with some having further charges placed upon them. A trial is now underway.

Karhumäki attended the second hearing of the trial, where 31 of the 32 students – all of whom were aged between 19 and 26 – had their ban on leaving Turkey lifted. In her report, which is “based on the conversations [Karhumäki] had with the students, or with [their] friends and families”, she writes in detail the procedure and outcome of the hearing.

The report states that the students were arrested for attending an anti-war protest near the Boğaziçi University library following Turkish forces’ capture of the city of Afrin, Syria. Some of the accused claim to be there “by chance” according to the report.

In her report, Karhumäki claims that at least two of the students from Boğaziçi University faced beatings during the arrest. Before the trial, students claim to have had laptops confiscated, hampering their efforts to study for their course. Whilst being held by Turkish authorities, one student claims that at least two student detainees were beaten, and at least two were forced to undress completely. Whilst in prison, another claims that up to 43 people were held in a room designed for seven.

The next hearing of these students will take place on 19th March, exactly one year on from the demonstration, when the accused should face their final sentencing.

Currently, Turkey is ruled by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose stint in leadership has been tarnished by claims that freedom of speech and press freedoms have been suppressed since taking office in 2014. Recently, opposition news site Ahval reported that publishers were refusing to produce certain books due to fears they could be arrested.

In January 2019, Erdoğan rejected US National Security Adviser John Bolton’s suggestion that Turkey should protect Kurdish fighters in Syria, describing the American’s statement as “unacceptable”. Turkey regards the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), who are fighting in Syria, as a terrorist organisation.

Photo: Lauren Ellis-Stretch

MIFTA Season: We Have Sinned

Written by Amy Hagan on . Posted in Theatre.

Written by student Phoebe Lynch, We Have Sinned was an entertaining, comedic, and inventive take on the generic ‘whodunnit’ storyline.

Posh, newly-engaged couple Evelyn (Eliza Lewis) and Damien (Jacob Hall-Brown) invite their old university friends to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. But they all become embroiled in a murder investigation when Damien is killed with a loose door handle.

All have motives for wanting him dead: Evelyn, the fiancée who found out her sister was having an affair with Damien; Stephanie (Jordan Jones), the Welsh, goat-loving maid who hates Damien for having her goats killed and eaten; hot-tempered Winnifred (Hugo Lewkowicz) lost her job because of Damien’s reluctance to help her; Percival (Eleanor Potter) was Damien’s political rival and was being blackmailed by Damien for rigging the election; Gregory (Chloë Slater) was stealing from Damien; George (Elizabeth Key) was the world’s worst cook and Damien repeatedly threatened to fire him; and, Lucinda (Gary Gannon), Damien’s mistress and a woman who had multiple affairs. It was up to a French detective to solve the murder, amidst a sea of confusion, chaos and, mismatched clues.

Standout performances came from Gary Gannon playing Lucinda and Hugo Lewkowicz playing Winnifred. Even with the occasional line or two being muddled and a wig falling off repeatedly, Lewkowicz made this work for his character and didn’t let it faze him. In fact, it only added to the chaotic and humorous chain of events. Gannon was truly remarkable in his depiction of a snooty, privileged actress who believes she is more successful and famous than she actually is. Incorporating Ariana Grande’s hit ‘thank you, next’ to describe Lucinda’s lengthy list of lovers was the icing on the cake, despite the questionable dancing skills of Lucinda and her paramours.

I really enjoyed Jacob Hall-Brown’s satirical imitation of a clumsy French detective. It was a hybrid of Hercule Poirot and Jacques Clouseau and the character highlighted the formulaic structure of a detective story. Even though the murder investigation was a series of frenzied interviews and allegations, ending with the reveal of Damien’s long-lost brother, there was a storyline for the audience to follow and a message about the seven deadly sins. With the clever use of a whiteboard, it was highlighted how each character represented a sin: gluttony, sloth, greed, lust, pride, envy, and wrath.

Phoebe Lynch has written a very entertaining play that mocks the murder mystery story and injects some much-needed humour and quirkiness. I commend the director (Lauren Ellis-Stretch), crew and cast for putting on an enjoyable performance. If this play is an example of the talent of a young playwright, director, theatre crew, and group of actors, then I look forward to the upcoming performances and shows they will inevitably be in.

Photo: Sam Holden Agency

The Women’s Prize for Fiction announces 2019 long list

Written by Gurnaik Johal on . Posted in Books.

This week the Women’s Prize for Fiction announced its long list of 16 novels. The list reflects a great year for fiction with Man Booker Prize winner Anna Burns and Costa Book Award winner Sally Rooney praised alongside seven debut novelists.

It has certainly been a good year for debuts, with Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer, Yvonne Battle-Felton’s Remembered, and Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott’s Swan Song getting some well-deserved recognition.

Akwaeke Emezi’s first novel, Freshwater made the long list, making them the first gender non-binary writer to be up for the Women’s Prize. They were asked whether they’d want to be part of the Women’s Prize before their publisher submitted their novel and asked again by the judges before the long list was announced.

The judges, Arifa Akbar, Dolly Alderton, Kate Williams, Leyla Hussein, and Sarah Wood knew almost nothing about the authors until after selecting their work.

From longer novels like Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage and Madeline Miller’s Circe to novellas like Sarah Moss’ Ghost Wall and Sophie van Llewyn’s Bottle Goods, this long list shows a range of forms as well as content.

You’ll find a Greek chorus of members of a love-addiction therapy group in Melissa Broder’s The Pisces and a family running ‘The Beijing Duck House’ in Lillian Li’s Number One Chinese Restaurant. Diana Evans’ timely examination of life in the Obama-era is listed alongside Pat Barker’s feminist retelling of the Iliad. 

Reading the long list means travelling from the US-Mexico border in Valeria Luiselli’s Lost Children Archive to the fictional African nation of Ukemby in Praise Songs for the Butterflies by Bernice L. McFadden. Luiselli will be in Manchester to read from Lost Children Archive on 20th March.

Previous winners include Kamila Shamsie, Zadie Smith, and Andrea Levy, making the Women’s Prize one of the UK’s most prestigious literary awards. Despite fears that smaller publishers might be priced out of this year’s awards, the list includes books from independent publishers like Dialogue Books, Fairlight Books, and Jaracanda Books.

Anyone looking for new books to read throughout 2019 might not need to look further than this list, its diversity and range are impressive. The shortlist for the prize will be announced on the 29th of April and the winner will be awarded the £30,000 prize on 5th June. 

Photo: Images Money @ Flickr

Living on £20 a week: a guide

Written by Sophia Ashby on . Posted in Lifestyle.

£20 in 7 days. That equates to roughly £2.80 a day, or the cost of a standard Morrison’s cheese sandwich. Impossible, right?

For a while now, there has been a trend of bloggers and influencers attempting to live off £1 a day. For the most part their pursuits have been depressing, if not unsuccessful. The issue I saw in their approach was to start every day with £1, rather than spending the money at once.

Let’s be real: we are all feeling the financial pressures of university. If meal deals were not tempting enough, the call to a night out is certainly. I was curious to see whether this could be done, and after an admittedly boring week, this is what I learned.

Sharing is caring — £20 a week is not a lot, but £40 between two of you will go much further. Doubling your budget with a friend will help relieve the cost of a food shop, minimise waste, and keep you motivated. I found that the challenge was quite a lonely affair. But, if you have a friend who is willing to scrimp with you, you will find alternative ways of having fun.

A packed lunch is key – this might seem like an obvious one, but buying lunch every day can really eat into your budget (if you’ll pardon the pun). The same goes for tea and coffee! Include quick and easy lunch items into your weekly shop to avoid unexpected costs.

Shop around – we have all heard the rumours that the Fallowfield Sainsbury’s is the most expensive in the country. Despite its convenience, it is not an option if you are looking to save money on food. Aldi and Lidl are your best bet. It also goes without saying that own brand alternatives are a must. Another useful tip is shopping for your fruit and vegetables at a market. There is a plethora of produce along the curry mile.

Fresh vs Tinned – cooking from scratch is an absolute must when you are on a tight budget. I would suggest perusing the tinned isle. From vegetables to pulses and even to meat, tinned cans have it all. It may seem unappealing at first, but with a little skill and creativity tinned beef isn’t so gag-inducing.

The library is your friend – living on a strict budget can really help you focus. Without the prospect of fun, you will be more likely to knuckle down and finish that assignment. It is also a free alternative to working in cafes, where you are expected to buy food or a drink to use their Wi-Fi.

Sticking to a strict budget is boring, and sometimes you will feel like you are missing out. But there are times when we must all be strict with ourselves. £20 is more than enough to feed yourself, and when it comes down to it, that is all that matters. Find alternative ways to socialise that do not include drinking. In fact, start by trying to be strict during a week that suits your academic timetable. This way, you will be less likely to feel the loss of socialising if you know you need to spend a lot of time working.

Photo: User Venet_ @Flickr

Prepping for postgrad

Written by evagerretsen on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Let me make one thing clear: no, I have not finished studying. I am in fact still in the throes of my degree and I am still allowed to eat bran flakes for dinner. Therefore, I profess no authority on the reality of living a postgrad’s life. I do not know what it is like to look back on three years of mostly drunken stupor and a bit of Jstor meandering and think – FUCK. Yet, it’s approaching. It creeps ever closer, from the middle of the second term of your first year: “it’s nearly over!” is your feeble cry as you complete another essay one minute before the deadline.

This is, therefore, an outsider’s perspective. I have become — for the purpose of this article — a spy in the house of ‘real life with no maintenance loan’. A ghost of Second Year’s existential crises. A phantom of life before having to live with my parents again. What I have learnt from my eavesdropping is just how awful the first year of this ‘freedom’ can be. It just sucks. There’s no way to sugar coat it; you will be tired, you will have less money, you will hate yourself a bit, and feel worthless if you don’t get a job right away.

Some of these worries may be worth thinking about, some are absolutely not. But, what my prying has also led me to discover is that this feeling or state does not last. This anxiety, this teetering on the edge of ‘I’m okay, really’ will end. For some, finishing can be a relief – people flourish, learn new hobbies, or find the dream career (or, perhaps more realistically, intern for someone doing the dream career without being paid for your time and effort). It’s going to be a slog no matter how shiny and presentable the university can make you.

But I will assure you that it will be ok. Take time to sleep and look after yourself; you’ll need all your strength to explain, on your 800th application, why your GCSE work experience is VERY relevant to you now. Remember, hit all the bases, try every job search website, go to the job centre, ask around.

Do not be ashamed.

My source informed me that the best thing to do is talk to people about your stress. Try to find a job at university and hold onto it after you graduate – you might feel a little more secure. Some further advice:

  • Use the university’s career service.
  • Don’t binge drink.
  • Go to the Lake District.
  • Go to the swimming pool. Cycle to work.
  • Be a better boyfriend or girlfriend than you were in uni.
  • Take Friday evenings off.
  • Try your hardest not to go further into your overdraft, and if at all possible use your last maintenance loan instalments to start paying it off – you don’t need as much money in your last terms because you should be studying anyway.
  • Save money every week, even just a tenner will add up to a nice weekend holiday in a couple of months.
  • Go to Edinburgh just to walk through the streets.
  • Be there for your friends, they will also be trying to get through this with variations on the above, and it won’t work for everyone. They will be there for you too.

Have faith. It will get better.