Hi Everyone!

Catch Up With Patch is back for this year! Welcome back to all returners and hello to all the Freshers!

The last few weeks have been crazy for myself, and the Nightline volunteers, promoting the service at as many freshers and returners events as possible. If you're a Fresher, welcome to the blog! I am Patch and I am the mascot for Nottingham Nightline. I attend events and nights out with the lovely Nightline volunteers and meet as many of you as possible

This year was the first time I have attended the freshers events for both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent. And, I have loved it! I have met so many fresh faces and partied with as many of you as possible. I have also attended a few returners events, just to remind all of you that Nightline is still there for you.

I'm going to include a load of pictures for you to laugh at from the first few weeks of uni this year, but first I juts wanted to remind you what Nottingham Nightline provide for you, as students. We are a student run service who are committed to listening to your problems, and providing you with information. We are open 7pm-8am every night during term time, and we are prepared to listen to whatever problems you may be facing. No problem is too little, or too big, for us! Just ring 0115 951 4985.
If you prefer not to speak on the phone, we also offer an online chat service that can be found on our main website. This works a bit like MSN, except without the embarrassing email address as you are anonymous to us. You choose your name, and that is all we can see of you. We then also have an anonymous email address for you to contact us through, this is nightlineanon@nottingham.ac.uk. We will reply within 48 hours and you can contact us for any non-urgent information, or if you'd like to talk through any problems.
We also provide a Skype service. If you add 'nottingham.nightline', you can voice call us and this will come through to our phones. This is particularly useful if you don't want to use your phone minutes, or credit.
Finally, there is our PostSecret service. You can submit your secrets online and through the post. To submit online, follow this link http://www.nottinghamnightline.co.uk/#/postsecret/4578069641 and to send a postcard through the post the address is: Nightline, PO Box 10368, Nottingham, NG6 6DD. The PostSecret service is very popular among students, you can add pictures to your secrets, or wait to see the picture we have added for you. Every single secret gets added to the site so remember to look out for yours after you've posted it!

I hope that has explained everything, but if it hasn't, feel free to contact us in any way you prefer asking about what we do. If you'd like to volunteer as well, we currently are recruiting; just download the application form from here, and follow the instructions: http://www.nottinghamnightline.co.uk/#/listening-volunteer/4578074082.

Now, for the pictures! The timelines of photos I did last year were very popular so I thought I had to start with one this year.

First up, it's the Trent Army.

Because bouncers might need us, too...

Our NTU Publicity Officer Brooke hogging all of the Free Hug tokens. 

Showing everyone up on the dancefloor.

My head seems to be a, sort of, sanctuary for this Trent Fresher. 

Group pic with the reps!

Our Free Hugs token appears to be being used in some form of gun hand gesture in this picture. Not sure this is what we aimed for. In fact, completely sure this is not what we aimed for.

I love giving hugs!

Not my best side.

I get all the girls, I get all the girls. 

Even the reps wanted Free Hugs!

Finally, another group photo with the reps!

I know you all had a great time at the Trent Fresher nights, and it was so fun to be a part of it. Thank you to everyone who came and asked who I was and enquired about Nightline. Remember to tell all your friends about us!

Here's UoN now..

Prepping myself for the event.

I swear I'm not that short, they're just really tall.

Patch gives the best hugs! So good you might even fall asleep mid-hug!

Woah! I said Free hugs not kisses!

The boy on the left appears to be having dinner. And dinner is my ear.

So...maybe I photo-bombed.

Some of our Publicity Volunteers!

Some very excited freshers!

Lifeguards at Baywatch.

On the bus back at the end of the week! What a great time!

I hope you've enjoyed those timelines of your freshers events. To find any of these pictures, just go to the Nottingham Nightline Facebook page. If you like the page, you will be able to tag yourself in all of the photos you are in. Also, please do follow us on Twitter @NottsNightline for updates and reminders on how to get in contact with us.

This is going to be a great year for Nightline and I hope as many of you get involved with us, and use the service, as possible. We are here for you!

See you next week!

Patch
xox