It has been a challenging year for all of us at Nottingham, but we are acutely aware of the particular impact on our student community. National restrictions on our daily lives have redefined the student experience. However, your resilience, diligence and contribution to tackling the pandemic have been inspiring.

With lockdown restrictions expected to lift over the coming weeks, we know you will be eager to make the most of your newfound freedoms. However, we urge you to remain cautious; many members of our community, and indeed the majority of students, have not yet received the vaccine and are keen to protect themselves and their families. If you do plan to celebrate, please be considerate of your neighbours, remembering that many of them will be elderly, have young children or have work patterns where an undisturbed night is essential.

If you are planning to move out of your term-time accommodation this summer, please make sure you leave your property in good condition and dispose of all waste appropriately. The British Heart Foundation’s Pack for Good campaign allows you to donate unwanted items, raising money for charity and reducing your carbon footprint. Please keep your neighbourhood clean and support good causes at the same time.

We also wish to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has participated in the Covid-19 asymptomatic testing programme. Please ensure you book a test before travelling home to help keep your loved ones safe.

We also urge you to book your vaccine as soon as it is offered to you - this makes a huge difference to everybody’s safety and will prove essential in ensuring we stay on track for much greater levels of in-person teaching and social activity in the new year.

During the pandemic Nottingham students have delivered vaccines, supported the most vulnerable members of our community with visits and food parcels, and taken part in research that has helped us better understand Covid-19 – and how to fight it. We trust that you will continue to bring about positive change whether you are leaving Nottingham for good or returning for the next academic year.

For many of you, these will be the final exams you sit at the University of Nottingham so we would like to close by wishing you the best of luck for any remaining exams, and by extending our best wishes for your future endeavours. Do enjoy a well-earned summer.

Best wishes,