Connect: a group for spouses
Connect is a group of student spouses (men and women) who meet for support and friendship through college and beyond. It exists to provide opportunities for worship, prayer, pastoral care, personal development, training and fun.
Some members work full time, some part time and some not at all. Some have children; others don't. Some spouses don't live in Bristol but further away and so Connect tries to keep those ‘spouses afar' up to date with what's happening and invite them to any special events.
Connect meets in many forms during the college terms. There are weekly Monday evening (large group, small group and social evenings) and Wednesday morning meetings (Bible study and prayer) as well as other opportunities to meet up (coffee outings, toddler group, picnics, and so on), and there is a system for cooking for those who have just had babies. The group helps to organise a family event during the welcome programme when new students arrive.
Spouses are encouraged to share in college life as fully as possible. Some choose to take the opportunity to sign up for a course of study, attend lectures or take part in college worship. Some (with or without their children) join the college community at meal times. Whole community events also happen to which spouses are invited.