The time you spend out of work is your opportunity to explore the area in which you are working. You will have the chance to go out independently or with a group of friends. Please be aware that culture and society in the UK may be different from what you are used to in your home country. It may take a while to become accustomed to the new foods and way of life.

The information below is designed to help you feel comfortable here quickly and easily. It is also to help you make the best of the time you spend here. There is useful advice on traditional customs, opening hours and some interesting places to visit.

Banking

The currency in the UK is in pound sterling (£). You will find notes worth £50, £20, £10 and £5 and coins which are in pence. Most people in the UK rarely use £50 notes so it is unlikely that you will see one while you are here. If you are working in Scotland or Northern Ireland you will find they use different bank notes. However, this is all legal tender across the UK.

If your employer is able to open a bank account for you, you will be issued with a cash card to enable you to draw cash from a cash machine. These can be found outside most banks and also outside most supermarkets, petrol stations and shopping centres. The card will have a limit on the amount you can draw at any one time. Your card will be sent to you through the post, but you cannot use it until you have been issued with a PIN number. This will arrive separately for security reasons and is required each time you draw money. DO NOT give this number to other people, even friends. Once your PIN number is known to others it is possible for them to withdraw cash from your account. The best thing to do is memorise the number and destroy the piece of paper.

If you need to go inside the bank for more important procedures, you will have to go during the working day. Most of the larger banks will be open from 9:30 to 17:00 during the week and in the morning on Saturdays. However, in smaller towns many banks will close before 15:00, on odd days of the week and on both days at the weekend.

Telephones

You may arrive in the UK expecting to see the famous red telephone boxes dotted around the streets. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case and the lovely red boxes have now been phased out by duller grey ones. However, they work just as well and if you do need to make a phone call most of them take coins and phone cards, and some may work with your bank card as well.

Please note: calls made during weekdays between the hours of 8:00 and 18:00 are more expensive in the UK. This is particularly the case if you are phoning a mobile phone number, a premium rate (0890/0845) number or overseas.


If you do need to make an important call it may be possible to use the phone in the office where you are working. You will need to ask the permission of your manager before you do this.

Below is a list of numbers that may come in useful during your stay here:

• Concordia Office 01273 422 293. You will need to follow the instructions and ask to be put through to the student side (press number 2).
• Direct Enquiries. You can ring this number to find the telephone number for any address in the UK.
• UK Operator 100.
• International Operator 155.
• Emergency services 999. You will need to request which service you need at the command.

Mobile Phones

If you bring your mobile phone to the UK you may find that it is much cheaper to purchase a British sim card than it is to use your home one. These can be bought in mobile phone shops that you will probably find in the shopping centre of the nearest town. It is recommended that you buy a 'pay as you go' card. This means that you will be able to top up your credit each time run out and need to make another phone call. Sim cards will range in price and this will depend on how many calling minutes or how much credit they come with. However, they are generally quite cheap and it you inform the sales assistant you will be phoning overseas, they may be able to organise a cheap deal for you to do this.

Email

One of the most convenient and value for money ways to communicate is via email. You will find some of our employers already have the internet installed and you will be free to use it when you wish. For others this is not the case but internet cafes can now be found in most town centres and public libraries will often have computers that you can use. This is a convenient way to stay in contact with your family and friends and also to report any problems or queries to the Concordia office.

Postal Services

You can buy stamps for postage within the UK at many newsagents and supermarkets. However, if you would like to send anything overseas it is recommended that you visit a post office to find the stamps required for this. There will be a post office in the local town or village. Post boxes are easy to find and are still red in colour.

Faxing

If you need to send any documents to Concordia or another farm it may be easier to use a fax machine. These are easy to use and most farmers will let you use theirs if you ask politely.

Food and Drink

During your stay in the UK you may want to try some of the traditional foods that are on offer here. These can be found in most towns and cities but you will find that some are more specific to certain localities across the country. Below is a list of typically British foods that you may choose to eat while you are here.

• Fish and Chips. This is best to eat if you are near the seaside but most towns in England will have a local fish and chip shop.
• Full English Breakfast. A plate full with bacon, eggs, sausages and baked beans. Can be found at most cafes.
• Sunday Lunch and Yorkshire Pudding. This is a traditional Sunday cuisine and can be found in most pubs on this day of week. It tends to be a choice of meat with vegetables, gravy and bread sauce. Very tasty!
• Jellied Eels. Traditionally from the east end of London. Try them if you dare!
• Cream Tea. Traditionally found in Cornwall and Devon but English Teas are sometimes available in country cafes and are comprised of the same thing - a cup of tea with warm scones, jam and cream.
• Cornish Pasty. Also found in the South West. Traditionally it is pastry filled with meat and vegetables.
• Black Pudding. A must for meat lovers. Can be found in most butchers to be cooked yourself.
• Haggis. A traditional Scottish dish.

Pubs

It is common in the UK to go to pubs and restaurants as a way of socialising with friends. You will find that most pubs in the country serve traditional food and this is often quite a cheap way of eating out. Pubs are open from 11:00am until 11:00pm and many now stay open much longer.

Meal times

British people are rather old fashioned when it comes to eating regimes. You will find that during a working day you will have a break in the middle of the day specially to eat your lunch. This will normally be between the hours of 12:00 - 13:00. Likewise, you will find that there will be a set time for eating in the evenings. This may be earlier than you are used to in your own country.

Attractions

The UK plays hosts to a number of tourist attractions and places to visit. In most areas you will be spoilt for choice and have to pick between theme parks and historic sites, shopping and outdoor activities. In the capital city alone you will find the stunning St. Paul's Cathedral, the gloom and doom of the Towers of London and the beautiful panoramas offered by the London Eye. Across the country there are numerous thrills to be had at Alton Towers and Thorpe Park and some stunning cathedrals that dominate the heart of many of our towns and cities.

The United Kingdom has a fascinating and varied history with many historic sites dating back hundreds of years. Stonehenge is popular with many visitors, as are the many castles and the Needles in the Isle of Wight. If you prefer the great outdoors areas such as the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands offer amazing walks and spectacles and the Eden Project in the South mixes the beauty of plants with the fun of a theme park.

Throughout the year the UK has many music and arts festivals, the biggest of which are in Brighton and Edinburgh. Many musicians tour the country every year and festivals such as Glastonbury and Leeds are popular annual highlights.

The United Kingdom is a beautiful country and wherever you are working you are sure to find fascinating places to visit on your day off. For more information on the specific area you are working you can have a look at our tourist guide and you will find the best things to do near you!

Weather and Climate

The unpredictable climate patterns in the United Kingdom make it one of the most popular conversation choices! Please remember to bring clothes for all weathers as even when it is very hot, it can get very cold in the evenings. Many British people like to discuss changes in the weather and it is a great idea for a conversation starter. As you will be spending a lot of time outdoors you will find that you will have a lot to say about it as well! The weather clearly affects farmers a great deal so it may be that your work will be affected by this (see starting work).

 

Social Attitudes

Greetings
It is normal in the UK to say please and thank you when you are out and about. British people are very polite and it is easy to seem rude in shops and public places if you do not use these words. A smile can also go a long way! When greeting people or meeting for the first time most people will shake hands or simply just say hello. Unlike some other European countries, unless we are very good friends or family we will not kiss or embrace the other person on meeting. The British are still rather reserved when it comes to things like this!

Women
Women should expect to be treated as equals to men while they are here. If you have come from a country where women are treated differently you may need to be prepared for his change. It is normal for women to go out alone and to meet up with other female and male friends. Discrimination against anyone with regards to their gender or their race is illegal in the UK.

Smoking
Whilst there are a lot of people in Britain who still smoke, it is becoming less and less popular and you will find that people are less agreeable to it here than in many countries in Europe. In many public places smoking is either banned or restricted to a specific area of the room. In places where it is banned altogether, such as buses and the London Underground, there will be no-smoking signs on display. If you are with a large group of people or in a confined space, it is considered polite to ask before lighting a cigarette.

If you are working in Scotland you will find that smoking has now been banned in ALL public areas. This includes shopping centres, restaurants and bars, indoor work places and public transport. This ban will soon be introduced in Northern Ireland (early 2007) and eventually in England and Wales (summer 2007).

Queuing

Queuing has become a bit of a custom in the United Kingdom. It simply describes the way that people stand in line in shops, bus stations and many other public places. It serves the purpose of allowing the first people to arrive to be the first who are served. If you arrive at a queue you should take your place at the back and wait your turn, it can make people very angry if you go straight to the front!