Meeting People in London

So, you’ve just arrived in a new city and there are tons of sights you want to explore, and bars and restaurants to discover. There’s only one problem - you have nobody to go with.

Those of us with experience of moving to a new city know what those first few weeks and months can feel like, but once you've made those first few connections, your social circle often just explodes!

 Here are our tips for meeting people in London:

• Join a class or club or society: whether it’s your mutual interest in painting, hiking or desire to learn Spanish, you’ll already have something in common with the people you meet in class and it’s also a great way to learn new skills!
• Volunteer: there are loads of opportunities for volunteering across the UK, whether it’s in a charity shop, working with the elderly or homeless, you’ll get more involved in the local community, as well as feeling good about yourself.
• Find meetups in your local area: There are loads of meetups all across London and the UK, you will definitely find one you’re interested in and the whole idea is to go along and meet new people. (Here's a link to the London meetups page: http://www.meetup.com/cities/gb/17/london/ )
• Try a language exchange: it can be one organised through your school, university or college, or alternatively one you organise independently online. It’s a good way to meet people who know the local area and can give you some tips on where to go, as well as being another opportunity to practise your English.
• Say yes: whether it is to a house party organised by your course mates or afternoon tea with the hairdresser, say yes to as many invitations as you can. This shows people that you’re interested in doing things with them, as well as giving you more opportunities to meet people.
• Be brave: just because someone hasn’t asked you to go and get a coffee or if you want to join them on  a trip to the cinema, doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like to if you asked. Strike up a conversation with the person next to you in your economics lecture, or the person who always sits opposite you in your literature seminar and see if they would like to meet up.

Once you start getting to know people, it’s easier to meet more people and before you know it, you’ll have a social circle just like at home.

Worried your English is holding you back from meeting new people? Improve your confidence with our personalised English courses! To find out more, e-mail us at hello@confidentlivinguk.co.uk or tweet us at @CLivingUK

DON'T MISS OUT on our "Essay Writing" series! Don't delay: LIKE us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, and we'll make sure you get all of our free support and advice (hey, it's not even classed as procrastination). :) 

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Getting a National Insurance Number

Looking for a job in the UK? Before you can work legally in the UK you'll need a National Insurance number.

If you're from the EU you may be a little apprehensive, especially if you have heard of people trying to go through a similar process in your home country (When I was living in Spain I had to go back to the office 5 times and cry at 2 different people before getting my NIE). But we have some great news for you, the process in the UK is much more straight forward.

Here is what to do:

1 - Call the Jobcentre plus to arrange an appointment in your local area 
     (0845 600 0643).

The job centre will send you written confirmation of the time and location of your appointment.

2 - Go to the appointment.

At the interview you will be asked to confirm your identity, so make sure you bring:

·         at least one proof of identity with you, such as your passport, ideally, bring two or three.

·         proof of address, so you can bring a bank statement or housing contract with you.

·         If you already have a job offer, bring a letter from your employer, stating that they would like to offer you a job.

During the interview you will be asked questions about your background, why you have come to the UK and why you need a national insurance number.

TOP TIP: If you are very worried about speaking English at the interview, you can request an interpreter for your language. This will usually be arranged via telephone.

3 - Go home and wait to receive your National Insurance number through the post.

You should be ready to start working now!

If you are looking for a job or are new to the UK, check out our blog post on opening a bank account for tips and for help getting your CV up to scratch or coaching to improve your English or confidence at interviews e-mail us at hello@confidentlivinguk.co.uk

Tweet us at @CLivingUK if you have any further questions!

DON'T MISS OUT on our "Essay Writing" series! Don't delay: LIKE us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, and we'll make sure you get all of our free support and advice (hey, it's not even classed as procrastination). :) 

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Opening a bank account in the UK

When you're new to a country, opening a bank account is one of the first things you'll have to do, and can also seem like a bit of a headache. Luckily, it is actually simpler than it seems. Here is our step by step guide to opening a bank account in the UK:

What to take with you:

• Your passport or national identity card or drivers licence (if you're from outside the EU, you should bring two forms of ID)
• Proof of address (x2) - this can be your housing contract, or a formal letter sent to your UK address. It must include your full name and the address.

Before opening the account:

• Make an appointment at the bank - You often need an appointment to open an account, and sometimes you have to wait a week or two before there are any appointments free.
• Double check with the person who makes your appointment for you, that the documents you have are all that their banks requires to open an account.
• Decide what kind of account you want. Usually you will just want a "current account", which isn't for saving, but means you will have access to your money via a debit or cash card, but you may want to open a savings account instead.

TOP TIP - If you're in a hurry to open an account, the bigger banks tend to require more documents and have longer waiting times for making appointments. Try smaller banks and building societies such as Lloyds, the Co-op, Halifax or Nationwide to see if they can open your account the same day.

On the day:

• Make sure you remember all your documents.
• Be on time for your appointment, the banks sometimes have other people waiting to snap up appointments if people aren't there on time.
• Remember that you don't have to pay for an account in the UK, you don't need to take out a complimentary insurance policy and there is no obligation to deposit money on the day.

Still have some questions about opening a bank account in the UK? Tweet us at @CLivingUK

DON'T MISS OUT on our "Essay Writing" series! Don't delay: LIKE us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, and we'll make sure you get all of our free support and advice (hey, it's not even classed as procrastination). :) 

Look right for the links >>>