Falmouth Exeter Plus Archives & Special Collections has been featured in The National Archives’ A Year in Archives 2025! This annual publication showcases inspiring stories from archives across the UK, and our team’s work was chosen as an Enrichment Case Study for 2025.
The case study showcases the creative ways the Nick Darke Archive was revitalised during Falmouth University’s Life, Work, Legacy event, commemorating 20 years since the playwright’s passing.
Carole Green, Archivist and Special Collections Officer, summed up the spirit of the work:
“After fulfilling their original purpose, records may appear to pause in the archive – suspended between past and future. Yet their continued use in fresh and innovative ways breathes new life into them, enriching our understanding of the life and work of Nick Darke and allowing his legacy to inspire generations to come.”
Students, staff, and visitors gathered at two vibrant Sustainability Fairs hosted by FX Plus Head of Sustainability, Oliver Milliner, and Marketing & Engagement Manager, Jennie Hosken, in partnership with the Students’ Union. Held at Penryn Campus (Upper Stannary) on Wednesday, 19 March, and at Falmouth Campus (Fox Café) on Thursday, 20 March, both events ran from 12 PM to 3 PM, attracting over 200 attendees over the two days, eager to explore sustainable ideas, practices, and connect with local changemakers.
Each fair featured a diverse mix of local eco-conscious businesses, grassroots organisations, SU societies, and talented student crafters, creating a dynamic marketplace that celebrated sustainable living and environmental innovation.
The atmosphere was one of enthusiasm and collaboration. “Just wanted to send a quick thank you and well done for the first day of the Sustainability Fair,” said Students’ Union Vice President, Marketa Carruthers. “I think the stalls were overall really positively engaged with.”
A standout highlight of the events was the giveaway of 200 bags of fresh, locally sourced vegetables—generously sponsored by the FX Plus Sustainability Team and organised by SU society Penryn Produce. Attendees could select three types of vegetables or a mixed-leaf salad, promoting low-waste, healthy living.
Local suppliers such as Trewithen Dairy and Jolly’s Drinks offered free samples and insights into their sustainable practices, while attendees engaged with a wide range of organisations, including:
FX Plus Sustainability Team – Engaged students in the Travel Survey and shared updates on campus sustainability initiatives.
Food & Drink Team – Distributed pre-loved, plant-based cookbooks and gathered feedback on campus catering and the Meat-Free Mondays trial.
Sustrans – Provided advice on walking, cycling, and public transport, distributed free bus tickets, and promoted discounted youth travel in collaboration with Cornwall Council.
Wave Rewild Yoga – Introduced eco-anxiety embodiment workshops to support emotional wellbeing and sustainable lifestyle choices.
99p Films – Highlighted upcoming social cinema events, including Hvaldimir and The Forgotten Temperate Rainforest.
RJ Working – Shared their work in youth-led climate advocacy and offered information about internships and creative projects.
Fal Bookbinding Society – Promoted traditional bookbinding techniques using donated materials and encouraged participation in sustainability-focused workshops, including papermaking.
Penryn Press – Showcased student-published materials for sale, produced locally and sustainably in partnership with local printers and Falmouth’s Rubicund Bookshop.
Reflecting on the events, Jennie Hosken said: “Thank you to all the incredible, energetic, and passionate stallholders who participated in our Sustainability Fairs and helped make them such a success. There was a real buzz at both events, which was very inspiring. We were thrilled to help students, staff, and visitors form meaningful connections with local sustainable initiatives and organisations. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to future events.”
From free ginger beer and plant-based cookbooks to rainforest aromas and sustainable transport advice, the Sustainability Fairs offered a lively and inspiring platform for learning, collaboration, and collective action toward a greener future.
New national bus fares have now been set following the expiry of government subsidies. This means many day-to-day tickets have become more expensive; however, this news post outlines the deals and bundles that are available for your commute to-and-from campus and across Cornwall. *
Two mobile apps exist whereby bus deals and bundles can be purchased via First Kernow or Transport for Cornwall. You can also purchase the standard daily rate tickets via the tap-on-tap-off system on buses.
Before purchasing any deals and bundles, it is worth considering your commuting frequency and format throughout the year. There are different bundles available that range from weekly to annual bundles.
* All the deals and bundles featured in this article were available at the time of writing it, in March 2025, but may be subject to change. Please ensure you do your own research prior to making any purchase.
The standard tap-on-tap-off rates are below if you are travelling within the Falmouth/Penryn zone. More information on the new standard rates if you are travelling Cornwall wide (including non-students and staff).
These deals can only be purchased by using your university (student and staff) email address. To purchase a bundle, first download the app and register for an account using your university email address, and authenticate it as instructed.
Once you’re registered and are signed-in, you can locate the Falmouth/Penryn Zone bundles using the same instructions as those detailed in the First Bus: Penryn and Falmouth Spring Term Bundle Deal article relating to purchasing the Unlimited Travel Penryn/Falmouth Term Time Bundle.
Penryn & Falmouth Term Student & Staff Bundle (£110)
If you are travelling frequently within the Falmouth/Penryn zone, this deal gives you unlimited travel for three months. Ensure you purchase this bundle as soon as it is issued to gain the full value of the money before expiry. Ensure you sign up and verify this bundle using your student or staff university email address. You can travel with this bundle on all First buses. For more information, view this deal on the First Bus app.
If you are travelling frequently within the Falmouth/Penryn zone, this deal gives you unlimited travel from September to July. Ensure you purchase this bundle as soon as it is issued in September to gain the full value of the money before expiry. Ensure you sign up and verify this bundle using your student or staff university email address. You can travel with this bundle on all First buses. For more information, view this deal on the First Bus app.
Cornwall Travel Commuter Club (CCTC) (£100 – was £65)
Signing up to the Cornwall Travel Commuter Club gives you access to purchase the Falmouth and Kernow network deals (more information on these bundles below).
Penryn Campus – Falmouth Zone (deals vary)
You can purchase 5-day, 20-day, weekly or monthly bundles using your student or staff university email address. This deal can be used on any First bus service. Ensure you sign up to the Cornwall Travel Commuter Club prior to purchasing any of these bundles. For any more information, visit the First Bus app or contact their customer service team.
You can purchase 5-day, 10-day, 20-day, weekly or monthly bundles using your student or staff university email address. This deal can be used on any First bus service. Ensure you sign up to the Cornwall Travel Commuter Club prior to purchasing any of these bundles. For any more information, visit the First Bus app or contact their customer service team.
Unlimited one day travel on buses across Cornwall: £5
Unlimited 7 day travel on buses across Cornwall: £20
Adult bundles:
Adult bus bundles are available on the app based on the standard rates, however you may find bundles available via the Frist Bus app better value for money.
In recognition of University Mental Health Day, we are launching our rebranded and refreshed ‘Wellbeing Collection’ at Penryn and Falmouth Campus libraries.
Previously known as the ‘Bibliotherapy Collection’, our library team have consulted with students, the Student Union, and the Wellbeing Team to put together a curated selection of resources to enhance health and wellbeing.
Topics in this collection include:
Neurodiversity, Disability & Chronic Illness
Mental Health Conditions (including Depression and Anxiety)
Nature Therapy and Crafting for Wellbeing
Mindfulness, Meditation and Healthy Sleep
Addiction, Alcoholism & Eating Disorders
Living Well (including Life Skills, Grief, Relationships, and the Menopause)
You can find the Penryn Wellbeing Collection on Level 1, near the Student Helpdesk, and our Falmouth Library Wellbeing Collection next to the Illustrated Book Collection.
Check out our full collection through the Resource List, where you can also request items to be collected from either campus library: https://tinyurl.com/ynzvnbdn
Falmouth University and the University of Exeter are delivering a campus wide travel survey to gather insights into how staff and students are travelling to and from their Cornwall and Devon campuses.
Why your Opinion Matters
Each year we survey students and staff about their experiences traveling to and from campus whether they are working there or studying. If a student, this also includes how you get to campus from your non-term-time address. This information helps us understand how we can make sustainable travel more convenient, sustainable and accessible to everyone. That means looking beyond buses and trains etc. We’re also interested in hearing your views on walking, cycling routes and what services you have access to.
Survey responses will provide valuable information for campus planning, services and infrastructure improvement. Responses will also help improve our carbon profiling as part of the university’s net-zero strategies.
By filling out this survey, you’re helping us understand what works and what needs to be done better. This is your opportunity to have your say and influence our future plans.
This survey is relevant to: all staff and students at the University of Exeter, Falmouth University, FX Plus, Exeter Students’ Guild and Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union.
The more responses we receive, the more influential the data can be so please take a few minutes and fill it in.
For students completing the survey, twenty £50 Amazon vouchers have been allocated, split between University of Exeter, Devon campuses and Cornwall campuses including Falmouth University.
Thank you for helping us improve our travel and transport programs
HMD 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. Its theme this year was ‘For a Better Future’ and encouraged people to come together, learn both from and about the past, and take actions to make a better future for all.
“It was a meaningful service, which felt particularly poignant this year as it marked 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. It was a privilege to have been invited to take part in the ceremony – and attend the commemoration with our Jewish Society students,” said Gemma.
Falmouth University Journalism & Creative Writing students attended the day and wrote the following article:
‘For a better future’
By Aimee Bentley, Danielle Hutchinson & Marla Payne (students on the BA Journalism & Creative Writing, Falmouth University)
The Holocaust genocide that occurred in Nazi Germany has been one of the most devastating events in human history.
80 years on from the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, communities continue to keep the memory of those who perished, including six million Jewish people, alive.
This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme was ‘for a better future’.
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) reminds us all of what was lost, and what still needs to change, while connecting different diverse communities and backgrounds.
The service, held at Truro Cathedral on the 27th of January, allowed families of survivors to share their own stories ‘of ‘strength, courage, and community.’
Stalls shared their support, with organisations being represented such as:
Black Voices Cornwall, Inclusion Cornwall, Cornwall Council Refugee Resettlement Service, and LGBTQ+ organisations – Intercom Trust, FFLAG, and Transparent Presence CIC.
Devon and Cornwall Police’s diverse community team was present at the event to ‘engage with community groups and run events (like HMD) across Cornwall to get those conversations going and keep them alive.’
The team believe it is important to educate people on ‘what discrimination is, where it came from and how it can spark up quickly.’
Image 1: The candle lighting ceremony held at Truro Cathedral to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2025. Photograph by Danielle Hutchinson.
Image 2: A display from the exhibition held at Truro Cathedral on Holocaust Memorial Day 2025. Photograph by Danielle Hutchinson.
The Dell Tech Explore Tour EMEA will touchdown at Penryn campus to showcase their Alienware Intel gaming equipment. Inside the tour bus you will be able to explore their latest immersive technology and get hands-on experiences with their Dell computers and accessories.
You won’t be able to miss the futuristic roadshow truck, it will be parked outside the Exchange on Tuesday 4 February, from 10:00am until 16:00pm, and looks like a spaceship.
Here’s a sneak peek at what you can find onboard:
The bus is equipped with a variety of Alienware gaming devices, as well as monitors, client peripherals and other accessories.
AI Photo Booth: Take a selfie alone or with friends! Receive an AI generated photo to post on your favourite social platforms.
‘Spin to win’ entries to a draw where you could win a Dell laptop
The First Bus Spring Term bundle deal will be available for purchase from the 23rd of December. The bundle will then be activated for usage from the 6th of January through to the 4th of April 2025 and is priced at £110. The bundle provides unlimited travel between Falmouth and Penryn using the U1, U1A, U1E, U2, U3, U1X and the U4.
This deal is available for both students and staff, please ensure you use your student or staff email address to activate the deal via the First bus app.
Standard bus fares and other bundles are expected to rise from January 2025 onwards based on national subsidised bus fares expiring.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to purchase the bundle. Please email our team at sustainability@fxplus.ac.uk for any other questions.
N.B. Due to a processing error, we were made aware that students and staff with Falmouth and FX Plus email domains were unable to validate their tickets. As of Friday 24 January 2025, we received confirmation from First Bus that this issue has now been resolved, and you are now able to validate your ticket. Please do this now, and within the 30 days from when you purchased the bundle. Although you will have been able to use your ticket from 6 January, failing to validate it within the 30 days will result in your ticket being cancelled. If you have any further issues, please contact First bus customer services via the online form on the website.
Step 1:
Download the First bus app and ensure you use your student or staff email address (otherwise the bundle will not be activated).
Step 2:
Select the ‘Tickets’ tab at the bottom of the screen and then select ‘Buy’ at the top of the screen.
Step 3:
This will take you to a ‘select region’ option, select ‘Cornwall’.
Step 4:
Select ‘Penryn Campus’.
Step 5:
Select ‘Student Tickets’ (this is also applicable for staff).
Step 6:
Select ‘Penryn and Falmouth Spring Term’.
Step 7:
Purchase the bundle using your student or staff email address. Please note, the description includes bus titles ‘KUL, KUL1A etc’. Please ignore this as these will be getting updated to U1, U1A, U1E, U2, U3, U1X and the U4.
Thursday, 28th November: Fox Café, Falmouth Campus
Time: 11 AM – 3 PM
Explore over 30 stalls at each market, featuring handcrafted creations by talented students and graduates, as well as SU societies showcasing their festive events and fundraising initiatives.
What’s On Offer?
Discover a variety of unique gifts and crafts, including:
Prints
Handmade jewellery
Clothing
Crochet
Candles
Illustrated Christmas cards
So much more!!
Take the chance to meet the makers, learn about their crafts, and find inspiration for your Christmas shopping—or perhaps treat yourself!
Featured Maker
Amber Spaargaren, a 3rd-year Illustration student, will be at both markets selling stunning prints and gifts inspired by foraged seaweeds from Gylly Beach. She is raising funds for Medical Aid for Palestine, so don’t miss her table!
Festive Food
Wednesday at the Stannary: Indulge in our Festive Street menu available until 12 December. Enjoy a Christmas turkey curry or a butternut squash masala at the Christmas market and top it off with a warm mulled wine or mulled apple from the Stannary Bar!
Thursday at Fox Café: Enjoy Fox Café’s festive menu available every Thursday until 19th December. On 28th tuck into a turkey or nutless roast ciabatta with sage and onion stuffing, sprout and mustard slaw, gravy and crispy roast potatoes.
Christmas Dinner: A traditional Christmas meal with all the trimmings is available at The Stannary every Thursday until 12th December (12pm – 2pm. £9.50).
Festive pizzas at Koofi: Savour a delicious Pigs in Blankets pizza (£9), Brie and Cranberry pizza (£9), or opt for the Ultimate Festive Feast, plus a free crust dipper! (£11).
Support the Community
We’re collecting donations for the Penryn and Falmouth Foodbank to help those in need this festive season. Donation points are located:
Penryn Campus: Lower Stannary, near the Deli Bar.
Falmouth Campus: Outside the Art shop.
Please bring new, sealed, and in-date food items to support this important cause.
Why Attend?
Celebrate the season, support student crafters, and find one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones—all while enjoying delicious festive treats. Open to students, staff, and visitors alike, these events promise to make your holidays brighter!
A Photovoltaic (PV) extension on the AMATA roof at Penryn campus, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 20.3 tonnes per year, was successfully installed last month (July 2024). It is now fully operational and connected to the high-tech campus PV system. The new PV panels are estimated to contribute over £30,000 of financial savings each year.
This installation adds to the total PV output capacity by approximately 13%, bringing us to almost 1,000 kWp across Penryn campus. This latest addition of PV panels, along with those previously installed on the Daphne Du Maurier building (October 2023) and the roofs of Peter Lanyon and the Sports Centre (July 2023), forms a key part of our carbon reduction programme.
Fergus Chan, Carbon and Energy Manager at FX Plus, said: “we are really pleased to have completed this project, which forms part of our carbon reduction programme to reduce Penryn campus’ demand on energy drawn from the grid by increasing our own ability to generate renewable energy here on campus.”
The PV system at Penryn campus, now spanning across four buildings, will reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 169 tonnes each year. In addition to reducing the universities joint impact on the environment; the financial savings are great, too. In total, the investment is predicted to generate a £145,000 annual cost saving. These calculations are based on 18p/kWh but savings could be greater than this whilst the current unit rate continues to rise.
To date (August 2024), we have recorded a 60% reduction in our relative energy emissions (electricity & gas) against our 2005/2006 baseline on Penryn Campus (based on per meter squared). The campus PV system is one of the main projects contributing towards this success, as well as other sustainably driven modifications such as LED and electrical upgrades, analytics, and sub-metering upgrades.
Together, the Universities and FX Plus Estates and Sustainability teams, are tirelessly looking into new technology and finding new ways to introduce green energy initiatives, improve energy efficiency and reduce our campuses reliance on fossil fuels. For more information about this, contact sustainability@fxplus.ac.uk.
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