Welcome to Sidney Sussex College!
Assalamu’Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah! Our names are Tamanna and Eisah and we are so happy to be serving as your college reps this year and our role is to be something like a muslim pastoral mentor haha so please contact us with any queries, concerns etc and we’ll do our best to help Insha’Allah.
I, (Tamanna) will unfortunately not be in college this year whilst I am away on my year abroad but am more than happy for you to reach out to me through email which is attached at the end. I’ll be back next year (which will come round sooner than you think!) so please feel free to introduce yourselves. Eisah is also of course in and around college to help you out with whatever you might need in the meantime!
We pray that Allah makes your time at Sidney and ultimately in Cambridge a beautiful one, may He use your experience here as a means to make and keep you close to him always :)
Pros
Very central and opposite Sainsburys.
Pretty gardens that can be used at any time.
Lots of benches and tables out in the gardens so you can study/ eat outside.
Fridges in every room within college
Well equipped kitchens with ovens.
En-suite accommodation available in second and third year, if the room isn’t en-suite there is usually a sink within it.
Some very nice accommodation options with sets.
Library open 24/7.
Onsite gym (also has women’s only hours)
Beautiful chapel, not for you to pray in obviously… but just to appreciate the beautiful architecture and it's always nice and quiet so can be a nice space to reflect in etc.
Most of your friends will usually be close by.
The staff and porters are so incredibly nice!
You get a key when you start which lets you through a tiny side door into college and you always feel very cool and mysterious when you use it. I know I sound like a loser but trust me (I may also just be delusional).
Oliver Cromwell's head is buried somewhere in the chapel which is always a nice (albeit a little grim) fact to share with friends and family.
Cons
Lots of construction work taking place over the next few years.
Noise from nearby clubs.
People who are going clubbing will use the benches just in front of Harrinton, Kent or Sussex house, to hang out etc and it can be quite annoying.
Lots of very creaky stairs
Washing Facilities
We don’t have free laundry service :(
It costs £2.65 for a wash and under £2 to use the dryer.
Prayer Space
Unfortunately we don’t have a prayer room yet. From conversations with college staff we understand this to be due to lack of space/ available rooms as Sidney is a small college. We’re hoping this will change soon Insha’Allah, perhaps you can help lobby our cause!
Halal Food
As far as I’m aware the chicken is almost always halal and has been everytime I have eaten in hall. You could always just ask to make sure- it's what I do.
Fridge/Freezer Provision
Every room at Sidney has a fridge, but not a freezer.
Ensuite
Ensuites aren't very common at Sidney but you are able to request one due to religious reasons. Most non ensuite rooms do have a sink though which helps a lot.
Concluding Remark
As we said in the beginning, Eisah and I are more than happy for you to reach out to us if you need anything! Even if it's just to chat, please feel free to do so, we really want to be a part of your support system here at University which can sometimes be a daunting place. Sidney is beautiful and can be even more so if you learn to actively find the spots you love the most so explore (shouldn’t take too long…) and do just that Insha’Allah. Eisah can’t wait to see you soon and I can’t wait to hear from you and meet you in the coming year insha’Allah.
Signed,
Tamanna (sni24@cam.ac.uk)
Eisah