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Hello BUNAC’ers!
Summer is on it’s way and now we have put the clocks forward we can all enjoy lovely long bright evenings!
There are some great pubs on the social programme in the coming months, so if you haven’t made it out to a pub meet yet, now’s your chance! In April we’re heading to the Pembroke Castle, the Queen Boadicea and the Crown Tavern. The Queen Boadicea hold quiz nights every Wednesday starting at 7pm so if you want to test your British knowledge then go along a little bit earlier and join us after for a pint! Visit our website www.bunac.org/events for more information.
As well as the pub meets, we have three trips heading out of London in April and May so if you fancy escaping the smog for a day then book yourself on now! Over the Easter weekend, Friday 10th – 13th April, we are venturing overseas to Amsterdam for a four day trip to see the sights. We will be getting the ferry across the English Channel, stopping in Brussels on the way then on to Amsterdam for some culture, museums and a canal cruise. Overnight accommodation will be on a barge, we’ll have a chance to stock up on duty free goods then back via Bruges on the way home! All of this for £249!
If that doesn’t float your boat then come and join us on our day trip to Bath & Stonehenge on Saturday 25th April. At £23 you can’t afford to miss it! Entrance into Stonehenge is included. The first stop will be at the iconic pile of rocks that are believed to have been there for the last 5000 years. The Roman and Georgian City of Bath is the home to the famous Roman Baths, a beautiful cathedral and some great shopping! This is a great opportunity to get out and about in a beautiful part of England.
Saturday 16th – 17th May, we will also be heading into wonderful Wales for some sightseeing and horseriding. We’ll be heading west out of London, across the borders and deep into the Welsh countryside. On the Saturday we stop at various Welsh locations and on the Sunday the trip includes a full day’s horseriding in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park. The trip costs £135 and includes coach transport, hostel accommodation with breakfast and horseriding. Leaving promptly at 8.30am from ISH we arrive back about 9pm Sunday night.
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This time for our competition we’re giving you the opportunity to win 2 tickets for our Bath & Stonehenge trip on Saturday 25th April! To enter the competition send us an e-mail with your name, address, phone number and 1 reason why you love Britain (the draw will be random, but Lou and I just fancied knowing what you may come up with!). Entries should be emailed to us at wib@bunac.org.uk and the draw will be made on Friday 17th April.
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This is the last newsletter where we can remind our US participants that you can take advantage of the Work in Ireland programme directly after the Work in Britain programme, even if you have graduated. It’s a 4 month programme that will allow you to work anywhere in the Republic of Ireland. You can find out more information on the website at www.bunac.org/incoming, but you will need to have at least 6 weeks left on your Blue Card. The cost of the programme is £149. |
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If you are currently using a P38(s) from BUNAC to claim tax exemption, your employer will probably need a new one for the start of next financial year on April 5th 2009. You can request another P38(s) from BUNAC. Everyone will also be given a form called a P60 from employer - this will summarise your employment in the UK from the date you started work until 5th of April 2009 and is an important document. You should receive this P60 automatically from each employer by the end of April.
You may wish to check that your employer has your correct address on file so that this P60 reaches you. The Personal Allowance will also be increasing to £6,475 (formerly £6,035) this April. The first £124 (approximately) you earn each week will be tax free and anything you earn over that will be taxed at 20%. Good news for those of you wanting to stay below the tax limit! If you are paying tax you should ensure that you are on the correct tax code. The usual tax code for BUNACers paying tax is 647L (formerly 603L). Your tax code can usually be found on your pay slip, if you are in any doubt then check with your employer.
If your tax code is BR you are paying too much tax. There is generally no need for BUNAC participants to do a UK tax return. If you wish to make a tax claim you must wait until the end of your stay – BUNAC has the forms to do this, just give us a call when you are about to finish working and we can send you the correct form with instructions (please note that there are no guarantees that you will receive a refund). See your programme handbook or ask BUNAC staff if you have any questions.
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We are sure that most of you have had the misfortune of staying in a slightly dodgy hostel and it’s never a pleasant experience. However, with this handy list, you can say goodbye to bed bugs and general hostel misery. A list of the worlds best hostels has been compiled and we thought you may be interested. Dubbed ‘The Hoscars’ (clever hey) you can now plan your travels around super hostels to stay in!
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The winners are:
1. Travellers House, Lisbon, PORTUGAL www.travellershouse.com
2. Rossio Hostel, Lisbon, PORTUGAL www.hostelworld.com
3. Lisbon Lounge Hostel, Lisbon, PORTUGAL www.lisbonloungehostel.com
4. The Riverhouse Backpackers, Cardiff, WALES www.riverhousebackpackers.com
5. Greg & Tom Hostel, Krakow, POLAND www.gregtomhostel.com
6. Sitting on the city walls courtyard house, CHINA www.beijingcitywalls.com
7. Academy Hostel, Florence, ITALY www.academyhostel.eu
8. Goodnight Backpackers Hostel, Lisbon, PORTUGAL www.hostelworld.com
9. Flamingo Hostel, Krakow, POLAND www.flamingo-hostel.com
10. Mambo Tango Backpackers, Barcelona, SPAIN www.hostelworld.com
So we are off to Lisbon then – seems it’s the place to be for top 10 hostels! Just the one entry for Britain, with the Riverhouse Backpackers, but don’t be put off visiting UK hostels, there are many great hostels in some super locations all over the UK. So get out there and see the UK and Europe on a budget and in style! |
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BUNAC office closures – Easter & May bank holidays
The BUNAC office will be closed on;
- Good Friday 10th April
- Easter Monday 12th April
In May there are also two bank (public) holidays so the BUNAC office will be closed on these days. They fall on;
- Monday 4th May
- Monday 25th May
So take advantage and do a long weekend somewhere! Look on the following website for some bank holiday trip ideas:
www.radicaltravel.com – 15% discount available to you
www.internationalfriends.co.uk - £10 off any trip
www.contiki.com – 15% discount available to you
View the BUNAC website for relevant discount codes.
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Grand National – Thursday 2nd – Saturday 4th April
Since 1839, Liverpool has hosted one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world. The four and a half mile course attracts spectators from all over the world. People that aren’t necessarily gamblers will find themselves heading to the betting shops to place their bets on their ‘lucky’ horses! If you want to head to the racecourse to see the race for yourself, tickets range from £17 to £87 depending on how you want to splash out! Otherwise head into your local pub and you’ll find a rather large crowd shouting at the screen willing their chosen horse to victory! It’s great fun and even if you don’t like to gamble we would really recommend just watching it in the pub. The races take place over the course of the 3 days, but the famous one is held at 4.15pm on Saturday 4th April. Look on www.grandnational.org.uk for more information.
London Marathon – Sunday 26th April
If you happen to be in London on Sunday 26th April, head into the centre of the city and join the crowds of spectators for the London marathon. Some 60,000 runners will be pounding the streets of London along the 26.2 mile course. Look on www.london-marathon.co.uk for the course map. It’s a great atmosphere so get out there and cheer a few people on, doesn’t matter if you don’t know them you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll appreciate it!
London isn’t the only place that is getting active, it’s not too late to enter the Edinburgh marathon if you fancy a challenge! It takes place on Sunday 31st May, entry closes on 8th May, through various charities so get training! Go to www.edinburgh-marathon.com for more information.
Camden Crawl – Friday 24th – Saturday 25th April
To kick off the music festivals of the year, Camden is the place to head to in April for the Camden Crawl. Spread over the weekend of the 24th April for two nights, 150 various up and coming bands will be playing at 30 of the hippest and happening venues in Camden. Day tickets are priced at £32.50 and two-day tickets at £55. Look on www.thecamdencrawl.com for more information.
The Queen’s birthday….well one of them! – Tuesday 21st April
One of the perks of being the Queen is that you get two birthdays! The Queen’s Birthday Gun Salutes takes place on her actual birthday – 21st April, so head to Hyde Park to see cannon and guns being fired across the park or out over the Thames from the Tower of London. You’ll see the Honourable Artillery Company and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery dressed in their full ceremonial dress.
Cheese rolling – Monday 25th May, Cooper’s Hill - Gloucestershire
Intrigued? Essentially a large Gloucestershire cheese gets rolled down a treachorous hill and a stampede ensues to see who catches it first! Broken arms aren’t unusual at this strange event! There are various races throughout the day including separate ones for men and women. If you want to find out more go to the official website at www.cheese-rolling.co.uk. If you want to take part, various tour companies will be organising day trips to the event.
Brighton festival – Saturday 2nd – Sunday 25th May
Brighton seems to be the place to be in May. Every year the seaside city hosts a three week long arts festival including theatre, dance, music, books and lots more. Gigs and performances will be held in small venues, big concert halls and outdoors so plenty of variety! Look on www.brightonfestival.org.uk for more information.
Other events around the UK
Saturday 2nd – Monday 4th May English National Surfing Championships in Newquay - www.watergatebay.co.uk.
Friday 22nd - Sun 24th May - Bournemouth rugby sevens and music festival - www.bournemouthsevens.com. |
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Ceilidh Culture
The Edinburgh Ceilidh Culture festival is currently taking place until 18th April. For more information on traditional Scottish music, dance and storytelling events taking place in Edinburgh during the festival visit www.ceilidhculture.co.uk.
Beltane Fire Festival
The annual Beltane Fire Festival takes place on Thursday 30th April on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. After Hogmanay, the Beltane Fire Festival is probably one of Edinburgh’s liveliest parties! Every year around 12000 people gather to share and marvel at this spectacular procession - inspired by the ancient Gaelic Festival of Beltane, marking the beginning of summer, with a heady mix of drums, fire, theatre & pagan ritual. For more information visit www.beltane.org.
Ghost Fest
The award winning Mary King’s Ghost Fest returns to Edinburgh from Friday 8th – 17th May 2008. Now entering it’s fifth year, the festival is bigger and better than ever before with a programme of events ranging from tales of the supernatural to paranormal investigations and psychic meetings to keep the most avid of ghost hunters and the most serious of sceptics entertained for hours! So if you wish to be scared, visit www.edinburghghostfest.com for more details.
Bank Mail
Remember that BUNAC can forward your bank mail to you for free, you just need to let us know your address and that you would like us to forward your bank mail. You can do this on our website www.bunac.org/incoming and fill in the ‘change your address/contact details’ section (don’t forget to tick the box for bank mail forwarding!).
Report Cards
Please remember that you need to fill out your report cards to keep BUNAC up to date with your details. Your 2nd report card needs to be completed once you have a job and a place to live and your 3rd report card needs to be filled out when you have finished on the programme. You can complete your report cards quickly and easily online at our website www.bunac.org/incoming.
Remember that BUNAC staff are always happy to help you with any problems or questions, just call (020) 7251 3472 or email wib@bunac.org.uk.
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Thanks,
Caroline & Lou
Check out our BUNAC Facebook page
Incoming Programmes, BUNAC, 16 Bowling Green Lane, London, EC1R 0QH wib@bunac.org.uk
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