UEL Winter Festival fills Stratford with festive energy
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Published
27 November 2025
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The University of East London’s Stratford Campus welcomed hundreds of residents, families, students and staff this week for its Community Health Day and Winter Festival, an energetic celebration filled with creativity, culture and community wellbeing.
As part of UEL’s Winter Appeal to raise funds for students facing financial hardship, visitors took part in a large number of creative workshops, from wreath making and neon sign decorating to clay ornaments and candle crafting. The Appeal helps ensure students receive essential support when they need it most.
Neighbourhood Health Hub: Bringing healthcare closer to home
Building on the community spirit of the day, the Neighbourhood Health Hub, took centre stage as one of the busiest and most vibrant spaces on campus. Launched earlier this year as the UK’s first university-led primary care pilot, the Hub offers residents easy access to physiotherapy, counselling, health checks and wellbeing support while giving students valuable hands-on clinical experience that benefits the local community.
Throughout the day, the campus was brought to life with lively activities, including immersive drumming sessions and ice skating. The festival also offered a full programme of health and wellbeing experiences, with free wellness shots, drop-in health checks and demonstrations delivered by staff and students. Exhibitions across campus showcased digital safety installations, martial arts demonstrations, EDI celebrations, caricature artists and community showcases, creating a vibrant winter atmosphere from morning until evening.
Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President of UEL, said:
The Winter Festival is packed with festive and creative activities that bring students, staff and everyone in the community together. At this time of year with colder, shorter days, we want to bring people together, lift spirits and offer moments of joy. Visitors also had the chance to see our brand new Neighbourhood Health Hub, the first university-led primary care pilot of its kind, and it’s how we’re bringing healthcare closer to home for our communities in east London as it’s also our Community Health Day and a big send off for our first ever Year of Health.”
She added:
“I am full of pride for our brilliant students and staff, and I was delighted that their work was recognised as finalists at this year’s Times Higher Education Awards for both University of the Year and Business School of the Year.”
As part of the University’s ongoing Year of Health, the festival celebrated how education and community work hand in hand. The initiative continues to bring students, staff, partners and local residents together to explore new ideas in health and wellbeing—from new services to strengthened community partnerships. It will extend into 2026 as work continues to address health inequalities and strengthen community wellbeing across the region and around the globe with international partners.