Why should you come to this magnificent event? And how exactly are we making this sustainable?
Dearest gentle reader,
It appears we’ve been away for far too long. I am therefore delighted to invite you all to partake in the forthcoming Masquerade Ball of the Union which is scheduled as follows:
- Date: Friday 27 March 2026
- Time: 19:00 – 21:30
- Venue: Portrait Room, Grove House, Froebel College.
This event theme is Bridgerton . A formal ball with formalwear, masks and classical music!
You can purchase your tickets here.
The ball has been designed purposely to embed sustainability into students’ lifestyle. As a result, you will have the opportunity to take part in:
Free mask-making workshops
In collaboration with all colleges, there will be mask making workshops for you to make free masks to use at the ball. Check the workshop schedules below:
Whitelands College
- Date: Tuesday 24 March
- Time: 15:00 – 17:00
- Venue: Whitelands Reception
Froebel College
- Date: Tuesday 24 March
- Time: 15:00 – 17:00
- Venue: Union Bar
Southlands College
- Date: Thursday 26 March
- Time: 15:00 – 17:00
- Venue: The Reef
Free ballroom dance classes
Join the dance class next Wednesday to learn some basic dance skills such as Salsa, Waltz and Ballroom.
- Date: Every Wednesday (last one to take place on 25 March)
- Time: 4pm-6pm
- Venue: Monte Hall, Froebel College.
BOOK your place here!
A Clothes-Swap Event
Come along to grab free clothes and accessories that you will be able to use for the Masquerade Ball. You would need to show your student ID card at the event before you can select a clothing. We encourage you to bring any clothing you have to swap with to the event in exchange for the formalwear.
- Date: Tuesday 24 March
- Time: 11:30am – 2:30pm
- Venue: University Library Foyer
*Second Venue: Whitelands Reception between 15:00 – 17:00
There will also be:
- Red Carpet and event professional photography
- Free complimentary drinks at the ball (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic)
- Free entrance into Cabaret Night (Live Music) after the ball at the Union Bar
Why a Masquerade Ball?
This initiative is a response to the environmental impact of fast fashion, making sure that celebration does not come at the expense of sustainability. Fast fashion is widely considered to be low-quality clothing produced rapidly to follow current trends in the industry and sold at rock-bottom prices. Many of the clothes bought are thrown away after being worn just a handful of times: the industry produces an estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles waste annually, much of which is burnt or finds its way to landfill, while less than 1% of used clothing is recycled into new garments.
According to biologicaldiversity.org, the fast fashion industry is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, responsible for as much as 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions. What we are trying to do is to slow down the rate of consumption which would hopefully slow down the rate of fast fashion production in the long run.
This is why we have introduced the mask making workshops where you can make your own masks from materials that would ordinarily have gone to the landfill. We are also collecting donation of formalwear which students will be able to take away free of charge, saving you potential hundreds of Pounds in fashion cost and keeping the already existing clothing in circulation.
As a member of this ton (university), it is our hope that you will engage with the various activities we have put in place before the ball and present yourselves glamorously at the ball in a sustainable fashion.
With best wishes from your president,
Joshua Kayode.