The Cuth’s “Livers Out Culture”

What do you mean by “Livers Out Culture”?
Until relatively recently, St. Cuthbert’s Society functioned very differently to many of the other colleges in that most of its accommodation provision came in the form of outlying houses across Durham rather than in accommodation blocks, as it does now. First years were assigned to an outlying property but would still come to Cuth’s on the Bailey for food and to socialise.

What’s different now?

In the past three years, however, Cuth’s has undergone radical changes and we now function far more like most of the other Durham Colleges. In 2005 we were given the Parsons’ Field site at the Racecourse area of the city on Old Elvet and in 2006 Brooks House, a state of the art block of 192 ensuite flats with a new JCR and bar, was opened to Cuths students for the first time. Provision was also made so that those living at Parsons Field could choose whether they wanted to be entirely self-catered or part-catered (10 meals per week, Monday-Friday). This gives Cuths more versatility than any other college in terms of what we can offer as far as accommodation is concerned.

The provision of Brooks House now allows Cuth’s to accept returning students back into Society accommodation. For many within Cuth’s, however, this is a very big change as such a concept never existed before the academic year 2006-2007, despite the fact that it is common place within many other colleges.

There is currently a big push to encourage returning students to fill our voids at Parsons Field next year. This is an exciting change for Cuth’s and, although I would urge you to enjoy living out as much as possible, there are a number of benefits to living in at Parsons Field. Please see the comparison between the two on the ‘Resources Page’ in the main ‘Livers Out’ directory of the site.

If you have any more questions please feel free to email me on cuthberts.liversout@durham.ac.uk.

If you are interested in finding out more about living in Society accommodation in your 2nd, 3rd, 4th or Postgraduate years of study, please contact Sue Cole, Facilities Manager.