First Dates is coming to UoB

Carnival RAG, UoB’s largest student-led fundraising society, are hosting their very own First Dates event this February. Based on Channel 4’s popular reality television programme, the event is available to any student who wishes to sign up and have the self-named ‘Carnival Cupids’ choose them a partner.

Carnival RAG is a fundraising society which aims to ‘raise as much money as possible through as many daring, innovative and exciting ways’ such as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, cycling from London to Paris, and yes, putting your love life in the hands of total strangers.

This event will be closely related to the original First Dates which is now in its ninth series and all the profits will be donated to the charities St Mary’s Hospice, Beat, and Little Hearts Matter. It has already been successfully run at other universities, with Cambridge's version getting over 2,000 sign-ups and raising over £13,000 for their chosen charities.

UoB's Guild TV will film the event in the typical First Dates fashion, conducting before and after interviews with participants. However, if you don't think your first date nerves could take the added pressure of an audience analysing your every painful joke, don't be put off getting involved as Carnival Rag assured The Tab that they will only film those who agree to be on camera.

Students will have to pay £5 for an application form which asks various questions about themselves and what they are looking for in a prospective partner. After they have been matched by the team, the couples will be sent to a restaurant in Harbourne on one of four possible weekdays around Valentine’s Day.

The restaurants have also agreed to offer set menus or free alcohol

There will also be a ‘bribe system’ available which allows participants to request or avoid certain characteristics, societies, or courses for a mere £2. Perfect if you have a uni ex that you’d rather avoid. Alternatively, if you’ve got a uni crush that you want to snag this valentines, why not use the option to request a certain person who the Carnival RAG team will then invite for you.

With the option of single or double dates, you can even go along with a friend, perfect for those first date nerves. So what are you waiting for? The sign up is now live and for a quick and cheap application form this could be your most successful Valentine’s Day yet! So hurry and get your applications in before the deadline on Sunday 4th February.

You can sign up here: https://www.guildofstudents.com/events/6411/2885/