Services & Amenities

Our main campus for higher education courses is located in Chorley. Here we deliberately maintain an intimate and supportive environment that is welcoming for all age groups. It's usual for our tutors to know much more than just your first name - they will have a unique perspective on your individual needs and aspirations, and unlike many of the large universities, you won't get lost in the crowd. We're a small campus with a BIG attitude offering an innovative and creative learning environment!

Facilities

At our Chorley campus, our high quality, up-to-date and accessible facilities include:

• a well-stocked library and learning centre offering over 38,000 volumes; 130+ journals; course specific study packs and support; unlimited free Internet access; plus facilities for research.
• state-of-the-art computer suites.
• 'wireless' networking - meaning you can access the Internet anywhere in the building.
• high-tech on-line communications in our relaxed 10-seater Internet café.
• bespoke art studios, workshops and darkroom.
• airy classrooms with first-class resources and amenities.

Other facilities available at our Leyland Campus include modern science laboratories and computer-aided engineering facilities, plus our new state-of-the-art 'High Performance Centre' sports laboratory.

Off Campus

One of the best aspects of coming to Runshaw is its proximity to some of the best cities, culture and natural beauty in Britain. Nearby is the city of Preston, full of life with a thriving student culture and nightlife, superb shopping and excellent theatres and galleries. Travel slightly further and experience the uniqueness of the North's biggest and brightest cities –

Liverpool and Manchester are both within easy reach by car or train. Travel 20 miles north and visit historic Lancaster, or step into the breathtaking beauty of the Lake District with its spectacular views and adventurous outdoor living. To the east, the Trough of Bowland offers time out from the hustle and bustle with sweeping hills and beautiful walks, and the Runshaw campus itself is minutes from the lush green of the Lancashire countryside. If you feel like sampling some traditional British seaside fare, Southport and Blackpool are a half hour drive or bus journey from the college.

Libraries

Runshaw Libraries offer a range of materials including books, journals, DVDs, e-books/ e-journals and e-databases. There are a variety of study spaces, including quiet individual study areas and a group work area for joint projects. The Library has a bank of computers, linked to the College Network, where you can do your research, type up assignments or access the Library's electronic resources.

Highly experienced staff are able to help you find the information you need for your coursework and assignments, as well as providing workshops in how to carry out effective research and how to reference research. They provide leaflets to help you with recommended web sites for your subject, as well as links to all of the above through the College's virtual learning environment (ie MOODLE).

Details of opening hours are displayed at each Centre but Euxton Lane will be open from 8.30am until 8.15pm Monday to Thursday and until 4.30pm on Fridays.

Langdale Road will be open from 8.30am each day, closing at 5pm each day except Wednesday (7pm). The Euxton Lane and Langdale Road Libraries are also open during College holidays (except Christmas) from 9am to 12 noon and from 1pm to 3pm. Any variation to these times will be advertised in advance.

What's in the Libraries?
The Libraries hold extensive collections of books, journals and DVDs etc. The Library building provides quiet and silent study areas and bookable rooms for group and single use.

E-Resources
We subscribe to thousands of e-resources which include 'e-journals' and 'e-books', giving you on-line access to high quality academic information.

What is Athens?
You can access e-resources by using 'Athens'. You will need a username and password to access resources, which will be sent to your UCLan e-mail address following enrolment.

In addition to the library facilities available at Runshaw College, you will also have full membership of UCLan's library, including computer network and Internet access. UCLan services can be accessed from Runshaw College libraries by using VALNOW (the 'Virtual Academic Library of the North West'). When you start your course at Runshaw, you will be shown how to use this service which allows you to loan, reserve and renew books; access electronic resources (eg e-books and journal articles); and talk to subject specialists without travelling to UCLan. If you want to use UCLan's library, opening hour information and service details are available at www.uclan.ac.uk/library , tel: 01772 895355, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Restaurant

Runshaw College offers a variety of restaurants, cafes and food courts.

Euxton Lane Restaurant
The Restaurant is open for hot breakfast snacks from 9am and provides lunch services from 11am to 2pm. Offering hot meals - including vegetarian choices, hot pasta and salads - the restaurant also offers hot and cold drinks. It is open Monday to Thursday evenings, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

At our Langdale Road campus you will find a variety of catering and retail outlets including:

Mardale Restaurant
Our recently refurbished and extended Mardale restaurant is a food court featuring four outlets: 'The Hot Food Counter', 'The Deli Bar', 'Pasta & Panini Bar' and the 'Grab & Go'.

Dalehead Fast Food Restaurant
Open for hot breakfast snacks from 8.30am until 11am, with lunch services from 11am to 3pm. (Lunch snacks are available all day on request). The Fast Food Restaurant serves burgers and chips cooked to order, with soft drinks. Vegetarian choices are also available.

Picasso's
Picasso's is open from 10.30am to 1.30pm daily and serves sandwiches, soup, confectionery, hot and cold drinks.

Pasta Bar
Open from 11am to 2.30pm daily, the Pasta Bar has been established to meet the healthy eating needs of students.

Mardale Shop
Open 8.45am to 4.30pm daily, and Tuesday to Thursday evenings from 6pm to 7.30pm, the shop sells confectionery, hot pies, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks.

Hot Dog Stand
Open from 11.30am to 1.30pm, the Hot Dog Stand is situated in the Mardale Shop atrium. It serves German hotdogs in a freshly baked baguette with a selection of sauces available.

The Courtyard Cafe
Open from 9.30am to 2pm the Courtyard Cafe serves sandwiches, hot breakfasts, jacket potatoes, cakes, hot and cold drinks.

Creative Media
The Creative Media Shop is open from 8.45am to 3.30pm and sells art materials, stationery, photographic goods, national newspapers, magazines, gifts and greeting cards.

Runshaw Retail
Set up in 2006, Runshaw Retail sells clothing, stationery and food. It accepts Switch and offers cash back.

The Bistro
Open to higher education students and staff, the Bistro is located at the rear of the Dalehead Building. It serves lunch Tuesdays to Fridays between 11.45am and 1pm during term time. Main courses are only £2.75 and a range of themed events are also available. For details of our themed events, call 01772 642010 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Art Shop (Euxton Lane)

The Euxton Lane Art Shop sells art materials, paper and photographic goods. The shop is available to staff and students and opening times are:

Monday
09:10 - 10:00
12:20 - 13:00

Tuesday
09:30 - 10:15
12:20 - 13:00
18:45 - 19:15

Wednesday
09:10 - 10:00
12:20 - 13:00
18:45 - 19:15

Thursday
09:10 - 10:00
12:20 - 13:00
18:45 - 19:15

Friday
09:10 - 10:00
12:20 - 13:00

Opening Times may change in line with the College course programme.

Student Council

The Student Council meets on a regular basis throughout the year and acts as a forum for students to have their say on College wide matters.

Students' Union

The Students' Union is an independent body representing the interests of students. Through the Union you can get advice and support, meet new people and try new activities. Becoming a member of the Students' Union allows you to join clubs and attend events organised by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), as well as providing access to UCLan's students' union building (53 Degrees).

A big bonus of NUS membership is also being able to take advantage of the discounts and services available through an NUS 'Extra Card'. The card is not only a fantastic discount card but is also a combined International Student Identity Card (ISIC). Providing more than 30,000 discounts in over 100 countries, the card is available to purchase for just £11 from the Students' Union (at Runshaw College or UCLan www.yourunion.co.uk) or on-line at www.nusextra.co.uk/

The NUS Extra Card can be used at hundreds of shops around the UK and overseas, to receive offers on clothes, entertainment, eating out and much more. Current discounters include: Pizza Express, Superdrug, La Senza, Asos, New Look, McDonalds, Amazon, Play.com, JJB Sports, Ryman Stationers, Reef Clothing and Pizza Hut. 

Sports Laboratory 

The High Performance Centre is used by Runshaw Higher Education students to rigorously test the physical fitness of athletes. Students are able to evaluate the health and fitness of athletes and find out more about their areas of strength and areas that they need to improve.

Runshaw is the only college in the area to have this full collection and combination of equipment. The new centre, which cost over £80,000 to complete, has been supported by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) through capital funding associated with higher education programmes. 

UCLan’s Dr Steve Atkins, Academic Lead for the Centre for Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences, said "This is great news for students studying on sport and exercise foundation degrees at Runshaw College. The new facilities will not only give students access to a state-of the-art sports science environment, and access to top sporting professionals, but will also provide an excellent preparation for those considering sports science degree programmes at UCLan.''

The centre will primarily be used for educational purposes, providing students with the skills and knowledge to assess physical and health related fitness in a sport science laboratory setting.  However it will also be used to assess athletes from sporting clubs who are affiliated with Runshaw, such as St Helens RLFC, and also Runshaw’s very own academy athletes. In the future it is hoped that the laboratory will be given official approval to enable the college to conduct and publish its own research. 

Equipment in the lab includes:

• Wattbike – Official GB cycle, the first to be officially endorsed by the GB cycling federation.
• Woodway treadmill – Allows for greater speed acceleration and provides greater shock absorption.
• Cortex online gas Analysing Equipment – determines pulmonary gas exchange which enables collection of variables such as VO2max (athletes aerobic capacity).
• Dartfish video Software –allows students to analyse live games and provide feedback on strength and weaknesses.
• Lactate Pro –analyses blood lactate samples to enable the monitoring of an athlete’s high intensity training ability.
• Body Fat Ultra Sound Analyser – the latest in body fat assessment.
• Team Pro Heart Rate Monitoring –gives live heart rate monitoring of a full team.
• Smart Speed/Jump – the latest in speed and jump testing device.