UoB First Dates hosted by Carnival RAG is back

UoB’s take 0n the hit Channel 4 show First Dates is back. The series of online dates will take place via Zoom from March 8 to 12, or participants can organise their own date.

The event is being organised by UoB fundraising society Carnival RAG, with all proceeds going to charity.

We’ve been under Coronavirus restrictions for nearly a year. Socialising seems but a distant memory. Tinder’s tune of “so, how’s lockdown treating you?” has repressed our desires to meet anyone via dating apps. Our love lives are looking bleak.

It seems UoB First Dates couldn’t have come at a better time.

The President of Carnival RAG, Rhiannon Moss told The Birmingham Tab “although we’ve had to adapt our traditional First Dates format, we still wanted to give the students of UoB the opportunity to meet their perfect match, especially when dating has been so difficult this year”.

Potential candidates will be charged £3 to fill in an application form giving details about themselves and what they’re looking for. Rhiannon urged applicants to “give as much information as possible to help you get the best possible match.”

The “Carnival Cupids” will then carefully match people to ensure the couples are as well-suited as possible.

Participants will meet their potential love interest via Zoom during virtual dates held between Monday, March 8 and Thursday, March 12.

Proceeds from the application charge will go to the society’s allocated charities. This year, RAG are supporting:

• Birmingham Women’s Hospital, which provides specialist healthcare to over 50,000 people each year;

• Sense TouchBase Pears, a community centre in Birmingham that promotes inclusivity, particularly of people living with disabilities;

• Papyrus, a charity for the prevention of young suicide.

Rosie Down, one of the society’s Outreach and Engagement Coordinators explained to The Birmingham Tab that she will be working “to match all participants and make sure the event runs smoothly” in order to raise as much money for the “fantastic local charities” which the committee feel “very passionately” about.

Undeterred by current Coronavirus restrictions, the team were keen to run First Dates “as fundraising for everyone has been a struggle this year because of Covid.”

The RAG committee member also acknowledged that “this has been a hard year for students to find love” and that the RAG team believe “this is a great chance for people to meet someone new in lockdown”.

Ellie, a third year student studying History with English Literature has already signed up for her virtual date. She told The Birmingham Tab “I’ve been single for over a year, I’ve had a couple of non relationships and I just want to try and meet someone!

“I’m interested to see who they pair me with, especially with the option for you to be paired with someone of the same gender as you if you’re gay, bi or queer,” she explained.

Second year Computer Science student Ali heard about Carnival RAG’s event through a friend, he is looking forward to his date. “Who knows, maybe things go well and the date becomes something more” he told The Birmingham Tab.

RAG’s president hopes many students will get involved in First Dates this year. “Anyone looking for love should give our Carnival Cupids the chance to find them their perfect match

“This is a great opportunity to experience the very best of lockdown dating, whilst supporting some amazing causes” she told The Birmingham Tab.

Applications for UoB First Dates close on March 5.

For more information about UoB First Dates and how to apply, visit the Carnival RAG First Dates 2021 Facebook event page. 

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