Colleagues across the University are asked if they can volunteer their time to act as chaperones for newly arrived students as part of the International Welcome Programme.

Every year, a group of volunteers go down to Heathrow Airport to help newly arrived students make the journey up to campus to start their studies.

Our staff act as chaperones for the coach, providing support and guidance to students should they need it.

Coach transfers will be running on five dates in 2020:

• Friday 4 September
• Monday 7 September
• Wednesday 16 September
• Thursday 17 September
• Friday 18 September

If you are able to attend on any of those dates, please let the team know. This is often the first time new students have travelled to the UK and more often than not, they experience a whole range of emotions.

Of course, this year there are additional concerns and anxiety created by coronavirus and students are reporting worries about getting to campus safely, which makes this role all the more important.

In terms of staff safety, additional precautions are being taken to make sure that everyone is kept safe. As part of that, the journey to Heathrow for staff will be completed in one day (those who have volunteered before may have previously been asked to stay overnight).  The coach times have been amended to make this easier for volunteers.

If you do volunteer, you will definitely be needed, so please hold the time in your diary.  Timings and details of collection and drop off points will be confirmed nearer the time.

Please provide your expressions of interest here by Wednesday 2 September or earlier so that the team can get in touch.

If you have any further questions please contact Kirsty Richardson.