Old Waconian and Parent Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering overview: We regularly need speakers to give talks to current pupils. This might be subject specific, to offer students insights into future career paths, or may form part of an enrichment activity focused on developing broader skills and experiences. 

Time commitment: 1-2 hours – including time to prepare and deliver the talk. Some talks require you to be on site while others can be delivered digitally.

Skills and aptitude: Some confidence in speaking in front of groups (although we also encourage you to use this for skills development) and an ability to engage listeners by telling a story or bringing your career to life through examples.

Suitable for: Anyone who can talk authentically about their CHS experience and/or career/life experience to date.

Register your interest: To express interest in giving a talk please first sign up to our online CHS Community. Once registered, head to the Careers page and check the “Deliver a talk to current students” box in the “Volunteer to help” section. We may not come back to you straight away but will follow up when your experience matches a speaker opportunity.  Alternatively, please email Charlotte Aspin if you’re interested in a specific opportunity listed below. 

Upper Sixth BeyondCHS speaker programme

• 30-40 minute talk to approx. 140 students
• Talk to fit under one of these themes: Health and Wellbeing, Living in the Wider World, Relationships
• Thursdays, 11.15am
• In person preferred, but remote is possible

Future Self Breakfasts

• 30 minute talk to a small group of interested pupils from the Senior School and Sixth Form (between 5 and 20 pupils)
• Talk to showcase your career as a professional, and an opportunity for pupils to ask questions about your industry
• Date can be flexible, 8am start
• In person or remote

Year 12 Pathways Talk/Workshop

• 30-60 minute talk/workshop to a class of Sixth Form pupils.
• The Pathways are: Arts / Sport / Social Science and Humanities / Enterprise and Finance / Medical Sciences / Modern Languages / STEM
• Tuesday, anytime between 1.45-3.45pm
• In person or remote
• Our Enterprise and Finance pathway pupils are working on business plans and need talks under the following themes: idea generation, market research, branding, finance.

Volunteering overview: Each July, Year 12 pupils complete a week long work experience placement. Pupils also request work shadowing or experience over a longer period of time. We would love to offer opportunities to work alongside alumni and parents. As an employer, you can give support, guidance and insight about how your business or industry functions and impart the passion you have for your work. Our pupils are talented and capable individuals who could be given the opportunity to support your business in a particular area of need, or be given a small and exciting project to investigate and report on. 

Time commitment: 1 week (or ad hoc days). Setting up the placement involves completing a short online form to share company information/liability insurance. Your time commitment during the week will vary depending on whether you or your company’s HR department are the main pupil contact.

Skills and aptitude: A willingness to pass on advice to others and open your networks.

Suitable for: Anyone who owns a company, or works in a company, that is willing to accommodate work experience placements. 

Register your interest: If you, or your company, could offer a work experience placement please complete our expression of interest form. We will match up suitable pupils and contact you with the next steps. Please note we may not follow up immediately.

Volunteering overview: Share your CHS experience with prospective CHS families. After all, who better to share their story with a new student than someone who has walked in their shoes or a family who has chosen the School for their child? Ambassadors would need to attend at least one of our upcoming Open House Events at CHS. These are taking place on Saturday 30th September and Saturday 18th November 2023. 

Time commitment: Ideally you would spend 3.5 hours at one Open Event. Half an hour to settle in and 3 hours speaking to visitors.

Skills and aptitude: Confident at speaking to young people and their families. Have a passion for the School and be able to relay this to others.

Suitable for: Anyone who is happy to answer questions such as: [Families] Why did you choose CHS? What has your experience been so far? Why would you recommend it to others? [Old Waconians] Why did you love your time at Cheadle Hulme School? What made it unique? How did it help you get to where you are today? Please note, Old Waconian ambassadors who left CHS in the last 10 years are able to relay a more relevant experience.

Register your interest: If you are interested in this opportunity please email Charlotte Aspin. Confirm which date you would be available to help on, and, for Old Waconians, whether there is a specific department that you would like to help in.

Volunteering overview: We love to hear what our Old Waconians are doing now, and find out how the CHS experience has shaped your career. By sharing your story, you will be helping to show what CHS alumni go on to achieve and inspire others to do the same. Your story could appear on the CHS website, social media channels, or feature in prospectuses and internal communications campaigns, to give prospective and current students a glimpse of their future.

Time commitment: 1 hour – comprising contact with the External Relations team and the review and approval of text prior to publication. We will also ask you to supply a photo, which we can use alongside your article.

Skills and aptitude: An ability and willingness to reflect on your career to date and pass on advice to others.

Suitable for: Anyone. We aim to showcase the diversity of the Old Waconian network and want to hear from alumni working in the field they studied for as well as those whose careers have taken a different route. 

Register your interest: To express interest in sharing a career profile please first sign up to our online CHS Community. Once registered, head to the Careers page and check the “Share a career profile” box in the “Volunteer to help” section. We will come back to you when we are working on particular campaigns. Please note we may not follow up immediately.

Volunteering overview: The aim of our Old Waconian mentoring programme is to tap into the knowledge, experience and expertise of our alumni community, and to facilitate a culture of sharing and support among our Old Waconians. The focus is on helping less experienced OWs to explore their career options and to feel more prepared for their next career move. As a mentor, you will be matched with a less experienced OW mentee who will set out the areas they’d like to work on – from improving their CV to interview tips or insights into the skills which employers are looking for.

Time commitment: Up to 6 hours over three months, during which time you will exchange emails with your mentee and possibly chat online, or in some cases meet up face-to-face.

Skills and aptitude: You may already provide line management or coaching to others in the workplace, or you may be keen to move into management and want to use the mentoring programme to gain experience.

Suitable for: Old Waconians with experience of the workplace who are happy to share their insights and advice to others. Mentoring can also help to connect you with new talent entering the sector.      

Register your interest: To express interest in becoming a mentor please first sign up to our online CHS Community. Once registered, head to the Careers page and check the “Mentoring relationship” box in the “Volunteer to help” section. We will get in touch to let you know about relevant opportunities.

Volunteering overview: CHS is in need of volunteer minibus drivers and chaperones to help transport our local state primary school children to take part in exciting activities here at School this year! Helping out is a great way to promote your personal sense of fulfilment by being active and helping people – and is a core Waconian Value of CHS.

Time commitment: Do you have any spare time on Mondays and Fridays in the term time, and would you be willing to help provide this valuable service to our local community? Exact timings will vary depending on the event.

Skills and aptitude: To be a volunteer minibus driver you will need to have a standard full UK driving licence. You will also be required to have a live DBS check with CHS. If driving isn’t an option for you then maybe you would consider helping out as a chaperone or host for events.

Register your interest: If you would like to find out more, please email er@chschool.co.uk, contact our Operations Team directly on 0161 488 3336, or call into School to see Caroline Dunn.

Volunteering overview: CHS is in need of parent volunteers to join a small but dedicated team who listen to readers in our state partner primary schools. The schools are Adswood Primary School, Cale Green Primary School, Cheadle Heath Primary School and Lumhead Primary School. Current parent volunteers describe the reading programme as the highlight of their week.

Time commitment: Commitment varies from 1 – 3 hours a week during term time only with flexibility within the teams to cover holidays etc.

Skills and aptitude: To be a volunteer you will need to apply for a DBS check with CHS. No prior experience required; just enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference! Training and support will be provided.

Register your interest: If you would like to find out more, please email carolinedunn@chschool.co.uk, contact us on 0161 488 3330, or call into School to see