Author: clare.young

Alumni and friends gathered in Hannover for a festive alumni get-together this November. Hosted by the Germany Alumni Network, the evening was a great success.

Alumni and friends from around Germany met at the Hannover Christmas Market and shared their memories of Bristol over a glass of mulled wine.

A special thanks goes to Robin Knop (Cert 2018) & Torge Steensen (MSc 2010) for coordinating the event and making it such a success. Events such as these are central to building a strong network of alumni in Germany.

Please join the Germany Alumni Network Linkedin group to hear about future events.

Alumni gave a warm welcome to our students undertaking their study abroad year in Boston, at a welcome event this November. Hosted by the Boston Alumni Network, alumni helped welcome students as they navigate their first few weeks in Boston.

The evening was a great success, students enjoyed the chance to meet alumni and hear about their experiences, both in Bristol and Boston. Alumni had the opportunity to catch up with old friends as well as meet and connect with alumni who were new to the city.

A special thanks to Jon Kanter (BA 1992), who helped co-ordinate the get-together held in a lovely space in Central Boston. The group was updated with plans of a new space – Connect Boston – within the University’s new alumni engagement platform, Bristol Connects. Bristol Connects is an exclusive, online space for alumni, students and staff.

A very big thank you goes to all Bristol Volunteers who give up their time to support the University by helping students and keeping the Boston alumni network connected.

Find out more about our volunteer-led groups and networks and about Bristol Connects.

Alumni and friends gathered in central Sydney for an alumni get-together this October. Hosted by University of Bristol Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), Dr Erik Lithander, the evening was a great success.

Alumni and friends from around Sydney were warmly welcomed to a drinks reception, alumni had the chance to catch up with old friends and meet alumni new to the city. Erik provided alumni with updates on the exciting new developments happening in Bristol.

Events such as these are central to building a strong network of alumni in Australia, and our special thanks go to Izzi Barnes (MSci 2015) and Lorna Whitwam (MSc 2005) for all their help in coordinating the event and making it such a success.

If you would like to organise an alumni get-together in your city, please contact us at alumni-volunteers@bristol.ac.uk.

 

Become part of Bristol’s bright, collective and strong community of experts by volunteering your time and expertise. We work with departments across the University to match our alumni volunteers with relevant and rewarding opportunities.

Explore some of our ongoing volunteering opportunities below.

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Offer your time as a mentor
We are looking for engaged professionals to share their expertise with our students. There are several mentoring schemes you could get involved with across the University – current mentoring opportunities are listed below:

Bristol Mentors 
Bristol Mentors is a programme that matches students with an alumni mentor, who can help them explore ideas and share advice on how to break into industry. With a focus on supporting students from under-represented backgrounds, eligible students will be matched with a mentor to provide support throughout the academic year.

For more information about our Bristol Mentors programme, get in touch with the Bristol Volunteers team at alumni-volunteers@bristol.ac.uk.

Social Sciences Mentoring
Are you a Social Sciences and Law graduate and using your degree in your current role? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Use your expertise and experience to help guide our students through their studies and help them realise their future in social sciences field.

To find out more contact the Professional Liaison Network at pln-fssl@bristol.ac.uk.

Professional Law Mentoring Scheme
Our alumni are very successful in a broad range of legal careers and are an excellent source of guidance and inspiration for students. The Professional Law Mentoring Scheme aims to bring together these alumni to inspire current second year LLB and MA students and influence their career journeys.

If you work in a commercial legal role and would like to be involved as a mentor for the scheme, please get in touch with the School of Law Employability team at law-employability@bristol.ac.uk. 

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Bristol Career Insights events
We are looking for alumni who can share their career stories, give exclusive insights into their industries and share their experience at our upcoming Bristol & London Career Insights events:
Bristol, Tuesday 15 October 2019
London, Tuesday  5 November 2019

If you could support current students and recent graduates looking to take the next steps in their careers please get in touch with the Bristol Volunteers team at alumni-volunteers@bristol.ac.uk.

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Distinguished Alumni Law Lecture Series
Each year the School of Law invites senior judges, barristers and partners in leading law firms to give guest lectures through the Distinguished Alumni Law Lecture Series. The School are looking to involve new speakers in the programme – if you are keen to give something back and share an inspiring story with our students, we would love to hear from you.

To find out more information, please contact Alumni Coordinator, Dr Oliver Quick, Oliver.Quick@bristol.ac.uk. 

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Would you like to help the Churchill Hall Association Committee?
Churchill Hall Association (CHA) comprises all those who have lived at Churchill Hall. The CHA Committee organises activities designed to support the Hall and to engage all members of the CHA community.

The CHA Committee is looking for assistance and to diversify its membership. They would particularly welcome recent Churchillians to help better represent the ideas of the entirety of the CHA community. Churchillians based in and around Bristol would also be very valuable.

If you would like to join the CHA Committee or discuss other volunteering options, please contact the Committee at committee@churchillhallassociation.co.uk.

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Clifton Hill House Association 
Anthony Duncalf, current Physics students (2018-), is starting an Association of Clifton Hill House. Anthony is looking for local Clifton Hill House alumni to participate in initial meetings, spread the word and possibly join the Committee.

To find out more please contact the Bristol Volunteers team at alumni-volunteers@bristol.ac.uk.

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Build our global alumni networks
Working in partnership with the University, we have alumni networks, professional groups, Halls Associations, sports groups and networks in many locations all over the world. These networks help members to gain new social and professional contacts, benefit from advice and expertise, connect with other like-minded alumni, and gain access to exclusive activities.

To find out how you can connect with our groups, or for more information about starting a new network, please contact the Bristol Volunteers team at alumni-volunteers@bristol.ac.uk.

Many thanks to alumni Harri Davies (LLB 2013) and Tom Rowland (BSc 2012) were able to join us for the University of Bristol undergraduate open day in June, to speak to, and inspire our prospective students.

We are very grateful to our Bristol Volunteers who offer their time and expertise to support events for those considering Bristol. Students very much value the opportunity and it gives those considering a degree at Bristol a clear picture of how we can support their career aspirations and enables them to see the variety of opportunity open to them after graduation.

Delighted to have been invited to speak to six form applicants at the University of Bristol Open Day. Really impressed with the questions about my epic time at Bristol and during my year abroad in Hong Kong.

Harri Davies (LLB 2013), Opportunities Manager, Aspiring Solicitors

 

If you would like to share your career story with prospective students and support the University of Bristol in this way, please get in touch- alumni-volunteers@bristol.ac.uk

 

A big thank you to our Bristol Volunteers for giving their time, experience and expertise to our final year students and recent graduates, at our latest Bristol Career Insights events. Alumni shared their career stories and experiences to help our recent graduates take positive next steps in their careers.

We welcomed alumni from a number of different industries to speak to current students and recent graduates about their next steps – from securing a career in the city to setting up their own business; across the arts, legal, technology, finance and many more!

Below, read recent graduate and alumni speaker experiences of the events. You can also view pictures of these events by visiting the University of Bristol alumni and friends Flickr page.

“I met a range of interesting people, professional alumni in positions/roles that I wouldn’t usually have access to or think about engaging with. But it’s amazing what great advice you can glean when you go along and ask for it.”

Recent graduate: Joel Willcocks (BSc 2018), Service Executive at Appear Here

 

 

 

“I was glad to have the opportunity to give something back to the University of Bristol, which has benefited me greatly in my career. It was also nice to have an opportunity to reflect on my own work philosophy in the hope of having something worthwhile to share with recent Bristol graduates.”

Alumni speaker: Patrick Raleigh (BSc 2003), Director of Country Risk at Bank of America Merrill Lynch

We will be running our next Bristol Career Insights events in Autumn 2019. If you would like to be involved, please contact alumni-volunteers@bristol.ac.uk

Last month our community of Bristol Volunteers joined us for our first evening Bristol Volunteers Reception. The event was an opportunity to celebrate our volunteers and say thank you for their amazing work, as well as share stories of their volunteering experience. Our volunteers give their time and expertise as mentors, advisors, speakers, organisers and much more. The support of our volunteers has a huge impact for our students, the alumni community and the University, and we are incredibly grateful for their contributions. Thank you to all those who attended and everyone who has given their time to support the University this year.

We were delighted to hear from Leslie Stephens (BSc 1975), who volunteers on our US Foundation Board and travelled from New York to join us. John Reeve (BSc 1982), who is a mentor on our Bristol Mentors programme, also attended the evening and shared his experience of taking part and supporting a current student at Bristol. Julia Wathen (BSc 1972), who volunteers on the London Branch Committee, shared her personal involvement with the Bristol community. Julia commented on the strength of the alumni network, thanks to the hard work and commitment of our volunteers, and her sentiments resonated with all in the room.

Below are the winners of our ‘Bristol Volunteers Thank You Draw’. If you’re interested in becoming part of the Bristol Volunteers community, you can find out more about opportunities to get involved here on our webpage. 

Why I am a Bristol Volunteer?

“I have been organising or coordinating an annual reunion of Alumni living in Eastern Canada for about 15 years. I enjoy doing this because it has brought me a wonderful group of friends, who have become close because of our shared beginnings. Having those formative years of our lives in common at Bristol gives us endless conversation topics, and several of the group have been back to Bristol and share their visits with us. We are all very grateful for the start in life that Bristol gave us.”
Heather Proctor BSc 1964, Eastern Canada Network Leader

 

“I thought volunteering was about giving back, spending time and listening and helping…But it’s so much more. I think I learn more than the students. I think I’m back in my learning zone. I’m being tested, questioned, put under pressure. The students I meet conduct a panel interview on me. They come to my office. They ask penetrating questions. They don’t accept waffle and excuses. They’re good. They’re strong. This is not for the faint- hearted. The future is bright. And it’s coming from Bristol.”
Paul Moran, MSc 2012, Professional Mentor

 

“My time at Bristol was transformational for every part of my life. I made many friends that I’m sure I’ll have for the rest of my life and learnt many new amazing things.I feel part of a community where we can share life’s experiences and ensure that spark and energy is transferred to current students so they can look back and feel proud of their time at Bristol too.”
Andrew Franks, MEng 2010, Manor Hall Association