National Volunteer Week June 2024: Celebrating our Alumni Volunteers

Part two: Chris Warren

This week we will be celebrating and highlighting some of the amazing work that our alumni volunteers do in support of our University of Hull community.  For some it may be a one off such as speaking at an event or for others it may be longer term e.g. volunteering for the Student Futures Career E-Mentoring Programme.  Which ever way that time is given we appreciate every moment of it!

Today we shine the spotlight on Chris Warren. Chris studied history at the University of Hull graduating in 1988.  Chris has been an alumni volunteer Careers E-Mentor for a number of years for the Student Futures programme. The E-Mentors help provide career focused advice, personal insight and an opportunity for students to ask questions about the workplace and their career.

Please could you tell us what motivated you to give your time back to the University of Hull?

I was at the tail end of my working career and I felt that I had some experience and expertise to offer current Hull business students. I was already providing internal mentoring activity for my employers, and this was the most enjoyable part of my job so I thought I could widen the scope of what I did. Over the years I’ve met some great students so I’m happy to come back each year that Student Futures asks! Now that I’m retired it is even easier to give up a little time each year to this process.

What do you enjoy most about your volunteering at the University of Hull?

It’s easy to do (it’s all online and as I live in the South West I don’t need to be in the same location as my mentees), but it’s also personally rewarding to keep in touch with current students so long after I graduated.

What do you think are the benefits of volunteering?

For the mentees, I hope it gives them another perspective on things to take or leave as they wish. For me personally, I think it keeps me in touch with the university and allows me to pass on some thoughts to others to help prevent them making the same mistakes I did! It also keeps my brain active and helps me acknowledge how much I do know and have learnt over the years

Please could you describe what connection you feel towards the University of Hull and its staff and students today?

Volunteering means that I’m much more heavily invested in the university than I would otherwise be if I just relied upon the occasional formal update landing in my inbox. I still look for news of the university and am very pleased when I see something positive and a bit deflated when it’s not so good.

Would you recommend being a volunteer to your fellow University alumni?

Yes, I’d definitely recommend it. I cannot recall how many years I’ve been doing it for but it’s a fair few and the fact I keep coming back each time I’m asked says all it can about the value I get from it.

Has Chris inspired you to become an alumni volunteer? To find out more email Jill Smithson, Alumni Volunteer Coordinator at alumni@hull.ac.uk or Interested in being an alumni volunteer – sign up here