Dear Parent or Guardian,

Information leaflets and conference programmes are chiefly aimed at the teaching staff, who have the difficult job of advising young people, and at the young people themselves. Whilst information provided by the advertising brochures and conference outlines provide a broad range of important material, there is often a failure to supply the parent or guardian with the information and details that will allow them to participate in the education process of the conference. Further, whilst all those attending are young men and women soon to leave for university, we recognise that this conference may be the first time that the young person has ever been away on an overnight trip. In such circumstances it is only reasonable that a parent or guardian might wish for details of the course that are not to be found in the general information sent to students.

The purpose of this page is to supply additional information for parents and guardians, and a source of important phone numbers and contacts in the event that a young person has to be reached urgently. While we have attempted to be as comprehensive as possible it is likely that your particular queries or concerns have not been met. Please, therefore, do not hesitate to contact the Conference Office on 01509 233133 / 235879, or by writing or e-mailing us, using enquiries@workshop-uk.info

Whilst with us, your son or daughter will be instructed in university lecture theatres and will be housed in student accommodation on the university campus. Our aim is to provide those attending with a sample of university life. In addition to the valuable contacts and information provided by the conference, the opportunity to experience university life, even for as brief a period as a single night, can provide a young person with a useful insight into what they can expect in their first term at university. Thus every effort will be made to provide the atmosphere as well as the surroundings of university.

There are, however, important qualifications. Firstly, many of our lecture programmes continue very late into the evening and do not finish at five o'clock, as is true of a university. Secondly, as well as the normal medical facilities and security provided by the university, we also provide additional security through our own staff. Thirdly, whilst the young people are able to socialise with each other, we do not permit antisocial behaviour. We have found that providing reasonable guidelines for the young people enhances rather than detracts from their overall enjoyment of the conference. During the last fifteen years we have successfully provided places for several thousand students at our conferences, and most have found the experience stimulating and rewarding. The success that we have achieved is largely due to the calibre of the young people who have attended the conferences.

In the main they have been intelligent, mature, responsible and motivated. These are the qualities necessary for a young person to gain the most from the conference. We would stress that our conferences are only suitable for mature and responsible young people; because of our aim of providing the atmosphere of university we do not provide the same degree of supervision that would be found on a typical school trip.

For example, as there are several hundred people present at a conference there is no possibility of enforcing attendance, as at university the responsibility is on the young person. Within these limits we are able to provide a safe and structured environment for the young people to obtain the most from the opportunities provided by the conference. Please ensure your son/daughter is reminded of the importance of contacting you, prior to the start of lectures, to inform you of their safe arrival.

Aim of the Conference

Workshop overnight conferences are career oriented and seek to offer insights into subjects which may not be directly taught in schools. Our speakers hope to convey the excitement and fascination they have found in their areas of expertise and to offer advice on career opportunities. In addition, many students may find the material covered will enrich their A-level syllabus. The overnight stay in a university can be important to those debating whether or not to follow a course of full-time higher education, in allowing them to sample student life. Where a university degree is mandatory to a particular career and competition for places is high (for example medicine or veterinary science) optional sessions may be offered specifically to assist students applying to university.

Who may attend the conference?

Conference programmes are aimed at Year 12 and 13 students who are in the process of determining their career options including whether to attend university. Attendees must be over the age of 16 years by the first day of conference. Although most applications are made by schools and colleges, independent bookings are welcomed, as are those from teachers with an interest in the subject matter of the conference. Students with restricted mobility etc (temporary or permanent) are welcome, but we do ask for advance notice so that appropriate accommodation can be reserved in the Halls and lecture theatres.

Security and Insurance

In addition to the host university's security staff, there will be a resident conference manager, and in each Hall of Residence a conference assistant will be available who may be called in case of illness or other emergency. The University's Medical Centre is open to conference delegates. We carry employers' and public liability insurance for all events, but must point out that if delegates request additional accommodation outside of the conference dates, they will not be covered by this. Cover also does not include delegates' property and we recommend valuables are never left unattended.

Emergency numbers and contacts.

Non-urgent messages for delegates at the conference may be left on our Conference Office number: 01509 233133/ 235879. Out of office hours there will be an answerphone for messages which will be passed on during the following morning. An emergency mobile number, on which you can reach our Conference staff directly, will also be given to you by the answer phone service. We would ask, however, that this number only be used for very urgent messages. If you are having any difficulty in contacting our office number, the telephone numbers for the Halls of Residence in use for our conferences are given below. All delegate rooms have cable telephones for incoming calls only and also have the facility to call the University 24 Hour Security in the case of an emergency on 8888.On arrival all delegates should take a moment to telephone their parent/guardian to inform them of their safe arrival and their room contact number.

Checklist of items sent to the student