Opportunities in and near Crewe

Ukie Student Conference is a free annual conference for students interested in careers in the video games industry. Hosted by Ukie at the University of Staffordshire, the event brings together industry professionals, studio representatives, and students for a day focused on pathways into games. The programme includes talks from speakers at well-known studios, practical workshops, and a special recruitment panel. Attendees can also network in the exhibitor area, where they can speak directly with studio representatives and learn more about opportunities across the sector. The full line-up of talks is also livestreamed on the University of Staffordshire Games Twitch channel, making the conference accessible both in person and online. It is designed to be informative, engaging, and useful for students exploring future careers in video games.

University of Chester's Clearing Visit Day at University Centre Warrington is an in-person visit for people thinking about joining the university in Autumn 2026. It offers prospective students a chance to come and find out more about the site and what studying there could be like. The event is designed for applicants who want to explore their options during clearing and ask questions before making a decision. It is an opportunity to see the campus setting, get a feel for the environment, and learn more about studying at University Centre Warrington.

Join Barnardo's in its Congleton charity shop and help keep a busy retail store running smoothly. Volunteers support a wide range of day-to-day shop activities that raise vital funds for Barnardo's work with vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK. Typical tasks include working on the till, processing sales and returns, sorting, steaming and pricing donated stock, creating window displays, replenishing the shop floor, and helping with stock-take and other admin duties. Full training is provided, so you do not need previous retail experience. This is a flexible volunteering role, with one shift a week preferred but more available if you want it. Barnardo's says the role is suitable for 16-18 year olds, and applicants must be at least 14. It is also friendly for university students and offers a chance to build confidence, teamwork and problem-solving skills while making a real difference in the community.

Discover student life at University Centre Warrington at this undergraduate open day hosted by the University of Chester. It is an opportunity for prospective students to explore the campus, get a feel for the learning environment, and find out more about studying at the centre. The event takes place at University Centre Warrington in Time Square, with the university highlighting its town-centre locations and how to get there by rail, bus, bike, or car. Visitors are encouraged to book a place in advance and can use the day to plan their next steps towards undergraduate study.

Join the Barnardo's Congleton retail team as an Online Research Volunteer and help identify items in-store that are suitable for sale through Barnardo's online channels. You will research items to confirm they have sold previously or are likely to sell, prepare and pack boxes for transport to the online sales hub, and take clear photos for listings or for 'pick up from store' items. You will also help keep the store and back-area tidy and follow all health, safety and security procedures. This is a flexible, store-based volunteer role; volunteers are asked to offer around one shift per week where possible but scheduling is adaptable to your availability. The role is suitable for a diverse range of volunteers (including university students and Duke of Edinburgh participants) and is accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing and to those with physical disabilities. Training and full online induction are provided, along with learning and development opportunities and a 20% in-store discount. To apply, follow the Barnardo's volunteering application link on the listing, visit the local Congleton store for a paper application, or contact the Barnardo's Volunteering Team at volunteering@barnardos.org.uk for further help.

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service operates a volunteer programme where team members support communities across Cheshire through informative, educational and practical activities. Volunteers can choose roles that suit their existing skills and time commitments and may take on multiple roles if they wish. The programme is promoted as an opportunity to help local communities while gaining experience, improving CVs, meeting like-minded people and developing confidence and communication skills. Further information and guidance is provided in downloadable materials (Volunteer booklet and Volunteer application pack). Applicants can apply online by completing the volunteer application form. Before applying, candidates are asked to have their driving licence details ready, and to provide the names and contact details of an emergency contact and two referees. The role requires a DBS check to the appropriate level. For questions or to submit completed applications, contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator (Claire Bennett) or email volunteerrecruitment@cheshirefire.gov.uk. The Prevention Office is based at Sadler Road, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 2FQ; telephone contact is listed on the service website.

Walk Talk Action is recruiting volunteers in Stoke-on-Trent to support people experiencing mental health challenges through outdoor activities and community projects. Volunteers help run and maintain a retreat in Fenpark, assist with interactive walking routes and sensory areas, and support participants to get outside, try coping techniques, and work towards personal goals. The role is described as fun and rewarding, with a friendly, relaxed environment and opportunities to work alongside like-minded people and partner organisations such as Voluntary Action Stoke-on-Trent (VAST). Volunteers are expected to help create and maintain the wilderness sensory areas and to support participants using the Five Ways to Wellbeing approach. Walk Talk Action asks interested volunteers to complete the online form on their website. The organisation states it will endeavour to provide training opportunities to help volunteers develop their own skills, but does not list specific time commitments, age restrictions, or financial provisions on the page.

The best way to experience what student life is like at Keele is to visit the campus. Join Keele University for an undergraduate Open Day to explore the 600-acre campus, tour teaching facilities, meet academic staff and learn more about student life and course options. The event on 21 November 2026 starts at 9:00AM and is aimed at prospective undergraduate students considering study at Keele. Bookings for the autumn 2026 Open Days will be available later in 2026; contact visits@keele.ac.uk for enquiries.

This virtual work experience programme offers an introduction to mental health careers in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS. It is designed to help young people explore what working in mental health support can involve, while building awareness of the skills, values and routes into the sector.

The programme covers a wide range of roles and settings, including psychiatry, mental health nursing, allied health professions, mental health services, psychotherapy and children’s mental health services. Learners can explore how different professionals support people with a variety of mental health conditions and treatments, and how services work together to help individuals and communities.

The experience is interactive and includes quizzes, activities, live procedures and opportunities to hear from industry experts. It is self-paced and can be completed online, with live talks available as recordings. Participants who complete the programme receive a certificate of completion.

This virtual work experience programme introduces students to the world of social care with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS. It explains why social care is such an important part of health and care, and shows how professionals support people in a range of everyday and community settings.

The programme covers the different careers available in social care, from direct care roles to support and coordination roles. Learners get an overview of the core responsibilities involved, the variety of environments where social care takes place, and the many ways these careers can make a positive difference to people’s lives.

It also focuses on the skills needed to succeed in the sector, including communication, teamwork, resilience, CV writing and interview preparation. The experience is designed to help students understand what social care work involves and whether it could be a suitable future career path.

AIMLOlympiad Senior is an advanced online Olympiad designed for secondary students in Classes 9–12. It is aimed at learners who want to go beyond memorisation and test practical understanding of AI, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Data Science, Generative AI, and emerging technologies.

The syllabus covers the foundations of AI, computational thinking, Python for AI, data science and analytics, machine learning, deep learning fundamentals, generative AI, AI applications, and ethics, security, and responsible AI. The exam also includes a coding assessment, making it a stronger fit for students who are ready for a more technical challenge.

The test is fully proctored and runs online for 90 minutes. The exam format combines multiple-choice questions with coding-based tasks, and the preparation guidance on the page suggests a few weeks of study depending on the student’s level. Overall, it is positioned as a competitive benchmark for school students interested in building AI and programming skills.

This free live webinar is for students exploring routes into Medicine or Dentistry and for parents who want to understand the options available. Medlink Students will explain how A-level results can lead to studying in Europe, with a focus on the pathway towards becoming a doctor or dentist and how that choice can support a future career in the UK. The session covers the admissions journey from choosing a university and understanding entry requirements, through to studying abroad and planning your next steps afterwards. Attendees can also hear from British Council-certified academic advisors, admissions specialists, university representatives and students with first-hand experience, with plenty of time to ask questions live about tuition fees, living costs, recognition of the degree and the application process.

Tune Supply’s online "Dance the Tune" workshop with Nic Gareiss explores the musical potential of percussive step dance. Through imitation, idiomatic ornaments, and extended techniques for shoe sounds and textures, participants learn how to shape rhythm lines that echo melody and create rhythmic counterpoint, while developing listening, responsiveness, and sonic awareness.

The workshop is designed for dancers and interested instrumentalists of all levels. It is taught by ear and recorded for registered students, so you can join live or catch up later. Participants should wear comfortable smooth-soled shoes with a low or no heel to get the most from the session.

Hearing the Archive is an online Tune Supply workshop led by Cleek Schrey that explores how contemporary traditional musicians can learn from historic audio and digitized field recordings. The session focuses on listening deeply to archival sound, identifying what counts as musical information, and translating older styles into present-day playing.

Participants will take part in shared listening, close analysis of specific historic performances, and practical discussion of the technical, technological, and aesthetic challenges of working with archive recordings. The workshop is designed for players of all melody instruments and all levels, and it is presented in a way that welcomes both new and experienced participants.

Attendees receive a curated roadmap of historic performances, a resource guide for finding online traditional music archives, and a framework for turning style, tone, and inflection from old recordings into usable ideas in their own music-making. Registered students also receive the class recording after the session, so they can revisit the material later.

This online Tune Supply workshop focuses on building strong tune sets for traditional music performance and session playing. Participants will explore how to construct consonant sets by paying attention to keys, moods, and the movement from one tune to the next, including both seamless and more dramatic transitions.

The session draws on historic sets as a template, but it is also highly practical and participant-led: learners will work with family favourites and ideas shared in the Zoom room. The workshop is suitable for all melody instruments, and accompanying players may also find useful material for their own playing.

The class is taught by ear and is open to all levels. Registered students receive the recording after the workshop, so it can be useful both for live participation and later review.

This workshop looks at the music of Pádraig O’Keeffe through his manuscript notation and the slides and polkas that have come down through the Sliabh Luachra tradition. It introduces the ideas behind his notation methods and how his bowing directives shape the rhythmic personality of these tune types. Participants will learn a number of tunes from the manuscripts while also gaining context about one of the most influential Irish traditional musicians of the twentieth century. The class combines ear learning with sheet music, and the recording is made available to registered students after the workshop.

This conversational workshop explores the elements that make a beautiful Irish slow air, with an emphasis on listening, discussion, and practical application. Although the class is based around whistle playing, the ideas and techniques are framed so they can be adapted to any musical instrument. Class participation is encouraged throughout, with time for shared reflection and musical exploration. The workshop is taught by ear and includes a recording for registered students, so it can be enjoyed live or revisited later.

This online Tune Supply workshop explores how to build tasteful variations into traditional Irish flute and whistle playing. The session focuses on why tunes often change subtly from one repeat to the next, and how players can use chord structure, rhythmic shifts, and melodic ideas to create variation that still feels authentic and musical.

The workshop goes further into the instrument-specific details that shape variation on flute and whistle, including octave jumps, breathing placement, and characteristic notes such as the hard D and bent C natural. Participants will also look at how these ideas can be applied to specific well-known traditional tunes, making the material practical and directly usable in performance or session settings.

The class is suitable for flute and whistle players at all levels, and it is taught in a combination of ear learning and sheet music support. Registered students receive the class recording immediately after the workshop, so it is designed to work both for live attendance and for later viewing.

This workshop focuses on effective chord shapes and progressions for Irish guitar playing in standard and drop-D tuning. The class is centred on building ease and fluidity in accompaniment, with an emphasis on supporting traditional Irish music and songs. The session is taught by ear and is designed for players who want practical tools they can use straight away in session or performance settings. A class recording is provided to registered students, making it suitable for both live attendance and later practice.

Lancaster University’s Practical Budgeting webinar is designed for applicant students who are due to commence their studies in the 2026/27 academic year. It introduces practical money-management skills for young people who may be living independently for the first time, covering everyday costs such as meals, rent, household items, toiletries, haircuts and bus tickets. The session aims to help attendees understand how to budget effectively and make smarter spending decisions as they prepare for university life. There will be time at the end for questions, giving applicants the chance to get advice and clarify any concerns about managing money. This is an open event and registration is required. Participants can use an alias when signing up and do not need to switch their camera on, making it easy to attend comfortably and privately.