As you know, we’ve been carrying out a review of Freshers events over the past few months in response to feedback we had from the wider university community and alumni groups.  Thanks so much for bearing with us during this period.   

We now have a new proposal for you which we hope will address some of the issues raised and offer new benefits to our alumni groups.   

What’s the new proposal?  A new series of Welcome Social events designed to help new and recent alumni connect with their local alumni groups. Groups organise these events in their local areas with promotion directly to this audience by the University team.   

Our research shows that new alumni are far more likely to engage with local alumni activities and become new members and volunteers if they get involved with a group shortly after graduation. This approach also avoids many of the logistical challenges previously associated with Freshers events as new alumni contact details are held by the Alumni Engagement team.   

Attendance at Freshers events had fallen significantly in recent years, partly because many Freshers now connect before arrival through social media and the Alumni Engagement team were unable to contact applicants directly. The UCAS rules also meant Freshers could only be contacted in a very short time window after the UK “A” level results had been announced. Many groups told us that tight timescales, uncertainty over numbers and reliance on indirect promotion of events had made it difficult for them to organise the events. Discussions were held with colleagues across the University, but some key issues, such as the tight planning timelines and the indirect promotion to students, could not be changed. To simplify things for organisers and to have more impact, we therefore decided to focus our efforts on outgoing students. 

Welcome Socials are designed to be simple and flexible. Groups can hold an event any time between August and the end of October, in any format that suits them, as long as it remains informal, low cost, and likely to appeal to a younger audience. You could combine it with an existing event or create something new. We will promote the series directly to recent graduates, as well as the colleges, alongside a dedicated webpage.  As this is a trial year, we will want to assess how it went, but we’ll only ask for minimal post-event feedback. Participation is entirely optional, but we hope groups will see the value in taking part as it will put you in contact with new alumni.   

• Reaches final year students and recent graduates who are more likely to join a group.    
• Strengthens the volunteer pipeline with younger members.    
• Allows for more flexible timing than Freshers events.    
• Supported by targeted communications from the Volunteers team.    
• Adaptable to your group’s preferred format and schedule.    
• Reduces safeguarding risks as there should not be any minors present.  

• February to March: Learn more and discuss with your group; join a drop-in session or contact us with questions.    
• April: Let us know if you plan to host an event.    
• June: Share your event details for promotion.    
• April to July: Events promoted.    
• August to October: Events take place; brief feedback requested.  
• November to January: Volunteers team's review period, adaptation of format if necessary, and planning for 2027.  

Yes.

We know that some groups with established contacts with local schools run successful Freshers events and will be keen to continue with these. We will support these as we did in 2025 by listing them on our website. 

If you do hold one, we will not ask you for participant data or outcome reports this year. You may also choose to combine your Freshers event with a Welcome Social to benefit from the targeted promotion to recent alumni and to be featured on our dedicated web page. 

We recognise that Oxford are continuing to support Freshers events and our Oxford colleagues are aware of this change.   Joint groups may continue to hold Freshers events or combine with a Welcome Social.  

We’re happy to discuss what works best for your group but unfortunately, we will not be able to contact Cambridge Freshers either ourselves or through the Colleges.  

Alumni play a crucial role in welcoming and supporting new students. We are very grateful to all groups who help with this. So that you can focus your efforts where they’re most valuable and effective, we’re working closely with Admissions to connect groups with outreach and offer holder events where alumni support will help their efforts.  

We will be in touch if we hear they are working in your area.  

Claire, Pip and Christian from the Volunteers team will be happy to discuss any queries you might have. 

Send an email to us using networks@alumni.cam.ac.uk.