Current Philosophy Society committee members, Grace and Freya, recently partnered with Glenn Skelhorn of The Thinker Hub to host a workshop. The session focused on how philosophy students can translate their academic skills into real-world applications. Below, Grace and Freya share their reflections on the collaboration.
We are both committee members of the Philosophy Society, with Grace serving as Co-President and Freya as Secretary. As part of our roles, we wanted to create meaningful opportunities for our members beyond the university. We recognised that the Society was in a strong position to build an affiliation with an external organisation, particularly one that shared our commitment to widening engagement with philosophy. Having both previously worked in local schools, we were aware of the limited philosophical foundation within school curricula. This inspired us to explore ways to encourage greater participation in philosophy, both in schools and across the wider community.
Our collaboration is with The Thinker Hub, a community interest company dedicated to bringing philosophical ideas and discussion into schools, libraries, and community spaces across Liverpool. The organisation also delivers specialised teacher training through Edge Hill University and independently. The Thinker Hub is supported by Liverpool City Council and The Royal Institute of Philosophy, and was founded by Glenn Skelhorn, a former student of the University of Liverpool’s Philosophy Department.
Aware that similar initiatives had been successfully developed at other universities, we approached our lecturer, Laura Gow, who is also the Careers and Employability Lead for Philosophy. Laura kindly introduced us to Glenn, and following an initial email exchange, we arranged a Microsoft Teams meeting to discuss our shared aims and how a partnership could benefit both the Society and The Thinker Hub. Glenn highlighted a range of volunteering opportunities suitable for students with a philosophical background, which led us to organise an in-person session within the department. Glenn presented the work of the CIC to our members, outlining how they could get involved and apply their academic skills in real-world settings.
The response from students was extremely positive. Many were eager not only to put their degree-level knowledge into practice, but also to gain valuable professional experience and collaborate with practitioners working within the community.
Establishing the formal affiliation proved more complex than we initially anticipated. After extensive correspondence with the Guild of Students, we learned that The Thinker Hub would need to register as a volunteer provider within the Guild in Schools programme. Glenn was very supportive and completed the necessary registration process to formalise the partnership. The next steps are now underway: student applications are being reviewed, and final details are being confirmed. Once complete, Philosophy Society members will be able to sign up to volunteer directly, creating a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship between the Society and The Thinker Hub. We are excited to see how this partnership will continue to grow and to provide future students with meaningful opportunities in their subject area.
Organising this has been challenging and rewarding for the both of us. We can both assuredly agree that this has greatly benefitted us regarding our employability skills. From initiating contact with an external organisation to coordinating meetings, navigating Guild procedures, and maintaining professional correspondence, we have developed strong communication and organisational abilities. Leading this collaboration has strengthened our confidence, teamwork and problem-solving skills, particularly when overcoming administrative obstacles to formalise this partnership. Overall, this experience has provided us with practical insight into how philosophical knowledge can be applied beyond academia, preparing us for future professional opportunities.