Guide for New Members
Thursdays · 7:30pm - Westminster Theatre - Free parking after 5pm
Becoming a Member
To get a feel for the Keele World Affairs Forum experience, explore our website and watch recordings of past meetings on our YouTube Channel.
Annual membership costs £40 and renews automatically on 1st March.
Refund requests are accepted until 31st March. To cancel your membership, email kwa@kwaku.org.uk or visit the membership site before 1st March.
Our Meetings
Meetings take place on Thursdays in the Westminster Theatre, Chancellor’s Building, Keele University.
Meetings start at 7:30pm. Please be seated by 7:25pm as any notices are given shortly before the meeting begins. Members will be informed in advance if a meeting has an earlier start time.
Each meeting consists of a talk lasting around 40 minutes, followed by a refreshment break during which members can submit written questions. A Question & Answer session of around 40–50 minutes follows, with further opportunities to ask questions by microphone where time allows. Meetings usually finish between 9:15pm and 9:30pm.
Members are asked to:
Scan their membership card when entering the Westminster Theatre.
Not bring guests to meetings.
Switch mobile devices off or set them to silent.
Not record meetings or take photographs.
Keele World Affairs Forum records each meeting for subsequent publication on our YouTube Channel and may also take photographs.
Staying in Touch
Members are encouraged to read our regular email communications and complete our member survey at the end of each term.
Dining & Interval Refreshments
Dining at the Kitchen Table:
Many members arrive early and have a meal before the meeting. The Kitchen Table is in the Chancellor’s Building next to the Westminster Theatre. Meals are served 5:15pm to 7pm, with last orders at 6:45pm. Breaded fish and chips is an option every week except for week 10. Payment is by card only.
Interval Tea and Coffee:
During the interval, tea and coffee, including decaffeinated options, are available for £1.50 per cup. Packs of biscuits cost 50p. Payment for interval refreshments is cash only.
The CENTRAL To Go Shop:
The CENTRAL To Go shop remains open until the end of the interval and sells pre-packed sandwiches, confectionery, crisps, snacks and hot and cold drinks. It is self-scan and card only.
Book Signings
Nantwich Bookshop organises book signings at selected meetings, giving members the opportunity to meet the speaker and purchase a personally signed copy of their book.
Car Parking at Keele
Parking is free in Keele University car parks after 5pm. Restrictions shown on signs reserving spaces for university staff do not apply after this time.
On busy evenings, the car park outside the Chancellor’s Building may be full. Alternative parking is available approximately five minutes’ walk away, so please allow enough time to park and reach the theatre before 7:25pm.
Health and Safety
Members should familiarise themselves with the emergency exits from the Westminster theatre and Chanellor’s building.
For the best underfoot conditions, please use the main car park and main entrance to the Chancellor’s Building.
St John Ambulance attends all our meetings.
Accessibility
There is wheelchair access to the Chancellor’s Building and the lower level of the Westminster Theatre.
A hearing loop is built into the balcony floor. Members wishing to use it are advised to sit in the rear half of the theatre, either above or below the balcony.
If you experience difficulty hearing, please try a different area of the theatre. If a speaker cannot be heard, please advise the Chair immediately.
Questions?
For questions about membership conditions or Keele World Affairs Forum as an educational charity, please email compliance@kwaku.org.uk.
