In 2013 the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures initiated the annual Martin Harris Prize for Cultural Engagement and Social Responsibility as part of the celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the Martin Harris Centre. The prize is awarded to students who actively engage with communities outside of the University, facilitating their access to cultural activities and debate.

In 2016 prizes were awarded to Wenling Ding, (Linguistics and Sociology), Bethany Amos (Politics and Modern History) and Elena Cotton (Politics and Modern History).

Wenling was awarded joint first prize for her huge range of activities linking her Linguistics and Sociology studies to work in the community. This included participation with the Palaver Festival play ‘Bus Stop’ which considered issues around the Cultural Revolution in China and founding a charity that provided book donations to a mountainous village in Sichuan.

Also awarded joint first prize was Bethany, who applied her understanding of History and post-colonialism to a wide variety of cross-cultural activities, including volunteering in Ghana, joining the Speak Up project in Manchester which assists children for who English is a second language and coordinating a sleep out event for homeless charities using music and discussion.

Third prize went to Elena who drew on her study of feminism, liberalism and working class culture to host a variety of youth engagement projects in Manchester, including issues around consent, gender-based discrimination and every day inequalities experienced by young women in Britain.

The prize-giving took place in October and prizes were awarded by Sir Martin Harris, former University Vice-Chancellor and committed advocate for widening access to education, after whom the prize was named.