This year the University’s Making a Difference Awards for social responsibility received over 140 entries, highlighting the extraordinary commitment of our staff, students, alumni and external partners to creating positive change in our local communities and across the world.

From these entries 34 projects and initiatives have been shortlisted to receive a Making a Difference Award with many also set to receive highly commended or commended awards.

The winners and highly commended will be announced at an Awards ceremony in the University’s Whitworth Hall on 6 May. The event will be hosted by our President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Duncan Ivison with our Chancellor, Nazir Afzal, presenting  the awards. The ceremony will be live-streamed so all our University community, alumni, friends and family can tune-in and hear about the impressive social responsibility work taking place across the University and beyond.

This year’s shortlist highlights the breadth, creativity and real-world impact of work taking place across the University.

Among the projects recognised are:

An ambitious rewilding initiative in the Lower Medlock Valley, transforming a former industrial landscape into a thriving green space with new walking trails, community workshops and enhanced biodiversity.

Transforming Psychosis Care with Digital Innovation, which pioneers a proactive digital approach to reduce relapse risk and improve outcomes for people experiencing psychosis.

Student-Led Vaping Awareness PSHE Lessons in Primary Schools, enabling medical students to deliver age-appropriate vaping education and high-quality learning resources to local primary schools.

Accelerating Impact-Led Graphene Entrepreneurship, supporting the translation of world-leading graphene research into practical, commercially viable solutions that deliver environmental and societal benefits.

These examples represent just a selection of the inspiring projects shortlisted for a Making a Difference Award.

Discover all shortlisted entries here