Find out about some of our social responsibility highlights from February:

Firstly, on 7 and 8 March, our Faculty of Science and Engineering at The University of Manchester will bring FunLab, a weekend of free science activities, to the Trafford Centre. Marking British Science Week, the event invites families to explore hands on activities, from robotics to experiments, sparking curiosity and widening access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM).

Secondly, our Access and Student Success Impact Report shows how we are making education more equitable. The report highlights strong progress against our Access and Participation Plan targets, including narrowing degree awarding gaps, distributing £11.5 million in financial support to students, and launching new initiatives to improve digital equity.

Thirdly, in partnership with Young Interfaith, we hosted the City of Manchester Civic Iftar at our Whitworth Hall. This event brought together civic leaders, faith representatives, students and community organisations from across Greater Manchester, creating a space to celebrate and belong together.

Fourthly, we have partnered with Wigan & Leigh College and the wider Greater Manchester Colleges network to deliver a new programme that places PhD researchers directly into further education classrooms across the region. PhD researchers will provide specialist expertise in priority subject areas such as engineering, STEM and digital skills.

Finally, applications are open for the Volunteer of the Year Awards. These awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of our student volunteers across our community and beyond, and encourage everyone to recognise and celebrate those making a difference. Nominations close Monday 2 March at 10am.

Read about all of these stories and much more in our February social responsibility newsletter.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic and Engagement