Energy, empathy and expertise came together earlier this month as our Year 2 MPharm students at the University of Manchester stepped into the community to lead the inspiring “Be Aware, Be Empowered” campaign. 

With a clear public health mission – to promote early cancer awareness and the importance of self-checking for breast, testicular and bowel cancer, students transformed their classroom learning into meaningful community action.

Led academically by Sarah Knighton and Harsha Parmar, Senior Lecturers in the University’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the initiative showcases how service learning is embedded within the MPharm programme to connect academic study with real-world impact. Students applied their communication and health promotion skills in authentic settings, engaging members of the public in open conversations about prevention, recognising early signs and symptoms and reducing stigma around self-checking.

Service learning with shared impact

A key strength of this initiative is its reciprocal value. For students, the campaign provided the opportunity to translate clinical knowledge into accessible, compassionate messaging while building confidence in discussing sensitive health topics. It deepened their understanding of public health practice and reinforced the critical role pharmacists play in early detection and prevention.

For the community, the campaign created welcoming spaces for evidence-based information sharing, practical guidance, and meaningful dialogue. In doing so, it strengthened the University’s civic commitment to improving health awareness across Greater Manchester.

Volunteers from the Cancer Voice community, facilitated through the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, contributed significantly to the students’ learning. Their lived experiences brought authenticity and perspective, enabling students to appreciate the human realities behind clinical pathways and the importance of empathy in healthcare delivery.

Supporting our Manchester 2035 Strategy

The campaign also aligns closely with the University’s new 2035 strategy, which places strong emphasis on social responsibility, civic engagement and measurable societal impact. By embedding service learning within the curriculum, we are preparing graduates who are not only clinically capable but also socially conscious and community-oriented.

The students’ professionalism and confidence flourished as they connected their academic learning to tangible public benefit. Initiatives such as “Be Aware, Be Empowered” demonstrate how education, partnership and community engagement can work together to empower both learners and the wider community – advancing preventative healthcare while shaping the next generation of compassionate pharmacists.