Our annual Community Festival recently welcomed more than 2,000 neighbours onto campus – young and old – to get hands-on, go behind the scenes and find out more about our work and the exciting research undertaken at the University. From discovering how drugs get to the right part of the body, to using tiny materials to treat diseases; and from creating electronic music to walking on water – there was something for everyone to enjoy.

This month we are sharing more such inspirational examples of how we’ve been engaging and involving communities across Greater Manchester on priorities around social justice and cohesion, environmental sustainability and health and wellbeing.

On social justice and cohesion we report on: a new set of essays published by our researchers on the challenge of extremism and social cohesion; support provided for Greater Manchester Immigration Unit, who are promoting the rights of refugees, migrants and other minority communities in our region; free advice we are offering via our Legal Advice Centre; and an event we hosted to raise awareness of modern slavery in the local construction sector.

On environmental sustainability we highlight: an event held for local residents, councillors and project partners in the Ardwick ward to celebrate our Campus Tree Planting Project, which has resulted in more than 70 trees planted across the city; the impact of our annual student Give It Don’t Bin It campaign, which has resulted in significant carbon and financial savings in our region, as well as funding vital research for the British Heart Foundation; and a campaign for University cycle-commuters to bring along a non-cyclist friend or colleague for a free breakfast to talk about opportunities for healthy and sustainable travel.

On health and wellbeing we profile funding success to roll-out our innovative game-based activity ‘OUTBREAK’ which educates children and families about antibiotic drug resistance and the 17,000 hours of volunteering undertaken this year by our sports club students to encourage fitness and healthy-living.

Finally, we have a wide range of exciting upcoming events, talks, exhibitions and performances for the public – for more information check our Events Pages.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility