The University’s annual Peer Support Awards event took place at Whitworth Hall on the evening of 25 April 2024.

The Peer Support Awards evening celebrated the exceptional contributions of peer mentors, PASS leaders, and student and staff coordinators, who generously devote their time and expertise to support first-year students.

Outstanding contributions to peer support and outstanding schemes were among the prestigious awards presented to well-deserving recipients. The event featured a keynote speech delivered by Dr. Nick Weise, a valued member of the peer support community, who shared his insights from a student and staff perspective.

Peer Support plays a pivotal role in guiding first-year students through their transition into university life, providing them with consistent guidance from experienced student volunteers within their field of study. With a community of over 1,700 student volunteers and dedicated colleagues, peer support continues to thrive.

Award winner Ayush Kumar from the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) Foundation Peer Mentoring Scheme said: “I’m really grateful for the academic coordinators, my fellow student coordinators and the peer mentors who have helped us run this scheme for the first time. I was lucky enough to be nominated, and hopefully going into next year we can make more progress and boost the probability of foundation year students getting into first year.”

The success of Peer Mentoring and PASS schemes relies heavily on the commitment, dedication, and collaboration of students and staff. Sincere gratitude is extended to all supporters of Peer Support for their invaluable contributions.

Our student volunteers epitomise dedication and consistently go the extra mile to foster a sense of belonging within The University of Manchester community. The Peer Support Awards serve as a platform to recognise and celebrate their remarkable efforts.

• For those interested in learning more about Peer Support, please contact Gabriele Wegner.