Peer Support is a vital part of the student experience at The University of Manchester, helping first-year students transition to university life through guidance from student volunteers in higher years on the same course. This year, the Peer Support community included over 1,200 student volunteers, all of whom have worked tirelessly to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for students. 

Peer Support can only happen with the incredible contributions of our students and staff! Therefore, we celebrate and recognise our individual students and schemes annually through our Peer Support Awards. This year’s celebration was held in person at Whitworth Hall, bringing together Peer Support volunteers and staff from across the University. It was fantastic to see so many people gathered to reflect on and honour the success stories across the Peer Support community. 

The keynote speech was delivered by Dr Martin Simmons, Senior Lecturer and PASS Academic Coordinator within the School of Engineering, who shared his insights from a 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.

• Find out more about Peer Support.
• For more information about Peer Support, please contact Gabriele Wegner.