Last year, we launched the Open Doors Project, an initiative making University meeting rooms available for community use. At the beginning of 2026, we relaunched the project with expanded availability, helping more local groups access free spaces to meet, connect and collaborate.

Affordable meeting space in central Manchester can be difficult to find, so the project offers a practical solution for local groups and community partners. It also reflects our wider commitment to working with and for the city: opening up our campus, reducing barriers to access and making University spaces feel more welcoming and inclusive for the communities we serve.

Working with Alliance Manchester Business School, Manchester Museum and, more recently, the Christabel Pankhurst Building, we have been able to offer rooms free of charge for community partners. These spaces have supported a wide range of activities, including training sessions, strategy days, research workshops, community meetings and large-scale events.

Since launching, the response has been extremely positive. We have received more than 100 booking requests from Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations, charities and community groups across Greater Manchester, with over 60 confirmed bookings in 2026 alone.

The project has supported everything from small team meetings and coaching sessions to larger events focused on mental health, education, community cohesion and skills development, with some sessions welcoming up to 100 attendees.

The Open Doors Project is now fully embedded and continues to run on an ongoing basis, with availability across multiple sites, including weekday, evening and weekend bookings.

• For more information email communityrooms@manchester.ac.uk
• Booking requests can be made through this form