Social Responsibility

A group of 40 law students from the University are set to volunteer their services during their holidays to help people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Like most of you, watching the wretched events of the last few days unfurl across the USA, starting with the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and followed by the harsh treatment of peaceful protestors by those in authority, has filled me with horror and profound dismay.

Since the University’s Emergency Hardship Appeal launched at the end of April, over 2,000 members of our Manchester community have donated to support our students.

Edward Astle, Chair of the University’s Board of Governors has recorded a short message reflecting on the 2020 Making a Difference Awards and the importance of this event for the wider University community.

The University of Manchester has announced that it will end investments in fossil fuel reserve and extraction companies by 2022, and ‘decarbonise’ all investments by 2038.

A University of Manchester academic has helped Manchester City Council (MCC) coordinate and test thousands of pieces Personal protection Equipment (PPE) so that they could be delivered to key workers in the city.

During what is being termed the greatest public health and economic challenge in living memory, local authorities and charities are finding there is an ever growing demand for food, from families or individuals in need, from those self-isolating to people struggling with poverty or redundancy.

The University’s Healthy Ageing Research Group has teamed up with the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub to support those who are self-isolating during COVID-19.

Traffic pollution for most parts of the UK is plummeting thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown but more urban ozone – a dangerous air pollutant which can cause airway inflammation in humans – is probably being generated, say experts at the University.

I hope you and your families continue to stay safe and that you’re balancing the various demands on your work and personal lives.