Winners and highly commended 2025
We received over 130 entries for the 2025 Awards, and the judges had a very challenging task in selecting a shortlist.
Below is a full list of all the winning and highly commended entrants in each of the categories. The winners and highly commended entrants were announced at our Awards ceremony on 8 May 2025.
Outstanding benefit to society through research
Winner
Improving asthma diagnosis – the RADicA study
Prof. Stephen Fowler and members of the RADicA (Rapid access diagnostics for asthma) study team, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health; colleagues external to the University
Asthma affects 1 in 12 adults in the UK, but misdiagnosis is very common and costs the NHS over £132m per year. The NIHR Manchester BRC-funded RADicA study has addressed this problem, in collaboration with over 30 GP practices covering underserved communities. The findings have directly informed new UK-wide clinical guidelines for asthma diagnosis, which for the first time enable asthma to be diagnosed in many cases with a single test available to every GP. This will lead to significant widespread changes in practice, improved access and patient care, and considerable cost-savings for the NHS. From summer 2023 the study team were able to share the RADicA findings with NICE, which used the data to directly inform new, improved guidelines for asthma diagnosis and clinical management.
Highly commended
ConnecteDNA: Direct-to-consumer genetic testing and donor-conception
Lucy Frith and the ConnecteDNA team, Petra Nordqvist, Anna Nelson and Caroline Redhead, Faculty of Humanities
The ConnecteDNA project conducted ethical, socio-legal, and sociological research on the impact of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing (DTCGT) on donor conception. It explored the support needs of individuals using DTCGT, those who discover donor relatives, and how law reform could create a fairer system. The project actively engaged with lawmakers to advocate for policy and regulatory changes that better address the needs of those involved in donor conception. ConnecteDNA has made key recommendations for law reform and co-produced informational and support materials to meet the unfulfilled needs of the donor conception community. The initiative also raises awareness of the potential issues at the intersection of DTCGT and donor conception. This was the first project to systematically engage with DTCGT use by those affected by donor conception.
Outstanding teaching innovation in social responsibility
Winner
Empowerment through practice: Skills in ethnic minority communities
Anjali Vaidyanathan, Rebecca Marks, Sarah Sharp and Enam Ul-Haque, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
This project is an innovative placement which empowers medical students on MBChB to enhance their clinical skills while addressing health inequalities in ethnic minority communities. Partnering with local charity AskMyDoc, the initiative has enabled students to run blood pressure clinics in community hubs such as places of worship and leisure centres, engaging directly with Manchester’s diverse populations, to create meaningful impact on our communities while improving their own clinical performance. This initiative creates a meaningful impact on both students and our underserved communities in Manchester. The placement is now available for Year 2-5 MBChB students to sign up to.
Highly commended
The Justice Hub
The Justice Hub team, Faculty of Humanities
The Justice Hub, incorporating the Legal Advice Centre (LAC), Manchester Free Legal Help (MFLH), the Manchester Innocence Project (MiP) and many other projects offers free legal advice to members of the public who are most in need. The teaching and learning model at the Justice Hub is designed using an innovative service-learning approach that is adapted to meet the needs and expectations of both the students and the service users. All the students involved are provided with access to professional level research resources to enable them to write legally accurate advice letters, and their work is overseen and signed off by supervising lawyers, including staff members. In the 2023-24 academic year, 247 student volunteers participated in projects, with the number growing to 328 students in the current academic year. Reflective practice is integral to the process for both module and volunteer students, enabling the students to evaluate the social impact of the law on the most vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged and the inherent unfairness of the law towards this group.
Development of a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training clinic
Dr Claire Fothergill , Dr Katie Reid, Prof Richard Brown, Dr Tobyn Bell, Anna Pruszynska and Katie Morgan, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Students on the Clinical Psychology are required to develop competencies in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). The CBT clinic was developed to address the training needs of ClinPsyD students whilst enhancing the mental health provision for the wider community of undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University. The CBT clinic takes referrals of clients from the University Counselling & Mental Health service and provides high quality and evidence–based CBT interventions for those who present with common mental health problems. Interventions are delivered by Year 1 Clinical Psychology Doctoral students under close supervision of qualified staff. The CBT clinic allows the wider student community at to access evidence-based psychological therapy at a base within the University whilst students are engaging with their studies.
Outstanding contribution to social and environmental impact through entrepreneurship
Winner
One World Together: Building better finance for communities globally
Nicola Banks and One World Together, Faculty of Humanities
Communities are on the front line against poverty. While community leadership makes responses agile, effective and sustainable, most financing systems don’t work for community organisations. They privilege professional organisations and place huge costs and barriers on community groups. One World Together is fixing this. The growing movement of global citizens has sent more than £11,000 of flexible funding to community partners, who say these are 5 times more powerful than project-based finance. The partners are deepening their impacts, responding to crisis and investing in new priorities. The initiative supports communities with long-term, predictable and unrestricted funds to help them cope with crisis and invest in their futures.
Highly commended
Algaverse: Pioneering algae-based solutions for a sustainable future
Nayab Raza, Jon Pittman, Suneel kunamenai, Zuopeng Zuo and Sikandar Bakh, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Algaverse is a sustainable startup pioneering algae-based biotechnology to address critical global challenges like carbon capture, nutrient recycling, and sustainable agriculture. Their mission, “Unlocking Carbon Removal: Paving the Way for Gigaton-Scale Solutions in the Fight Against Climate Change,” reflects their commitment to reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, cutting nutrient pollution, and promoting regenerative farming practices to foster a circular economy and a resilient, eco-friendly future. Their innovative microalgae biofertilizer addresses a distinct challenge by offering a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical fertilizers. Unlike traditional fertilizers, which can lead to soil degradation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, microalgae biofertilizers leverage the natural nutrient cycling abilities of microalgae to enhance soil fertility and promote plant growth without adverse environmental impacts.
Manchester Museum’s Top Floor
Hannah Hartley and Chloe Cousins, Manchester Museum
Manchester Museum’s Top Floor is a dynamic, community-centred space for action, sharing, learning and dreaming, used by a range of changemaking individuals and groups working across the city. The Top Floor offers flexible space to work and host workshops, meetings and community events. It has become a home for social enterprises, charities, activists and researchers working on issues including climate pollution and biodiversity loss, wellbeing and mental health services, inclusive access to arts and culture and new models for education. The Top Floor recognises that Manchester Museum has unique strengths and resources which can help build resilience and mobilise action for an equitable and sustainable future for Manchester and beyond.
Outstanding public engagement initiative: local/civic engagement
Winner
Ardwick Green Route
Sheena Cruickshank, Joanna Barrow, Joe Morris, George Adams, Nick Weiss, Olivia Jackson and Ardwick Pollution Action Group, Cross-Faculty project
Greater Manchester has amongst the worst air quality in the UK. Over 6 years, Sheena Cruickshank has worked with residents in a polluted part of Greater Manchester- Ardwick. Consultation workshops with residents revealed concerns about high rates of pollution and safety that contributed to reduced physical activity. Participatory mapping exercises conducted via Ardwick community hubs, site visits and pollution monitoring identified pollution hot spots. The work led to the development of a green route indicated by interactive wayfinders (physical route markers) which was launched in April to a very positive reception. This project enabled the development of a greener, safer, less polluted walking route.
Highly commended
Parents and Children Together (PACT-DS)
Dr Kelly Burgoyne, Dr Kirstie Hartwell (Faculty of Humanities, University of Manchester), Dr Emma Pagnamenta, Prof. Vesna Stojanovik, Dr Rebecca Baxter (University of Reading)
Children with Down syndrome require support for language development from an early age but overwhelming demand for speech and language therapy (SLT) and a lack of evidence-based interventions make it difficult to get support. The PACT-DS project works with families from the DS community to adapt and evaluate a parent-delivered early language teaching programme for young children with DS. The aim is to provide parents with knowledge, skills, resources, and confidence to support their child’s language learning. Outcomes include a tailored intervention programme and data indicating benefits.
Buzz For Bees
Chung Yee Lau, Andhira Lalita, Ruiqi Li, Wei-Cheng Liao, Hassan Masood, Jahanzaib Khan and Miroslava Lopez Villalobos, Faculty of Humanities
The Buzz For Bees initiative raises awareness of bees’ crucial role in ecosystems. In partnership with the Manchester & District Beekeepers’ Association (MDBKA), the project raises public awareness of the importance of bee conservation while supporting the charity’s sustainable growth. The event “Buzzing For A Cause: Bee Awareness Day” aims to engage Manchester communities through honey tasting, beekeeping demonstrations, and games. Key outcomes include increased engagement, visibility for MDBKA, and a deeper understanding of bees’ significance in environmental sustainability.
Learning from the past, looking to the future: peatland communities
Professor Melanie Giles, Martin Evans, Professor John McAuliffe and Professor Matthew Pate, Faculty of Humanities
This project helped local communities see peatlands ‘differently’, supporting civic engagement with nature and heritage: enhancing belonging and wellbeing. This project aimed to ‘make a difference’ by sharing interdisciplinary research with peat practitioners, working and learning alongside our community partner Transitions Wilmslow, local schools and adult education groups based at The Wilmslow Guild. They co-produced research activities and events; sharing cutting-edge wetland restoration ‘best practice’ with other academics, conservation bodies, heritage practitioners and charities, through a workshop, Peatlands: learning from the past, looking to the future; enhancing the sustainability of this network by curating an online Peat Café which continues today to widen its international membership. Through the conference and lecture series, they supported over 180 adult learners: creating a rich research culture in which knowledge flows both ways, entangling academic and civic research to mutual benefit.
Outstanding public engagement initiative: national/international engagement
Winner
The abuse of women runners: perceptions, fears and experiences
Caroline Miles and Rose Broad, Faculty of Humanities
The initiative derives from research on the abuse of women runners, revealing that 68% of women runners had experienced abuse but only 5% reported incidents to police. Women runners narrated high levels of fear, safety work and barriers to reporting. The initiative aimed to raise awareness, inform prevention strategies, and improve women’s experiences of/engagement in running, through disseminating the recommendations, including: police strategies to encourage reporting; mapping reported incidents; recognising the abuse as gender-based violence; and working with boys/men to challenge attitudes.
International dentists in primary schools: the Kenyan project
Rachel Lee, Aryan Panchmatia, Ishmyne Bhamra and Shivani Chohan, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Dentists in Primary Schools (DiPS) is a student-led project that visits primary schools to teach children about oral health. The project aimed to provide oral hygiene education to children in Kisumu, Kenya, where nearly 50% of children suffer from tooth decay. The key objectives were to deliver dental education and preventative advice through play, provide toothbrushes and toothpaste to children to ensure they have the necessary tools for good oral hygiene, and educate parents with translated leaflets. The project also offered Kenyan volunteers the opportunity to learn about the importance of oral health and how to engage with children effectively. The project helped schools establish long-term strategies for delivering appropriate dental messages to children.
Highly commended
Developing and sharing best practice for PPIE in suicide prevention
Dr Leah Quinlivan, Dan Stears, Liz Monaghan, Sadika Asmal, Jav Rehman, Jon Smith, Manoj Mistry, Dawn Allen, Lynne Keady, Tom Bell, Tracy Neil, Fiona Naylor, David Daniels, Louise Gorman, Sarah Steeg, Jane Graney, Catherine Rodway, Pauline Turnbull, Roger Webb, Nav Kapur, Alison Baird, Jessica Leather, Ioannis Angelaskis, Mary Vingoe, Katerina Kavalidou, Melissa Lima Silva and Harriet Cant, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
PPIE ensures that meaningful research is conducted. For topics like suicide, there can be reluctance to involve patients due to concerns over wellbeing. Suicide prevention research and involvement by the NIHR GM PSRC, NCISH, and MS4MH-R (PPI group) informs best practices internationally. They sought to share best practices with researchers, healthcare practitioners, and public contributors. Researchers and public contributors co-designed PPIE toolkits for suicide prevention research, culminating in a successful online event. Their resources are used by organisations/ universities internationally. Despite the importance of patient involvement, researchers are often apprehensive about discussing self-harm due to concerns over wellbeing and uncertainties on how to meaningfully involve people in sensitive research. The team sought to share their learning with researchers, public contributors, and healthcare practitioners via engagement and the development of open access resources. The resources aimed to dispel myths and build confidence for conducting meaningful PPIE.
A Citizen’s Assembly
Andy Smith and Lynsey O’Sullivan, Faculty of Humanities
A Citizens’ Assembly is a play. It premiered at Lowry, Salford in January 2024 and has since toured widely throughout the UK to studio-theatres, educational institutions (universities, colleges and schools), community settings, churches, town halls, festivals and conferences. The play has strong links to the core social responsibility goals of The University of Manchester, and ideas of sustainability at its heart. Rather than be performed by actors, it invites audience-participants to gather and perform the script together, and in doing so consider and discuss the climate emergency through a collective act of play. Since January 2024 the play has engaged with approximately 1,800 people of all ages across the UK. Part of a long-term research project called ‘plays for the people’, it encourages diverse audiences to engage and have a voice in the critical issues surrounding the climate emergency. Highly innovative in it approach to both form and content, and offering each group it meets a unique experience, the work asks what it means to act in both an artistic and ethical sense.
Let’s Talk About Cough
Jacky Smith, Siobhan Ludlow, Jenny King, Rachel Dockry, Sarah Hennessey, Phil Turner, James Digby, Kitty Sheppard, Joan Naughton and the Let’s Talk About Cough team, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Let’s Talk About Cough aims to create empathy and understanding about chronic cough by sharing stories in creative ways. The project began with a programme of workshops bringing together researchers and people with lived experience of chronic cough. Creative facilitators led 24 participants to exchange their experiences, building a rich picture of chronic cough and its impact on people’s lives. Together, they transformed this collective understanding into ‘One in Ten’ (an immersive audio experience for public libraries) and a pocketbook about living with cough, both available on their website.
Outstanding public engagement initiative: public contribution
Winner
Community Liaison Group (CLG): Making a difference since 2001
The Community Liaison Group (CLG): Richard Hughes, Anne Scott, Yvonne Thomas, Joe Keaney, Zach Howarth, Martin Wells, Lee Simms, Jan Stone, Philip Paulden, Javed Rehman, Yvonne Awenat, Sarah Tully, Lucy Cameron, Sasha Johns and Marshall Lester, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
The Community Liaison Group are experts by experience who offer input across all aspects of the ClinPsyD programme. CLG members are involved in selection of trainees, teaching and assessment, and offer consultation on trainees’ doctoral research projects. CLG members also contribute through attending research, academic and executive committee meetings. The aim of the CLG’s work is to support clinical psychology trainees and to ensure that service user voice and perspective is prioritised through all aspects of the programme. It functions to ensure that those with lived experience of mental health services and/or those that care for them, provide meaningful input into the training of clinical psychologists in a variety of ways including: Teaching and learning: The CLG have specific teaching slots as part of the Power, Position, Privilege and Intersectionality module.
Highly commended
Paralab
ParaLab team, Annie Carpenter and Andrew Wilson, External colleagues
Para-lab is a non-profit, volunteer-led organisation that facilitates collaborations between artists and science academics in Manchester. Artists and scientists work together in small groups exploring cross disciplinary themes, stimulated by exercises and excursions which inspire and build collaborative processes and address unhelpful binary dynamics often found in cross disciplinary exchange. These collaborative projects produce artworks, demonstrations, symposia and publications, nurturing new communities for Manchester academics to evolve with the artists, and the publics they engage with. Founded in 2017, Para-lab has given 23 Manchester based artists access to the research and expertise of 20 University of Manchester scientists. Para-lab is the only long-term grass-roots structure for generating collaboration between artists and scientists in the UK.
Outstanding contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion
Winner
Humba SHEpreneur: Advancing gender equality through entrepreneurship
Metri Wulandari Pravitasari, Gloria Maria Foster Pingak, Justicia Estetika Maulida and Enrika Yumna, Faculty of Humanities
In West Sumba, Indonesia, young women face severe gender inequality and economic exclusion. With 75.7% of parents prioritising boys’ education and 79.9% of women experiencing domestic violence, many young women lack access to education and skills, leaving them in cycles of poverty and dependency. Humba SHEpreneur addresses these challenges by providing self-efficacy and entrepreneurship training to young women aged 16-19. The program equips them with business and leadership skills to make changes in the community, especially in fostering empowerment and inclusive economic growth.
Highly commended
Working Well: Roots to Dental
Dr Tamsin Cooper, Sarah Hardman, Laura Rodger and Roots to Dental team, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health and colleagues external to the University
Working Well, commissioned by GMCA, supports people in Manchester facing health challenges and long-term unemployment. Poor oral health impacts self-esteem and employment, with 15% of participants affected and 40% not registered with a dentist. Access to NHS dentistry is limited. Deprivation exacerbates these issues, with many unable to afford costs or manage travel and childcare barriers. The University’s Dental School addresses inequalities by engaging students in real-world treatments for underserved communities, aligning with its social responsibility goals to improve oral health and access across the Manchester area. Working Well teams to improve oral health disparities, enhance community well-being, and equip dental students with invaluable real-world experience while supporting social goals.
DCS: Nurturing an open, diverse and inclusive working environment
Stephen Taylor and Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Nurturing a cohesive workforce, representing diverse individuals and fostering an inclusive and positive cultural environment can catalyse exceptional working relationships and collaborative efforts. Since 2021, Division of Cancer Sciences (DCS) has worked hard to recover the disrupted community of colleagues displaced by the devastating Paterson fire (2017) and COVID (2020), to form a division which is more representative, more cohesive and more collegiate. By introducing new strategies for recruitment, training and providing agile local support they have sought to strengthen and diversify their research community.
Diversity Politics student society
Maleehah Rehman and the Diversity Politics team, Faculty of Humanities
Diversity Politics uniquely considers and represents students across both social and Teaching & Learning environments within HE and engages with staff while retaining their status as a student campaign group. They are concerned with inclusion and belonging of students in an elite institution and also with matters of curriculum diversity. Diversity Politics significantly impacted considerations of racial diversity within the teaching and learning environment of the Politics Department. They organised an open forum for students from global ethnic majority (GEM) backgrounds to share experiences, reviewed the curriculum for racial diversity, produced a report and presented their findings in a staff meeting. Diversify Politics identified issues of curriculum content (e.g. reading lists) and experiences of belonging to the department. This led to changes in course outlines, postgraduate welcome week events, and enabled staff and students to co-produce a funding application to create an inclusive teaching toolkit.
Outstanding professional services for social responsibility
Winner
200 for 200: Bicentenary inclusive recruitment
Michael Platt, Will Day-English, Freya Moogan and Fiona Coll, Central PS Division
This initiative set an ambitious and stretching target to provide 200 meaningful employment opportunities for members of the local community, to support them into work. The Talent Acquisition Team (part of the People Directorate) and Aspire Recruitment (part of The Growth Company) developed a high performing partnership to reach out to communities not in work, identify appropriate work opportunities at the University, and remove barriers to entering employment. In total, the University provided 225 opportunities which have led to transformational long-term changes for the candidates.
Emerging impact winner
Increasing inclusivity and access to cancer research
Simon Reeds, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Cancer research is highly ambitious, but the workforce does not represent our population. The project built a secure pipeline into cancer careers for students from school to higher education level. Using research and data, Simon has developed and lead interventions for underrepresented groups, including service-learning opportunities in schools, communities and the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), and exposure to scientific careers through internships and work experience. Short-term outcomes show better engagement with research opportunities and longer-term progression into research careers. The programme of activities Simon delivers at the MCRC aims to provide a spark, inspiring underrepresented students from school age to PhDs to pursue a career in research.
Highly commended
Manchester-China Friendship Programme (MCFP)
Prof Peter Gries, Yannan Yu, Lorelei Baciu, Yunyang Xia, Sol Stappard, Halia Zhang, Jake Ruding and Nasira Asghar, Faculty of Humanities
Manchester-China Friendship Programme (MCFP) was established in 2021 by the Manchester China Institute and Manchester China Forum to improve student experience at the University of Manchester. With nearly 9,000 Chinese students on campus, MCFP addresses the lack of interaction between home and international students, aiming to bridge cultural, racial, and political divides. British and Chinese students live largely separate live and as a result, they do not fully benefit from their shared presence on campus. The programme hosts intercultural events, wellbeing sessions, and workshops to promote mutual understanding, and reduce hostility. It thus contributes to the University’s commitment to fostering social responsibility on an international scale.
Sustainable as Students
Fiona Day, Emily Taylor, Dale Pullin, Andrew Appleton, Ashley Murphy, Pauline Brown and Rob Aston, Central PS Division
The Sustainable as Students project involves a 12-month plan of education, activities and campaigns to students living in halls to contribute to the social responsibility priority of environmental sustainability. Through the project there will be impact on student behaviours in a positive manner so that when they leave halls and live in our local communities, they will understand the importance of their role in engaging in responsible practices such as: recycling, waste management, responsible consumption of natural resources, biodiversity volunteering and giving to support our wider community. Over 2 years, the project has led to a reduction of 13.67% general waste, saving £12,000. BHF partnership diverted 132,360kg items from landfill, generated £248,175 to fund vital research locally.
Outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability and a zero carbon future
Winner
The Bright Idea: A solar solution transforming campus energy
Lee Barlow, Central PS Division
The University has entered a landmark Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (cPPA) with clean energy firm Enviromena, securing 65% of its electricity from a new solar farm in Essex. Expertly led by Lee Barlow, this is the University’s most significant emissions reduction project, saving 12,000 tCO₂ annually over the next decade. By securing the cPPA, the project advances the University’s sustainability goals while supporting the transition to a greener national grid. Leveraging the significant purchasing power, the University has driven new renewable infrastructure, amplifying environmental impact for future staff and students. This is the largest reduction initiative in the University’s zero-carbon plan cutting scope 1&2 emissions by around 25%.
Student winner
Biko Bikes
Isaac Law, James Bradnam and Biko Bikes Student Action Group, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Biko Bikes is Manchester’s Student bike shop that helps to promote sustainable transport and healthy lifestyles. Their target group are students, and they want to provide the cheapest way for them to maintain a safe bike. This semester they have successfully ran many repair sessions. The project promotes bike usage and conducts free repairs. Any parts required are at wholesale prices resulting in the cheapest way students can maintain a safe bike. They also have a rental fleet that is distributed at the start of the academic year costing students just £1 a week. There are also bikes for sale through the academic year subject to availability.
Highly commended
IT Kit Amnesty week
John Vass-de-Zomba, David Lloyd and Hardware Asset Management, Central PS Division
Electronic waste, such unwanted computer equipment, is the fastest growing waste-stream globally. Lots of greenhouse gases are emitted in its manufacture, it contains hazardous, toxic and polluting materials, and it includes useful items, data, and valuable materials. Staff and students are unwilling or unsure of how to dispose of their unwanted IT kit at home and at work, so it accumulates or ends up in landfill. This initiative takes this kit off people’s hands and either put it back to good use, else get the most out of its parts and materials, then dispose of the remainder appropriately, with none going to the landfill. The goals of this initiative include: reclaiming and redistributing serviceable kit within the University, diverting e-waste from landfill and giving staff/students a way to unburden themselves of unwanted IT kit.
LabGoods4Reuse (LG4R)
Joanna Woodburn, Natalie Terry, Becci Higgins, Rae Watkins and FBMH Technical Operations team, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Laboratory-based research is essential for society but is also energy and resource intensive. Technical Operations staff in FBMH are making a positive impact; they created LabGoods4Reuse (LG4R) to reuse resources, reduce waste, provide essential equipment, and free up valuable space through innovative laboratory ‘rehoming’. Launched in 2024, the uptake in FBMH has been fantastic. Over 500 items have been rehomed across 70 different lab groups. More than £250,000 has been saved by rehoming equipment and consumables. The LG4R team established a sustainable culture focused on reusing items.
Outstanding contribution to widening access and student success
Winner
Volunteering Outreach in Science and Engineering (VOISE)
Amelie Coy, Valerie Tam, Anjali Patel, George Bourne, Annette Pullukattu, Alghala Almulhim, Ben Bradwell, Ryan Model, Yenushka Dayaratne, Vaibhav Gupta and Kathleen Setiawan Ho, Faculty of Science and Engineering
VOISE is a social responsibility society inspiring young people in STEM through engaging, engineering-focused outreach activities and support for University initiatives. Their primary focus is on schools within the widening participation scheme, ensuring students from underrepresented backgrounds have the opportunity to explore diverse STEM pathways. These experiences aim to spark curiosity, build confidence, and showcase possibilities that students may not have otherwise been fortunate to encounter, fostering greater interest and aspirations in STEM fields. The initiative inspires and engages students from widening participation backgrounds through interactive, hands-on outreach events, conducted on-campus with the FSE outreach team and off-campus.
Highly commended
Manchester Outreach Medics (MOMs)
Ellis Critchley and Manchester Outreach Medics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Manchester Outreach Medics (MOMs) are a team of medical student volunteers who run free medical application workshops for sixth form students across both Lancashire and Greater Manchester. As a society, they strive to make the next generation of doctors more representative of the current UK population, reducing inequalities between the different socioeconomic backgrounds and ensuring that everybody has an equal chance of receiving a place at medical school. Founded in 2015, MOMs strive to make the next generation of doctors more representative of the current UK population. They achieve this by running a series of events throughout the academic year, which are designed to provide informative presentations, group activities and valuable feedback to those who attend.
Levelling Up: Maths
Louise Walker, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Student numbers studying maths at university have remained fairly static over the past decade but there has been a shift from lower to higher tariff departments. Working with other Manchester universities, Levelling Up: Maths want to encourage more students to study maths at university, especially those from low socio-economic groups. They offer sustained support for disadvantaged A-level maths students and their teachers in Greater Manchester via online tuition delivered by undergraduate students. The aim is for students to improve understanding and confidence in maths, supporting their transition to Higher Education.
Outstanding alumni contribution to social responsibility
Winner
Youth-led Environmental Movement Building Initiative in Malawi
Charles Bakolo Mvula (alumnus), Faculty of Humanities
The voluntary Malawi Creation Care Network (MCCN) is a movement aimed at addressing environmental issues such as plastic pollution and deforestation. Since its inception in 2019, MCCN has united churches, youth groups, NGOs, and academics, organising nationwide marches that contributed to Malawi’s landmark ban on plastic bags. Charles has continued to build a vibrant movement of young people across universities, colleges, secondary, and primary schools in Malawi, advocating for environmental sustainability through tree planting and growing. The network drives collective action towards a zero-carbon future and the preservation of Malawi’s rich biodiversity. One of the most impactful achievements has been MCCN’s instrumental role in securing the landmark ban on plastic bags in Malawi, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2019 after a prolonged legal battle. Through nationwide marches, advocacy, and collaboration with various stakeholders Charles mobilised widespread support for this critical policy change.
Highly commended
Northwest Women in STEM – local community interest group
Saba Khan (alumna), University of Manchester
Saba Khan, an alumna of The University of Manchester, is co-founder of NorthWest Women in STEM, a community-driven initiative to engage, educate and empower local women across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, and Lancashire. NorthWest Women in STEM seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by creating opportunities for professional growth and community engagement. As a scientist and researcher, Saba understands some of the challenges women face and is dedicated to helping women to pursue a career in STEM. The Group’s mission is to create an inclusive space for mentorship, skill-building, and networking while inspiring the next generation through outreach programs in schools and universities. Since its inception in March 2024, NorthWest Women in STEM has achieved notable milestones, including hosting its launch at the University of Liverpool and Women in STEM Networking Lunch at the University of Manchester.
Radio FANTASEE for social inclusion
David Asekomhe, Dr. Unenobong Udoka, Rita Robert Otu and Donald Ogar (alumni), University of Manchester
Radio Fantasee (Food and Nutrition on Air for Social and Economic Empowerment) is an innovative use of a traditional technology, promoting equity and cultural understanding to address conflict drivers related to education and contribute to peace and social cohesion. The radio program promotes the University of Manchester values in Nigerian communities by offering eco-friendly digital content; it addresses barriers faced by international students’ access, inclusion, and environmental sustainability. This program creates an inclusive safe space where learners are inspired and empowered to thrive. Since its launch in Nigeria, Radio Fantasee has achieved significant outcomes, fostering creativity, inclusion, and environmental awareness. The radio program has reached over 200,000 listeners across three states in Nigeria, showcasing diverse voices and engaging audiences in meaningful dialogues. In 2024, out of 87 applications worldwide, the radio program was selected to represent Nigeria (East Africa and West Africa) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the Conference of Parties (COP16) for active promotion of climate change and women’s land rights.
