Have you set up a community project? Do you run a festival? Are you a mentor or befriender to a child or a vulnerable person? Do you give your time to a local community group?

Many students, alumni and staff give their personal time and energy helping undertake public engagement work or volunteering with disadvantaged groups in the community locally, nationally and overseas. In addition, as part of its strategic vision, the university aims to encourage greater social responsibility (Goal 3 in the Manchester 2020 Vision). To help realise this ambition, and to recognise and celebrate the social responsibility activity of its members, in 2010 the university launched a Social Responsibility and Volunteer of the Year Awards scheme.

Awards will be given in three categories:

  • Student of the Year – open to any current undergraduate or postgraduate of the University of Manchester. This award is in association with University of Manchester Students’ Union.
  • Staff of the Year – to any current staff member of the University.
  • Alumni of the Year – to any graduate of The University of Manchester (including Victoria University and UMIST).

To be eligible for these awards, the activities must address disadvantaged groups or deprived communities. Nominations should also not be for work that is part of a nominee’s job but be over and above that which is expected. Each winner receives a cheque, made out to the organisation that they support: £300 for the overall winner, and £200 and £100 for the 2nd and 3rd place runners up. In addition the overall winner in each category will be put forward for the University Social Responsibility Award.

The Awards are organised by the Careers and Employability Division, which is part of the Directorate for the Student Experience.

Please visit www.manchester.ac.uk/volunteeroftheyear for more information about how to submit.

To inspire you, information on the 2012 winners, and winners from previous years, can also be found on these pages.

Post on behalf of Suzanne Spicer, Social Responsibility Manager | The University of Manchester | 186 Waterloo Place | Oxford Road | Manchester M13 9PL | Tel: +44 (0)161 306 3047 suzanne.spicer@manchester.ac.uk