• Have you set up community project?
  • Do you share your expertise outside of the university, such as through public lectures?
  • Do you support vulnerable people living in your community?
  • Do you contribute to Manchester life through its festivals programme?

Many students, alumni and staff give their personal time and energy helping undertaking 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 Advancing the Manchester 2015 Agenda).

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 are 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 (incuding Victoria University and UMIST)

To be eligible for these awards, the activity 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 is put forward for the University Social Responsibility Award.

The 2012 awards have now been made.  Information on the winners can be found on these pages.  Information on the 2013 awards will be available from January 2013.

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