Making a Difference Awards 2026 鈥� celebrating excellence in social responsibility
On Wednesday, 6 May, the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 hosted its annual ceremony to recognise and celebrate the inspiring social responsibility achievements of colleagues, students, alumni and external partners.
The University鈥檚 social responsibility activity spans across its research, teaching, public engagement activities and University operations.
The Making a Difference Awards highlight the extensive range of social responsibility initiatives across the University community and include categories such as environmental sustainability, alumni contribution, widening access and student success and equality, diversity and inclusion.
By sharing ideas, time, expertise and innovation, these inspiring projects accept the challenge to deliver real-world change.
Over 140 entries were submitted this year, with judges recognising 14 winners and 20 highly commended. Winners included:
- A project which pioneers a proactive digital approach to reduce relapse risk and improve outcomes for people experiencing psychosis.
- An initiative that re-imagined the traditional graduation ceremony to create an accessible and inclusive event for graduates and their families who may have otherwise been unable to attend.
- Student-led initiatives such as growing organic produce using low-waste methods and donating fresh food to community groups across 黑料网吃瓜爆料, and an outreach project bringing practical dental advice to expectant parents across Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料.
In addition to the Making a Difference Awards, two University Medals for Social Responsibility were presented, one to a member of staff and one to an alumnus. The recipients were:
- The Bee Cup Scheme, a scheme reducing disposable cup use on campus through a free, app-based reusable cup system
- Alumna Hannah Broughton for transforming support for young people and families through early communication programmes and therapeutic outdoor sessions.
During the event, a special Making a Difference Award was presented to the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Access Programme (MAP). The Award recognised 20 years of the University鈥檚 flagship widening access scheme, which supports local Year 12 students across Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 to access higher education.
Attending the Making a Difference Awards was inspiring. It was a chance to pause and reflect on the extraordinary work happening across our University. What stood out most for me was seeing our strategy brought to life and how our research, teaching and partnerships are making a difference in people鈥檚 lives and the communities we serve. You could feel how deeply social responsibility runs through everything we do, brought to life through the passion and dedication of our colleagues.
I left feeling proud and grateful to everyone whose work - often quietly and without fanfare - is helping to deliver positive outcomes every day across our campus, our city, and our global partnerships.
These Awards shine a light on the collective commitment of our University community to make a positive difference. Social Responsibility sits at the heart of From 黑料网吃瓜爆料 for the world 2025 strategy as one of our five foundations, shaping how we teach, research and engage. From student projects to long-standing partnerships, this work shows the real difference universities can make in addressing social and environmental challenges.
The Making a Difference Awards celebrate the people and projects that bring our values to life across the University. They recognise not only outstanding achievement, but the care, creativity and collaboration that underpin meaningful social responsibility. Together, these awards reflect the ambition of our 黑料网吃瓜爆料 2035 strategy: to use our research, teaching and civic role to create positive change for our communities and across the world.
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