Celebrating people who make an impact

Are you making a difference to society or the environment, or do you know someone who is stepping up to make a change? If the answer is yes, then why not enter the University’s annual Making a Difference Awards for social responsibility.

The Making a Difference Awards shine a spotlight on the incredible work our students, staff, alumni, and external partners who have accepted the challenge of making a difference, whether that’s improving lives, supporting communities, or driving positive change locally and globally. This is a chance to be recognised for your exceptional efforts in social responsibility, share best practices and inspire others. The Awards celebrate the dedication and impact of our students as they strive for a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future.

Our students have the chance to be recognised across a range of categories. Previous winners have included students repairing and recycling bikes to inspire sustainable travel, projects empowering young people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue STEM careers, initiatives championing inclusivity, belonging, and action on environmental and social challenges.

Take inspiration from previous winners, who found the recognition a powerful motivation to keep tackling the issues they care deeply about, while gaining increased attention and additional support for their projects.

Isaac Law, a 2025 student award recipient for Biko Bikes, said: “For us, the Making a Difference Award celebrates our journey: the dedication, teamwork and quiet determination of a group of volunteers who’ve built a thriving, student-led hub that continues to make a real difference to student’s lives.

The Class of ’25 volunteers set out with a straightforward goal: to make cycling more affordable for students while keeping bikes out of landfill. But in exploring how to measure our impact, we’ve come to see just how much Biko Bikes has contributed to the wider student community.”

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility said: “It’s incredible to see how our students, staff, alumni and external partners are turning ideas into action and making a real difference every day. The Making a Difference Awards shine a light on their achievements and celebrate the lasting impact of their work within our University and beyond. I hope more colleagues will share their stories and inspire others to do the same.”

All shortlisted award entrants will be invited to a high-profile awards ceremony on 6 May 2026 to receive their Award and celebrate their commitment and dedication. This event is a powerful platform to raise awareness of your work and highlight the challenges you’ve accepted and the change you’ve created.

Enter the Making a Difference Awards now and showcase your dedication to positive change or nominate colleagues who are making a difference.

Important Information: 

If you are interested in entering or nominating someone for a Making a Difference Award why not attend our online briefing session on Monday 1 December at 2pm for some top tips and advice on how to submit a great entry. Please email Grace Bartholomew to sign-up to the session.

• Enter via the social responsibility website. 
• Deadline for entries is 14 January 2026. 
• Candidates can self-nominate or be nominated by a third party. 
• Individuals or teams can enter.
• For more information, visit the Making a Difference Awards webpage. 
• If you cannot access to an online entry form, please email socialresponsibility@manchester.ac.uk or telephone 0161-306-3044 to request a hard copy.
• To attend the briefing session on Monday 1 December, 2pm please email Grace Bartholomew.
• For more information, visit the Making a Difference Awards webpage.