Join students from across Greater Manchester on Thursday 12 November to demand safer streets, campuses and communities.
Fifty years after the first Reclaim the Night march, we’re still fighting for the same basic right: to live, study, work and socialise without fear of sexual harassment or gender-based violence.
This Thursday, students from across Greater Manchester will come together for the 50th anniversary of Reclaim the Night. For the first time, Manchester’s three largest students’ unions are joining forces to bring students together and demand change.
The movement began in Leeds in 1977, when women took to the streets in response to police advice to stay indoors at night following a series of murders. They refused to accept that women should have to change their behaviour to stay safe. Now, in 2026, that message remains as important as ever.
What are we marching for?
This year’s campaign has three key demands:
1. Get me home safely
Everyone should be able to get home safely after work, study or a night out. The campaign is calling on employers to take responsibility for workers’ journeys home and on Transport for Greater Manchester to help make routes safer.
2. Trans solidarity
Trans people deserve safety, dignity and support. The campaign is calling on Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to formally condemn the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman, alongside better, trans-inclusive support for survivors of gender-based violence.
3. Zero tolerance
Universities must be safe spaces for everyone. The campaign is calling for zero tolerance of gender-based violence in education, with university leaders taking responsibility for challenging sexual harassment and rape culture.
Join the march
You don’t need to have marched before, and you don’t need to know anyone else going. Whether you come with friends or on your own, join students, staff and community members from across Greater Manchester to show that these issues cannot be ignored.
When: Thursday, 12 November 2026
Meet: 6.30pm at the University of Manchester Students’ Union (M13 9PR)
Rally: Castlefield Bowl, Rice Street, M3 4JR
Speeches: 8.30pm–9pm
Fifty years on, we shouldn’t still need to make these demands.
Join us on Thursday and help make sure they’re heard.
Other events
Tuesday, 3 November – Make a banner: Join the Knitting and Crochet Society to create a collaborative banner for the march.
Thursday, 5 November – Reclaim the Night panel talk: Explore the history of the movement and why the campaign still matters 50 years on.
Tuesday, 10 November – Banner making: Drop in between 1pm and 5pm to paint banners with the Wellbeing & Liberation Officer and meet other students planning to march. All materials are provided.
Need support?
Sexual harassment, violence and abuse are never OK. If you’ve experienced something, it isn’t your fault, and support is available. You don’t have to make a formal report to access support.
The University’s Advice and Response Service can offer support and advice if you’ve experienced or been affected by harassment, discrimination, sexual misconduct or other abusive behaviour.
You can find out about your options through Report + Support, including how to contact the Advice and Response team or make an anonymous report.
You can also contact the University of Manchester Students’ Union Advice Service for independent, confidential advice.