Celebrating our volunteers

Many of our students volunteer either here in Manchester, or elsewhere nationally or internationally.  As a University we want to take time every year to thank these volunteers for the skills, commitment and tens of thousands of volunteers hours given.

One of the ways we do this is through our annual Volunteer of the Year Awards, which have the following categories:

• Student of the Year (individual) undertaking volunteering that benefits the wider community
• Student of the Year (individual) undertaking volunteering that benefits other students
• Student Group of the Year (2 or more students together) undertaking volunteering that benefits the wider community

The awards are open to any undergraduate or postgraduate currently studying at The University of Manchester.

Please note that from 2024, staff and alumni achievements have been recognised through the Make a Difference Awards, which the Volunteer of the Year Awards are affiliated to, and there is no Volunteer of the Year category for staff or alumni.

The individual student winner from the wider community category of the Volunteer of the Year Awards also receives the President’s Social Responsibility Medal.

2024’s awards took place on 7th May in a live ceremony in the Whitworth Hall.  The winners supported a range of causes including young people in Myanmar, the Chilean commuity in the UK and sustainability. The overall winners received a cash prize for their organisation: £300 for the overall winner, and £200 and £100 for the 2nd and 3rd place runners up. In addition the overall winner in the 'students supporting the community' category received the University's prestigious Medal for Social Responsibility. You can see more about the winners here.