Showcasing our new colleague network: First Generation

If you are the first generation of your family who went to university, or from a family or community where attending university wasn’t the typical path to take, our new colleague network: First Gen@UoM, is for you. The network is open to anybody who might feel like there are class codes that they don’t understand, or excluded from campus culture, or self-conscious about their accent, background and upbringing. The events, activities and sessions run by the network are welcome to all who are interested. 

Although the network officially launched in September of this year (2025), the group was initially formed in 2023 by Siobhan Cartwright and Steve Jones and already has over 80 members. It aims to provide space for 1stGen colleagues to open up about their experiences, share strategies, explore issues around class and nudge the university to take up more inclusive practices and become more class-sensitive. They kicked off this year with a launch event, featuring guest speakers Professor Jenn Hallam and Professor Tony Redmond OBE.  

Their next event is on Thursday 11 December, where Professor Jackie Carter will discuss her recent publication, jointly written with Linda Baines: “Practitioner, Professor, Researcher, Reformer: Women’s Atypical Stories”.   

Contact equalityanddiversity@manchester.ac.uk to join!