Challenge Accepted: how one colleague and her dog are making a big difference

02 Mar 2026

Find out how Kim (and Obi!) uses her volunteering days with Pets As Therapy, on and off campus

Kim and Obi her dog, on campus and in a school

They say never work with animals...

Well, I spend most of my 'non-work' time doing exactly that, and recently my personal and professional worlds came together when my role as a Pets As Therapy volunteer brought me onto campus with my boy, Obi. Providing snuggles and waggy tails to students in between their exams was indeed the perfect therapy.

What I hadn't considered though was the wider conversations and emotional impact them sharing a room with him would have... students having moments of reflection, sharing stories of their pets back home who they miss so much; or the act of just being in a quiet space with him bringing much needed calmness from the busy outside world.

While Obi’s visit to campus resulted in him featuring in the University’s most popular Instagram post of the week, his visit here was very much an ‘exam season special’. More regularly, we have an established placement at a local school in Cheshire that specialises in SEND. Every 3-4 weeks during term time, we visit a range of children at the school where they interact with Obi to support communication skills, play games that lean into a bit of numeracy, or just sit or walk out with him to relax in amongst the school day.

It’s thanks to our Colleague Volunteering Policy and encouragement of social responsibility activities (especially though our recently launched 'Challenge Accepted' volunteering and fundraising campaign) that we are able to do this wonderful work. I can honestly say that stepping out of the day job for a couple of hours to make the visits really does put a spring in my step when I return. Seeing the joy and value that Obi brings to the children is real food for the soul.

Kim Graakjaer, Head of Student Communications

Find out more

Challenge Accepted: our fundraising and volunteering campaign is one of the first bold steps in delivering our Manchester 2035 strategy; committing to becoming a great philanthropic university by connecting people to the causes that matter most.
Volunteering Policy: all colleagues are entitled to three paid leave days (pro rata) each year, to dedicate their time and skills to a local cause of their choosing.
Stuck on how to use your volunteering days? Check out some of our existing partnerships in the university, from becoming a STEM ambassador to inspire young people to take a STEM pathway in their future, to our Access Project, allowing you to tutor GCSE students, raising their aspirations and confidence.