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Challenge Accepted: how volunteering helped one colleague reconnect with Manchester

22 Apr 2026

Adam shares why he uses his volunteering days with the Manchester International Festival

Colleagues taking a selfie and smiling, in matching volunteer t-shirts

When I moved back to Manchester after ten years away, I threw myself into rediscovering the city I’d missed so much. That’s how I first came across the Manchester International Festival (MIF) back in 2013, and thought: what better way to meet people and immerse myself in the arts than to volunteer?

Fast forward more than a decade and I’ve now supported everything from intimate theatre in old churches to huge headline gigs in hidden venues. I used my three volunteering days last year with MIF again - helping set up events, welcome audiences, and be part of the buzz that makes the festival what it is.

The best part about volunteering is feeling like you’ve contributed to something special for the city, and the people you meet along the way. Volunteers make events like these possible, and since my first shift in 2013, I’ve gone on to volunteer at jazz festivals, book festivals, beer festivals, the Manchester Histories Festival… 

Using the colleague volunteering policy has opened doors I never expected. If you’re thinking about using your volunteering days, talk to people who already do it. Find something that excites you. You never know where it might lead.

Adam, FBMH 

Find out more

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.