Have you accepted the Challenge yet?
20 Jul 2026
From Manchester, so far: the collective power delivering our Manchester 2035 strategy
Colleagues across the University are channelling their collective power through small actions, resulting in immeasurable impact.
We asked colleagues: “What challenge have you accepted in the last 6 months?”
Our volunteering and fundraising campaign, Challenge accepted, is helping us to mobilise our community to tackle the world’s biggest challenges, and achieve our goal of becoming a great philanthropic university by 2035. Just some of the things we’ve achieved together in the last 6 months include:
- Colleagues using their three volunteer days to help more local causes than ever – from keeping it on campus to inspire visitor creativity at Manchester Museum, to team volunteering tackling food waste, and supporting the city’s culture at Manchester International Festival.
- Over £10,600 fundraised by colleagues, students and alumni who took part in this year’s Purple Wave – including Saeed and Alejandro who ran in honour of their much-loved family members.
- An almost 20% increase in colleague sign-ups to our pay roll giving schemes, Purple Pennies and Purple Pounds, with small micro-donations adding up to thousands of pounds for brilliant charities.
Get involved
- We’re still only at the beginning of achieving the ambitions of our strategy, and every action — whether it’s giving, volunteering, or simply spreading the word — helps build momentum.
- From Manchester, so far is a snapshot of the progress we're making as we deliver From Manchester for the World. Every colleague, student and partner has a role to play. Share your story here and help show how we're working together to become a great civic university for the 21st century: Your contributions to Manchester 2035