• SEED Social Responsibility Director - Nicola Banks - Nicola.banks@manchester.ac.uk
• Social Responsibility Champion for Geography - Nerea Okong’o - nerea.okongo@manchester.ac.uk
• Social Responsibility Champion for the Global Development Institute - Tom Gillespie - thomas.gillespie@manchester.ac.uk
• Social Responsibility Champion for Manchester Institute of Education - Rui He - rui.elin.he@manchester.ac.uk
• Social Responsibility Champion for Planning, Property and Environmental Management - Joe Ravetz - joe.ravetz@manchester.ac.uk

For any matters relating to social responsibility in the School, please email sr.seed@manchester.ac.uk

• SEED Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Laura Winter - laura.winter@manchester.ac.uk
• SEED Disability equality co-lead - Heather Cockayne - heather.cockayne@manchester.ac.uk
• SEED Disability equality co-lead - Rachel Challinor - rachel.challinor@manchester.ac.uk
• Gender and sexuality equality lead - Catherine Atkinson - catherine.atkinson-3@manchester.ac.uk
• Taught Student Lead - Laura Goodfellow - laura.goodfellow@manchester.ac.uk
• Postgraduate research representative 2023/24 - Gloria Muñoz Romero - gloria.munoz-2@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
• Postgraduate research representative 2023/24 - Dilek Celebi - dilek.celebi@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

For matters relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the School, please email: edi.seed@manchester.ac.uk

SEED staff and PGR students who have a great idea to make a difference in teaching, research or operations, can apply for funds through the SEED Social Responsibility (SR) Catalyst Fund, up to the £2,000.

The areas you can apply for are wide-reaching. The Catalyst Fund has funded incredible and innovative projects spanning public engagement, co-produced research and impact activities and staff well-being activities, amongst others. You can see examples of recent projects that received funding from the SEED SR catalyst Fund below:

• SEED Students Engage with Community-Led Solutions for Urban Challenges
• Daniela Cocco Beltrame Launches Critical Youth Movement Research with SEED’s Social Responsibility Catalyst Funding
• SEED Stitch Socials Promote Wellbeing and Connection at University of Manchester
• Zine-Making Workshop Empowers Participants to Tackle Imposter Syndrome
• #Assessmentforgood: launching an innovative assessment initiative in SEED
• BeePart Project Enhances International Students' Engagement with Manchester Communities

To apply for the SEED Social Responsibility Catalyst Fund, please complete this application form.

Applications received will be reviewed by Nicola Banks, the SR Director, and at least two SR Committee members. Application outcomes will be discussed and communicated at the following SR committee meeting, every 6 weeks.

There is not a deadline to apply, but the application call will be closed once all funds are allocated, so applications are encouraged to be submitted as soon as possible. 

If you have any questions about applying for the SEED Social Responsibility Catalyst Fund, please email nicola.banks@manchester.ac.uk.

The University’s annual Making a Difference Awards recognise the outstanding social and environmental impact staff, students, alumni and external partners have on our local communities and the wider society.

The call for applications is usually circulated in December/January, with an awards ceremony in May/June.

Please let SEED Social Responsibility Director Niki Banks know if you intend to apply, and she can support your application.

SEED has a legacy of success at these awards:

• 2025 - SEED recognition at the Making a Difference Awards
• 2024 – SEED recognition at the Making a Difference Awards
• 2023 – SEED recognition at the Making a Difference Awards