Your Manchester impact 2013

NEWSLETTER FOR THE DONOR COMMUNITY

2013 ED ITION

Paralympian receives scholarship created in memory of promising young graduate

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PhD researcher joins forces with surgeons to improve outcomes for lung transplant patients

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Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor Brian Cox celebrate Science@ Manchester

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Donor generosity helps fill the airwaves through student radio station

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Inside this edition...

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Donor Community News Celebrating our 10,000th donor

7 Paralympian receives scholarship created in memory of promising young graduate

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Research Community

Bravo Beyer!

Celebrating our historic benefactor’s 200th birthday

PhD researcher joins forces with surgeons to improve outcomes for lung transplant patients 10

Global Community University and Red Cross team up to deliver disaster relief training

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Student and Scholarship Community Former Undergraduate Scholarship recipient talks about life after lectures

Charles Fredrick Beyer

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Faculty Community Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor Brian Cox celebrate ‘Science@Manchester’ with University donors

Nancy Rothwell salutes Beyer’s lasting impact on the University with Professor David Abrahams, current holder of the Beyer Chair in Applied Mathematics, outside the Beyer building in the Old Quad.

On 14 May 2013, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of The University of Manchester’s greatest ever personal benefactor.

Charles Fredrick Beyer (1813-1876) might not be a household name, but his philanthropic support of The University of Manchester has had a huge impact on the University and the world leading research taking place here.

Beyer donated the current equivalent of almost £10 million to the University’s predecessor institutions, including funds for professorships and contributions towards the construction of the main Oxford Road site which includes the building bearing his name.

Born in Germany to humble beginnings, Beyer won a scholarship to attend university before coming to Manchester in 1834 to work as a locomotive engineer. Twenty years later he founded the pioneering firm Beyer, Peacock and Company which produced almost 8,000 locomotives until its closure in 1966.

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Manchester Community ‘More Tomorrows’ for cancer patients thanks to new home for researchers

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Campus Community Donor generosity helps fill the airwaves through student radio station

Beyer was heavily involved in the economic and educational development of the city, including the Mechanics Institute, later UMIST, and Owens College, later the Victoria University of Manchester.

His philanthropic support of Owens College, in particular, was instrumental in the college making its move from its original site at Quay Street in Manchester city centre down to its current home on Oxford Road.

As well as bequeathing funds towards construction, Beyer contributed to scholarships and professorships, including the Beyer Chair in Applied Mathematics. This Professorship was first held by Arthur Schuster from 1881-1888 and has been continually held ever since – Professor David Abrahams has been the current Chair since 1998.

ank you

At the Science@Manc

hester event

from the President and Vice-Chancellor Philanthropy – the act of altruistic donation for the benefit of humankind – is increasingly important to our University. 2013 has seen major philanthropic milestones for The University of Manchester which you, as our supporters, have made happen.

Our University has seen record levels of new funds and donors over the last year. Significantly, your combined support since the University’s formation in 2004 reached £100 million at the start of this year (see page 5); a phenomenal achievement in which we should all take pride.

No less importantly, recent Geography graduate, Stephanie Sparkes, became the 10,000th recorded donor to the University when she made a gift to celebrate her graduation in 2011 as part of the Your Manchester Fund telephone campaign (read more overleaf).

These specific milestones demonstrate the commitment and dedication of our alumni and friends who help us continue to make progress in our three core goals: world-class research, outstanding learning and student experience, and social responsibility. You will see, through the pages that follow, the impact your support is making in each of these areas – both on campus and for the benefit of communities both local and global.

I want to thank you personally for your continued support for our outstanding students and staff. We can do a lot alone, but a great deal more together.

The 200th anniversary is our opportunity to celebrate both Beyer’s birth and his legacy. Legacy gifts, of all sizes, have a lasting impact on the University, its staff and students. To learn more about how you can support the University in this way contact Lesley Dowdall on 0161 275 2373 or lesley.dowdall@manchester.ac.uk

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell President and Vice-Chancellor

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Donor Community News Giving for impact

Donor cycles to fundraising success

10,000 donors to The University of Manchester

A local amateur cyclist completed a sponsored bike ride from Manchester to Blackpool in aid of lymphoma research at The University of Manchester, raising an incredible £1,300.

e tes completing a 60 mil Dave Gaskell celebra lymphoma research for ds fun e rais to bike ride at the University

Cyclist Dave Gaskell, who raised funds from friends and family through the online fundraising website JustGiving, had his fundraising total matched by his employer Barclays Bank.

in something that resonated with people I know. Most people have been affected one way or another by cancer and this was an opportunity to do something positive and join the fight against the disease.”

The bike ride is a well established event and attracts many participants from the North West and beyond to take up the challenge. Dave said: “The atmosphere was fantastic, with everyone supporting each other. There were cycling fanatics on their expensive bikes right through to postmen on their delivery bikes, so it was great fun.”

The University’s Lymphoma Research Group works in partnership with the Christie hospital, the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe. Through their work investigating the biology of this group of blood cancers, our lymphoma researchers are helping to improve outcomes for patients by developing new and more effective treatments. Led by University scientist and hospital clinician Professor John Radford, the group pioneered a treatment for ovarian cancer patients which restored their fertility after the effects of chemotherapy.

Dave, a friend of the University, decided to undertake the 60 mile challenge to raise money for a cause that is meaningful to him, and to the people to who were supporting him. He said: “I really wanted to get involved

If you would like to learn more about supporting the University through JustGiving please visit www.justgiving.com/uniofman

Just married and JustGiving!

Stephanie Sparkes made a gift to celebrate the year of her graduation in 2011 as part of the annual Your Manchester Fund telephone campaign, choosing to direct her support towards helping promising students from Greater Manchester for whom a University education would be unachievable without financial support.

Stephanie said: “I was more than happy to miss a night at the pub and instead give a donation that, alongside others, will ultimately allow people to have the valuable educational experience I enjoyed.

“It's up to us to support our University and allow it to help other people – it may only mean a small donation (or perhaps a large one too!) but anything is better than nothing at all.”

Director of Development, Chris Cox, said: “This marks a real milestone in The University of Manchester’s long history of philanthropy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Stephanie and the other 9,999 recorded donors for their commitment to helping the University make new advances and aid more students than ever before.”

Recent geography graduate, Stephanie Sparkes, became the 10,000th University of Manchester donor

Read more about the Undergraduate Scholarship programme Stephanie, and thousands more of you, are supporting on page 16.

One hundred million reasons to say thank you

An alumnus and his new wife have given the gift of knowledge to struggling students at The University of Manchester through generously donating their wedding gifts to an emergency hardship fund.

The University of Manchester has attracted over £100 million in philanthropic donations committed by University supporters since its foundation less than a decade ago.

Alumnus Steven Brown, who graduated from the MSc Petroleum Geoscience programme in 2007, married fiancée Laura in Suffolk in August 2012. In lieu of wedding gifts, the couple asked guests to make a donation to the University through the online fundraising site JustGiving.

This significant milestone was reached when alumnus Dr Rory Brooks (BSc Management Sciences 1975; Hon LittD 2003; Hon LittD 2010), and his wife Elizabeth, made a £1.33 million gift to the University, taking their total donations to £4 million since 2004.

Steve said: “We already own a house together so we had no real need for typical wedding gifts.” Instead they asked their guests to make a donation to support a hardship fund for students who need emergency financial aid to continue their studies.

The donation builds on the couple’s sustained support for the Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI), an international centre of excellence established to create and share knowledge to end poverty throughout the world. The University is an international research leader in poverty and poverty eradication, with the scope to shape policies that deliver real gains and effect change for people in poverty.

Steve said: “Laura and I believe that everyone should have the chance to study at university, irrespective of financial means; it should be based on merit alone. Student hardship is something we feel strongly about because we were both students and remember how hard it can be.”

Rory Brooks said: “The Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Foundation is delighted to commit to further support for the University to enable the BWPI to continue its important work as part of a wider commitment to support the bold aspirations of The University of Manchester’s 2020 vision.”

He continued: “My degree gave me a fantastic platform to start my career, but the increase in tuition fees and reduction in academic funding in recent years has made studying at university impossible for many. I wanted to give the next generation of students a helping hand because everyone should have a chance to study, regardless of where they come from.”

Turn to page 11 to hear from a former medical student, Holly Ni Raghallaigh, who is just one of the hundreds of students to benefit from donor generosity during their time of financial need.

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A 2011 geography graduate has become the 10,000th University supporter on record to give a gift to The University of Manchester and its predecessor institutions.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “This is far-sighted and generous philanthropy of the highest order. This milestone is to be celebrated with warm thanks to all of our donors, at all levels, and from all parts of the world.”

Alumnus Steve Brown and his wife Laura asked guests to give a donation to the University in lieu of traditional wedding gifts

Rory Brooks visited Ban gladesh, an area of focus for BW PI

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Donor Community News Giving for impact

Manchester’s Partners leading the way Every donor who chooses to support The University of Manchester is making a vital contribution to our groundbreaking work. We are pleased to welcome into our Partners' Circle those who make a commitment to Your Manchester Fund of £1,000 or more every year.

The cumulative support of our donors has a transformative effect across the entire University community, in the local area and the wider world.

Members of the Partners’ Circle are leading the way in developing a culture of philanthropy at Manchester, providing high-level contributions across the range of priorities supported by Your Manchester Fund.

Regular support at this level can provide a scholarship for a talented student from an underprivileged background coming to our University via the Manchester Access Programme, like local student Kamran Hussain who you can read more about on page 16.

Partners’ Circle members are also helping researchers at Manchester continue to tackle fundamental world issues through supporting scholarships for talented PhD researchers like Becky Williams, who has spent the last two years finding the next generation of cancer cures – you can read an update from her on page 9.

The Circle is chaired by alumnus David Buckley (BSc Electrical and Electronic Engineering 1984, MSc 1990) who is also a member of the University’s Global Leadership Board.

Partners’ Circle member Mark Younger with his wife Leila Abu-Sharr

Partners’ Circle member Mark Younger (BSc Engineering Manufacture and Management

1983) has supported Manchester for over 10 years. He said: “I am very pleased with the wide range of activities which are supported by my contribution to the Partners’ Circle, from bursaries enabling students to attend Manchester who would not otherwise be able to do so, through to research at the forefront of science.

“Universities such as Manchester are a great asset to this country both economically and culturally and they need to flourish alongside the best in the world. I think private philanthropy, given without strings, is one of the best means by which this can be achieved.”

In recognition of their significant contribution to the work of the University, Partners’ Circle members are invited to a range of exclusive events. Last year, the Partners’ Circle was officially launched at the annual Cockcroft Rutherford Lecture, where members were invited to a special reception where they had the chance to hear directly from Professor Brian Cox before the lecture and speak to President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell.

Speaking about the events he has attended as a Partners’ Circle member, Mark said: “It is fascinating to hear directly about research at the University from those who are leading it.”

If you would like to know more about the Partners’ Circle, please contact Gareth Pettit, tel: 0161 275 2775 email: gareth.pettit@manchester.ac.uk

Scholarships created in memory of promising young graduate The tragic premature death of a former University of Manchester student inspired her family and friends to embark on a fundraising mission in her memory to help those suffering from devastating brain injuries.

Natalie Kate Moss wa s 26 when she died from a brain aneurism

Natalie Kate Moss, from Parbold in Lancashire, studied Textile Design and Design Management at the University from 2004-2008, but died suddenly from a brain aneurism at the age of 26.

She was working as a Brand Manager for the fashion house Karen Millen at the time and had a promising career ahead of her.

A significant part of the scholarship fundraising campaign was a gruelling 180-mile run from Manchester to London over 7 days, undertaken

by Natalie’s brother, Sebastian Moss, and family friend, Ashley Collins. The pair, who completed a marathon a day, raised over £14,500 towards the Natalie Kate Moss Scholarships.

Following her death, Natalie’s family set up a Trust in her name and, through the dedicated fundraising efforts of family and friends, have been able to fund five new Scholarships to help students at Manchester who suffer from injuries brought on by a stroke or brain injury.

One of the first students to be awarded a Natalie Kate Moss Scholarship is second year Speech and Language Therapy student Blaire Hannan. Blaire said: “I feel very honoured to be recognised by such an amazing award. The Natalie Kate Moss Trust is an amazing organisation which is focused on helping and supporting those who have overcome adversity and are pursuing academic goals despite challenging brain conditions. To be acknowledged by the Trust in this way is very special.”

Talented sailor Blaire, who suffers from a rare neurological and muscular condition called Dystonia, which has left her wheelchair bound, was chosen to carry the Olympic Flame on the wheelchair accessible power boat ‘Aiming High’ along the harbour in Bristol, her home town, during the 2012 Torch Relay.

Manchester marks Donor Pin Week

The former Paralympic athlete said: “I chose to study Speech and Language Therapy partly from personal experience of having speech therapy myself, and because I had dreamed of having a medical career which can make a positive difference. I remember how positive my speech therapist was and the impact this had on my outlook and recovery. After teaching individuals with communication difficulties how to sail I knew this was the career for me, and the award from the Trust is helping me reach my goal.”

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The Natalie Kate Moss Trust is an amazing organisation which is focused on helping and supporting those who have overcome adversity and are pursuing academic goals despite challenging brain conditions.

University supporters celebrated this year’s Donor Pin Week by wearing their pin badge in recognition of their contribution to the University community.

This year, donors were encouraged to wear their pin between 22-26 April to increase awareness of donor support for the benefits higher education can bring on a global scale and to encourage others to add their support to these important causes.

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This annual event allows us to thank you for your generous, continued support of the University, our students and our research. This year we sent out a record number of pins to new donors and we hope that this number will continue to grow in the years to come.

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But the fundraising doesn’t end there for the Moss family, who recently abseiled down Manchester’s iconic University Place building, raising a further £1,000.

In addition to vital scholarship support, the Trust is also supporting research into brain haemorrhages and strokes at the University. Over 100,000 people in the UK will have a stroke this year; 30% of them will be under the age of 55 and 1,000 under the age of 30. With such fresh memories of the devastation that brain haemorrhage can cause, the Moss family hope that by supporting this research such heartache may, one day, be avoidable.

Chris Cox, Director of Development, wears his donor pin badge to show his support for the University

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Donor Pin Week is always a special occasion as it allows us to recognise the growing number of alumni and wider supporters in the region, nationally and around the world, and the difference their gifts make to the University community.

It’s a pleasure to wear my pin as a great reminder of the thousands of advocates whose generosity enables us to strive together towards a brighter future.

Chris Cox Director of Development

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Sebastian Moss said: “We are delighted to provide support to outstanding students like Blaire who make such a meaningful contribution to the University community and beyond. We are pleased the Natalie Kate Moss Trust is helping them to fulfil their potential and we are sure they will go on to achieve great success.”

t ta (centre) met the firs astian and mother Ani nt, Natalie’s brother Seb rship (L-R) Cambell Pla ola Sch ss Mo e Kat recipients of the Natalie Samms Gornall and Geraldine Blaire Hannan, Natalie

Talented international sailor Blaire Hannan was a member of the Paralympic transitional squad for sailing in a 2.4mR single handed boat

To find out more about the Natalie Kate Moss Trust visit: www.nataliekatemoss.co.uk 7

Research Community Encouraging innovation and enquiry

Becky keeps on blogging

Donations to the University from alumni and friends are providing funding towards PhD student John Stone’s research By working closely with surgeons in hospital, John’s research can be transferred from the laboratory into practice more quickly, helping to speed up the process for patients on the transplant waiting list

PhD researcher joins forces with surgeons to improve outcomes for lung transplant patients

Since publishing her first blog post last year, Becky has documented her progress in her first year as a Research Scholarship recipient studying the behaviour of cancer cells, as well as her work to promote the benefits of science to the public.

Up to 80% of lungs donated for transplantation are so damaged that they can’t be used. A unique partnership between academia, industry and clinicians, has created an exciting research opportunity for a talented PhD student to help tackle this staggering statistic.

John Stone, whose PhD is generously funded by the combined donations of alumni and friends to Your Manchester Fund, is working on a research project which aims to understand the mechanisms involved in repairing damaged tissue in lung transplantation.

The population of patients with respiratory diseases has reached pandemic levels in the developed world and for those suffering with end stage lung disease, lung transplantation offers the only hope of survival. However, this complex procedure is limited by the lack of suitable transplant donors. Even for those who are able to undergo this surgery, the risk of the donor lungs being rejected within the first year of transplant is severe.

John‘s research focuses on a new procedure which improves poorly functioning donor lungs and reduces the likelihood of the lungs being rejected. As a member of a research group led

by Dr James Fildes, part of the Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR), John splits his time between working in the lab at the University and attending theatre at the University Hospital of South Manchester, Wythenshawe.

Through joining forces with surgeons led by Prof Nizar Yonan from the Institute of Inflammation and Repair, donor lungs can be successfully repaired to the point where they’re fit for transplantation. This collaborative approach means the scientific progress made in the lab can be turned into clinical benefit more quickly to improve the transplant procedure, and has been so successful so far that the researchers believe new clinical trials could start in as little as four years time.

The researchers hope that these exciting developments in transplant research, when translated into the operating theatre, will help to reduce the financial burden on the NHS by lessening the palliative care needs of patients on the transplant waiting list. Most importantly, it will significantly improve the survival rates and quality of life for those suffering with these complicated conditions.

John said: “The funding I receive to carry out this research project is of vital importance both on a personal level and on an academic level, allowing me to fully concentrate on my research. Ultimately, this will allow me to get the best results from my project, which will hopefully benefit many patients in the long run.”

To find out more about research like John’s visit www.manchester.ac.uk/mccir

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It has been a busy and successful year for Becky Williams, a Research Scholarship recipient and our resident cancer PhD blogger.

Sue Chalmers

Sue Chalmers, a friend of the University, has chosen to include the University in her will because of the contribution made to advancements in medical research by students and staff, like John and James.

Sue said: “I have decided to make a gift to The University of Manchester because of its worldwide reputation in the field of medicine. I am confident that the University will offer a scholarship to a postgraduate student who will be able to make a real difference in the medical field and I can’t think of a better legacy for me.”

Pledging a will gift to Manchester is a wonderful way to show your support in the longer term for an aspect of the University which is especially important to you.

If you would like to know more about legacy support please contact Lesley Dowdall, tel: 0161 275 2373, email: lesley.dowdall@manchester.ac.uk

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was born with 46-year-old Sean Bell a double lung had and is ros Cystic Fib ago rs yea six transplant

Being told you need a lung transplant is a frightening experience. The average wait for a donation can be two years or more and up to half of those on the waiting list might die before the operation can take place due to the lack of suitable donor organs available. I was incredibly lucky and the transplant has given me and my family a new lease of life. The work being done at the MCCIR is simply amazing. It’s very likely their research will lead to fewer people dying whilst waiting for donor lungs. We are very lucky to have such a world class facility in Manchester.

Sean Bell Transplant patient

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Becky says: “Since starting my PhD, I really feel like I have an important purpose to my day, as part of the fight against cancer. My biggest achievement has been conquering my fears of talking to an audience through writing my blog. I have received so much support from inspiring Manchester alumni which has grown my confidence as a science communicator.”

Juggling her hectic work schedule with an unusually eventful home life, the past year has been a busy one for Becky, as she explains: “In the past year I have bought my first house and married my husband, Dave.

My Dad mentioned in his speech at my wedding how proud he was that I was doing a PhD and I have all the donors who support my work to thank for that. As a researcher, knowing that you are supported by so many people gives an immense sense of both pride and responsibility, ensuring you do the best job you can each day.”

Visit ddar.manchester.ac.uk/blog or scan this QR code with your smartphone to read all about Becky’s experiences as a University of Manchester PhD researcher.

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Student and Scholarship Community Supporting students to succeed

Life beyond the lecture theatre: Where are they now?

Donors give lifeline to future surgeon

The University of Manchester takes great pride in attracting and supporting talented students with the academic potential to succeed, but who come from backgrounds where, for many, higher education is not considered an option.

Through the Manchester Access Programme (MAP) and the provision of undergraduate scholarships from our generous donors, bright students with the determination to succeed have the chance to embark on a career that would not be possible without a university education.

Recent graduate Akinola Afolabi, who developed a passion for engineering during sixth form, took up a place on the MEng Mechanical Engineering course after successfully completing MAP. After graduating in 2011, Akinola landed his dream job working as a subsea design engineer on the graduate engineering programme at Cameron International Corporation; a highly regarded multinational company specialising in oil and gas processing equipment.

We caught up with Akinola to find out how the Scholarship he received has impacted on his life and career since graduating from the University.

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now and how has What are you doing from The University ree deg receiving your ed on your career? of Manchester impact

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I am currently training to be a chartered engineer in the subsea oil industry. My degree gave me the theoretical and practical engineering knowledge which forms the basic foundation of what I do in my current job. I use skills I learned from my degree every day, for example, creating 3D models and 2D detail drawings, engineering procedures and product development.

Scholarships have ‘long term effect’ on developing countries Over the past six years, 55 promising professionals from some of the world’s poorest countries have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to study on campus in Manchester, thanks to the University’s international Equity and Merit Scholarship programme.

The scheme, which is open to applicants from Uganda, Rwanda, Bangladesh and, for the first time in 2013, Tanzania, helps talented students from some of the world’s poorest nations undertake postgraduate degrees which address a particular need or skills gap and which are not available in their homelands. At the end of their 10

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Did participating in the Manchester Access programme and receiv ing a scholarship help you achieve you r current position?

Yes, during MAP I was able to gain a broader understanding of university life and how to be a successful student which eased the transition into the challenge of university education. As part of MAP, I was able to develop my teamwork, presentation, problem solving and communication skills which evolved and strengthened into applicable competencies throughout my degree and are now being put into effect in my profession as a subsea engineer.

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My Scholarship enabled me to reduce my part-time job working hours and spend more time revising for class tests and exams.

The extra time that my Scholarship allowed me contributed heavily towards my success in my degree and career as an engineer as it boosted my self-esteem and inspired me to retain my focus in pursuing my academic and professional goals.

Former Manchester Access Programme (MAP) student Akinola Afolabi is now pursuing a career in engineering

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to say to those What would you like olarship and Sch r you d who supporte opportunities continue to provide new to young people?

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I would like to say thank you to my fellow alumni and friends of the University for their support which helped me throughout my academic programme. The Scholarship gave me financial assurance which in turn gave me the opportunity and motivation to focus on my degree. My Scholarship inspired me, and increased my commitment and confidence towards achieving my academic and professional goals.

To find out more about the Manchester Access Programme visit www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/map

12 month intensive Masters training in areas such as health, engineering and development, the scholars return to their home countries to put their new knowledge and skills into practice to make an impact in their communities.

This year over, 550 hopeful candidates applied for one of the 15 Scholarships available in 2013, which are split between the four participating countries. The unique partnership between the University and its donor community means that the full costs of overseas study are taken care of for these students: the University waives the tuition fee while the donor support covers the students’ living expenses and travel costs.

Equity and Merit Scholar Rishad Ahmed is studying on the MSc Electrical Energy Conversion Systems programme. Bangladesh, Rishad’s home country, suffers from chronically low levels of access to electricity and very little is produced from renewable sources, despite there being a huge amount of potential to harness solar energy, particularly in rural areas. Through the skills developed on this course he hopes to return

to his country to develop a way for poorer people in these areas to have access to clean, inexpensive electricity – a commodity which is so often taken for granted.

Rishad said: “I would like to thank the donors who are funding my dream. Their donation will have a long term effect on the development of my country. I am gaining advanced knowledge and skills in energy and power systems which will greatly help me to influence my country’s policy making, which I hope to do in the future.”

In 2010, Dr Holly Ni Raghallaigh, from Dublin, was in the penultimate year of a six year medical degree at The University of Manchester. So close to achieving her childhood dream of becoming a doctor, her plans were almost shattered when her family, who had been supporting her, ran into financial difficulty.

Thanks to your donations, the Bridging Hardship Fund stepped in to see her through this difficult time and enabled her to complete her final year of medical training and graduate, with honours, from the MBChB programme.

As a student from the Republic of Ireland, Holly had limited eligibility for the financial support that medical students receive in the UK and relied upon a mixture of employment, grants and family help to sustain her during her studies.

As she progressed further into her medical degree, Holly found the demands of the course meant she had to give up her part-time job. She said: “Towards the end of my studies, I didn’t have enough time for sufficient employment to keep me afloat. My sister got a full time job to help me in my last year but it is highly likely that I would have been forced to take a year out and thus defaulted on my graduate loan repayments, after which I am not sure I would have been able to return to university.”

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Without the support of the Bridging Hardship Fund, Dr Holly Ni Raghallaigh would not have completed her medical degree and become the doctor she is now

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With its reputation as the leading medical training centre in the UK, Holly chose to study at The University of Manchester because she did not want to sacrifice the quality of her degree, and fought to continue her studies in the face of increasing financial and academic demands.

The value of what the award has allowed me to achieve is priceless.

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Since graduating, Holly has been the one saving lives as a junior doctor at William Harvey Hospital in Kent. “I’m currently working with pregnant women and their families in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit. This can involve providing ante-natal care, treating acutely unwell pregnant women and dealing with obstetric emergencies, which can be quite dramatic and is always interesting.”

Having recently secured a highly competitive surgical training post to become a fully qualified surgeon, the wider impact of the funding she received is now being felt by the patients who benefit from the training she received at Manchester Medical School.

The support Holly received was crucial, as she explains: “I invested everything I had in my degree and I was desperate to complete the medical training I worked so hard for.

“I’d like to give my deepest thanks to everyone who contributed to this award being available.

Without it, six years of my life at university may have potentially gone to waste and completely bankrupted myself and my family. Because of your donations, I was able to struggle on just that little bit longer and now I am almost a surgeon.

The value of what the award has allowed me to achieve is priceless.”

During the third year of my degree at Manchester, I was helped out by hardship funding which took away a lot of the financial pressure I was under and allowed me to Chris Blackburn focus on completing my studies. When I read a story in one of the alumni publications about how small donations could help students who were struggling financially at University, I felt that it was right to give something back as I had benefited from a similar scheme myself. It’s easy to donate just a few pounds a month and I find it is really satisfying to know I am helping students, even in a small way.

Chris Blackburn BA Politics and Modern History 2003 University donor

Rishad Ahmed

For Holly, the hardship funding she was granted gave her a helping hand when she needed it most: “This fund is lifesaver because it does not exclude people who are non-UK nationals from applying. Usually, international students are from families that can afford to support them during their time at university, but for the minority of us that aren’t, we struggle unimaginably to the point of perhaps having to leave our course.”

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Global Community Sharing knowledge and understanding worldwide

The University of Manchester and Red Cross team up on Global Health Masters A pioneering postgraduate training programme, aimed at humanitarian aid and emergency disaster relief workers, has been established at the University’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), in collaboration with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Thanks to five new bursaries, generously funded by the Newby Trust, the first students are now nearing the end of their studies.

One of the bursary recipients, Donna Koolmees, based in Laos, a country neighbouring Vietnam, works for an organisation helping to rehabilitate children who have lost limbs as a result of unexploded bombs, which continue to injure and kill local people in the world’s most bombed country four decades on from the Vietnam War. Donna said: “Whilst I am a specialist in the disability and rehabilitation field I recognised the need to gain a broader perspective of global health to successfully contribute to the development of health systems.”

The online Masters in Global Health has been developed for people already working in the humanitarian sector and for those wishing to enter the field, and will make a difference to the millions of people who are affected each year through natural disasters, conflict and humanitarian crises.

The HCRI course tutors, still active in the field, offer students unparalleled access to the knowledge and experience they have amassed from their work with some of the world’s most respected humanitarian organisations. This

Courtesy of Rob Few, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cre scent Societies

includes Professor Tony Redmond, the current Director of the UK International Emergency Trauma Register, who is responsible for assembling teams of medical specialists to respond to large scale international emergencies.

This innovative course, delivered through a unique online classroom, provides seminars, discussion forums and group work, and enables participants to obtain the highest quality postgraduate education whilst maintaining full time employment anywhere in the world.

Whilst still a final year student, Dr Christian Cerra delivered a baby in a bamboo hut

The HCRI’s close collaboration with the Red Cross offers students a rich source of practical insights, providing students with real life case studies from one of the world’s largest social movements.

For Donna, the partnership with the Red Cross helped her make the decision to undertake postgraduate study, which was made possible by the support from the bursary: “The course is affiliated with IFRC so is very much based in the context of developing countries where I work. It has provided me with a much broader knowledge of global health issues, and gives me the theoretical knowledge to understand and overcome the challenges we face in implementing donor activities.

Bursary recipient Donna Koolmees

“There are many people in the health development sector who don't have a strong understanding of Global Health issues. If more people studied some of the material I’ve done so far I think it would make a big difference to international non-governmental organisation health work.”

She concluded: “I'm really grateful to have this opportunity of funding which will help me to do my job better and help more people.”

The Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Tom Bloxham MBE, hosted a celebratory dinner for the Hong Kong Foundation for The University of Manchester (HKFUM), which has received its first donations.

Tom Bloxham said: “I was delighted to celebrate the launch of the HKFUM with our board members and alumni. The University already enjoys strong and long-standing links with Hong Kong which has been strengthened by this new Foundation. We continue to build on this work by discussing and discovering how we can work together to build effective and practical global partnerships on issues of shared concern. I look forward to seeing the network widen and support for the University grow in Hong Kong and China.”

Board members generously dedicate their time and financial support to the University on an individual basis, as do many of our alumni in Hong Kong and China each year.

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A gift made in memory of two Manchester Medical School graduates, Drs Rex and Gwyneth Tootill, is giving a much needed boost to final year medical students carrying out overseas medical training.

These international placements, known as 'electives’, give students the opportunity to explore a field of medical practice of particular interest to them in an unfamiliar setting, where the scientific, social, economic and cultural standards are often drastically different.

This was certainly the case for Dr Christian Cerra, who is now a junior doctor at the University Hospital of South Manchester, Wythenshawe. Christian's elective placement during the final months of his medical degree saw him assist doctors performing complex neurosurgery in the Philippine capital, Manila, and join a team of international plastic surgeons performing operations for charity on patients suffering from facial malformations, such as cleft lips and palates, extensive burn scars and wounds from accidents and war.

Hong Kong Foundation celebrates first donations with University Chancellor

At the dinner, the Chancellor discussed the ways in which alumni and friends can work together to develop the Foundation’s support for the University, which is already providing vital scholarships for students and areas of research where Manchester leads the world.

From Manchester to Manila: Donor support sends trainee doctor overseas

(L-R) Davina and Nelson Yuen, Jo and Tom Bloxham and HKFUM President Eric Li celebrate a successful start for the Hong Kong Foundation

President of HKFUM, alumnus Eric Li (BA Econ 1975, Hon LLD 2001), explains why the formation of the Foundation is so important to him: “Our alma mater connections with The University of Manchester have transcended both time and space; a clear reminder that we are all global citizens. As a leading UK institute of education and research, I want to see the University continue to extend its global reach and impact on humanity.”

Christian said: "I jumped at the opportunity to take part in such a unique and rare experience. This elective allowed me to assist during operations and have first hand experience of the inspiring work done by medical NGOs. Working with the team leader, I learned about the commitment and organisation required to run the project: from selecting the best people for the team, to collecting all equipment, contacting airlines for special baggage allowance, and dealing with hospitals and local governments, and sometimes their corruption, in order to have access to patients and hospital space."

One of Christian's most memorable moments was being asked to deliver a baby in the bamboo hut in which he was staying. Christian said: "The expecting neighbours, due to their health beliefs and for pecuniary reasons, asked for a home birth in my hut as I was the most qualified person in the village to deliver the baby.”

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Dr Christian Cerra

Delivering baby Chris Roy, so named by the parents in my honour, was the perfect conclusion to such an exciting and rewarding elective experience that will stay with me for the rest of my medical career.

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Dr Rex Tootill and his wife, Dr Gwyneth Davies, studied medicine at Manchester in the 1920s and set up in practice together in Urmston.

Both were instrumental in organising and delivering life-saving medical aid during World War II, for which Rex was awarded an OBE. Reflecting on the support from the Tootill Bursary Christian commented: "It is the best way to celebrate and remember their outstanding achievements in life, and to encourage medical students to gain valuable experience abroad and make a difference in the communities they visit."

With over 2,000 enrolled students, Manchester has the largest medical school in Europe. To find out more about supporting medical students at Manchester, please contact emma.davey@manchester.ac.uk

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Faculty Community Cultivating learning and discovery

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I couldn’t do my PhD without... ...my Scholarship and my Copper (II) Sulphate solution!

“Copper (II) Sulphate, in powder form, gives a blue solution when dissolved and is what I use as a source of copper in my laboratory experiments. Having a supply of copper that is easy to work with is vital for my PhD, as I am investigating the copper-responsive proteins in the bacterium Salmonella Typhimurium. These proteins help to define how virulent the bacteria can be, so without the Copper (II) Sulphate it would be much harder to investigate!”

Life Sciences Research Scholarship recipient aims to keep food poisoning off the menu

Copper is known to be toxic and is more likely to be used by the body’s immune system to defend itself against viruses. However, the proteins in Salmonella germs feed off copper, making the bacteria more powerful, and increasing the potential damage caused to the body. As this process is so unusual, relatively little is known about the biology behind how Salmonella can take control of copper present in the body.

Thanks to donations from University supporters, Research Scholarship recipient Katie Muddiman is hoping to establish how copper found in the body is ‘hijacked’ to worsen symptoms in one of the most common types of food poisoning, Salmonella.

Katie’s research aims to understand the biological systems behind these aggressive germs which, in the worst cases, can end in death. By examining the role Salmonella plays during infection, Katie hopes new types of treatment can be developed to ease the unpleasant effects of illness that Salmonella subjects its patients to, meaning fewer upset stomachs for the millions of people affected each year.

Food-borne Salmonella infections are a major global problem, affecting both humans and animals, with millions of cases every year and few effective treatments. For PhD researcher Katie, a microbiology specialist, the funding she receives through the Scholarship allows her to examine the behaviour of the Salmonella germ during its development and, specifically, how copper helps it to survive.

The Research Scholarship Katie receives has been crucial to her progress, as she explains: “Without a stipend and research budget it would not have been possible for me to dedicate the amount of time and energy a PhD requires alongside working in order to fund my studies. For this, I am immensely grateful and would like to thank everyone who has contributed, irrespective of the amount.”

A student you can count on: Khalid’s story

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Senior alumni and our most generous supporters recently gathered with two of our scientific stars at the Royal Society in London to celebrate Manchester’s remarkable achievements in the world of science.

The event, held in the highly pertinent surroundings of the world’s oldest scientific academy, was hosted by the President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, and two of the University’s most distinguished scientific leaders; Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor Brian Cox. Throughout the evening, guests celebrated the extraordinary impact Manchester has made in the world of science; from Ernest Rutherford’s discovery of the atomic nucleus in 1911, to the late great Bernard Lovell’s leadership on the world's first steerable radio telescope at Jodrell Bank, to our most recent scientific breakthroughs including the Nobel prize for graphene in 2010 and our significant role in the recent ‘Higgs boson’ discovery at CERN. As well as a celebration of science, the event also raised funds for two initiatives close to the hearts of our scientific stars: undergraduate science scholarships for outstanding students from low income backgrounds across Greater Manchester,

Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor Brian Cox celebrated the impact made by The University of Manchester in the world of science

as chosen by Professor Cox, and enterprise awards for outstanding graphene research students, as chosen by Professor Geim.

During the course of the evening Andre and Brian shared their experiences in the scientific world and media with guests, who were later invited to take part in a charity auction led by alumnus and Sotheby’s leading light Oliver Barker (BA History of Art 1992). The auction caused much interest as guests bid against each other to win a range of unique science-related lots, including tickets to Brian Cox’s BBC programme ‘Stargazing Live’, broadcast from the University’s Jodrell Bank Observatory, and a tour of the graphene hub with Nobel Prize winner, and Andre Geim’s fellow graphene pioneer, Kostya Novoselov.

Alumnus Oliver Barker of Sotheby’s led an auction with unique science-related lots

If you would like to find out more about graphene enterprise awards or undergraduate science scholarships please contact andrew.d.young@manchester.ac.uk

Medical and Human Sciences For over a hundred years, gifts made in the wills of alumni and friends have had an enduring effect on research and academia at Manchester. A recent example is a gift from the will of alumna, and former University Assistant Registrar, Vera Stevens (BA Latin 1964), that is contributing significantly to a new University research institute, aiming to improve clinical treatments and care of patients suffering from cardiovascular conditions.

Many of our students have inspiring stories but often their enrolment at Manchester is only possible through the support of scholarships and bursaries funded by our alumni and friends, alongside direct support from the University.

Khalid was able to accept a place on the BSc Accounting course at Manchester Business School thanks to the Geoffrey Beckingham FCA Bursary.

Funding from the bursary, which is offered in conjunction with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Foundation, provides an annual sum to help meet the costs of study. The bursary was established to ensure talented students who might otherwise have difficulty covering the cost of an

A celebration of science at Manchester

Legacy gift at the heart of new Cardiovascular Research Institute

Humanities

Khalid Omar, the youngest of nine siblings, came to Manchester six years ago aged 12 after his parents fled war-torn Somalia as refugees.

Despite speaking very limited English, Khalid’s teachers quickly recognised his obvious academic potential. Quickly rising to the top of his class, Khalid excelled at mathematics and went on to achieve A grades in economics and accounting, and an A* in mathematics at A-level.

Engineering and Physical Sciences

undergraduate degree are able to fulfil their potential at Manchester Business School.

The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences combines scientists and clinicians investigating ways to tackle heart disease, Britain’s biggest killer, and combines research into reducing brain inflammation amongst stoke victims and vascular problems associated with conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Khalid said: “Without a bursary I would have found it extremely difficult to accept at place at Manchester. I am forever grateful”.

In the spirit of helping those less fortunate, Khalid commits his spare time to a University volunteering initiative teaching mathematics to school children in disadvantaged areas of Greater Manchester.

The first in his family to attend university, Khalid hopes to secure an internship with a leading accountancy firm; an aspiration that would have seemed impossible less than a generation ago.

Higher education and philanthropy has and will continue to transform Khalid’s life and the lives of those his volunteering touches. To learn more about the impact of scholarships at Manchester

Receiving a scholarship has made a world of difference to accounting student Khalid Omar

Business School please contact Dominic Boyd, Head of Development, tel: 0161 275 6356 email: dominic.boyd@mbs.ac.uk

The initiative will build on the integrated clinical and academic facilities on the University campus and the Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, meaning that patients will benefit from developments made in the lab more quickly.

This collaborative approach is embodied by the Institute’s inaugural Director, Professor Bernard Keavney, who bridges the academic and clinical spheres as Consultant Cardiologist at the Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust.

Miss Stevens’ gift will support the work of Professor Keavney and his team, whose research focuses on the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in complex cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease, where he has led pioneering work into identifying risks associated with blood pressure and coronary disease in families.

Professor Keavney said: “I have been particularly impressed by the close and productive links that exist between the cardiovascular researchers in the University and across the NHS partners, and I look forward to developing them further. I believe that this spirit of close co-operation between outstanding laboratory and clinical scientists puts us in an excellent position to design treatments that benefit patients, based on our laboratory discoveries.”

If, like Vera Stevens, you have decided to remember the University among your other commitments in your will, we thank you most sincerely and are keen to acknowledge your generosity.

We would encourage you to share your plans with us if you feel able to do so to ensure that the University can meet your long term wishes.

If you are considering a gift to Manchester and you would like to discuss this, please contact Lesley Dowdall tel: 0161 275 2373, email: lesley.dowdall@manchester.ac.uk

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Manchester Community Reaching out beyond academic walls

Funding for filmmakers of the future The inaugural Manchester Student Film Festival has taken place to exhibit the work of budding filmmakers from The University of Manchester and the North West, thanks to support from the Learning Enrichment Fund.

The festival, which was conceived by American Studies student Andrew Oldbury, was designed to showcase the talent of up-and-coming filmmakers from Manchester’s University community, and the North West region.

The three-day festival screened 86 short films and hosted 15 seminars from leading industry experts, including three-time BAFTA winning documentary maker Gavin Searle.

Alumnus Simon Morrison (BA English and American Literature 1992, MA Novel Writing 1997) presented a prize on behalf of the University’s donors.

Below, the winners and judges celebrate the festival’s success

The event, which was well received by its 900 attendees, was the first student film festival to showcase the tour of BAFTA nominated short films and animations.

BBC Producer, Jane McConnell, said: “The Manchester Film Festival marked a very special moment in the city's burgeoning independent film scene, going someway to ensure the next rising stars get the best exposure possible.”

Criminology student Kamran Hussain didn’t think university would be an option before the Manchester Access Programme

Festival organiser Andrew Oldbury said: “Through creating the festival, the University has been able to offer students not only the unparalleled opportunity to gain first hand knowledge of the film industry, but, pivotally, to make important connections with other local filmmakers. Through participating in the festival, several graduating students have used the connections they made at the event to gain full time employment with prestigious media companies including the BBC, Channel 4 and the Guardian. I would like to personally thank all the donors for their invaluable support in making the festival a great success.”

Donor support for local students reaches all time high

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Alumni and donor support for some of Manchester’s brightest students from less affluent backgrounds has reached an all time high.

Set against the backdrop of reduced government funding and the increase in undergraduate fees, the Manchester Access Programme (MAP) and its Opportunity Manchester Scholarships has seen a huge increase in alumni support over the last year.

Nearly 200 students benefited from the scholarships which were fully funded by our donors in 2012/13, and are offered on top of the financial help available from the University’s limited core funds. Donors provided £200,000 – the first time that all the funding for the scholarships has come solely from our generous supporters, through a combination of gifts to Your Manchester Fund and from individuals, trusts and foundations.

MAP is the University’s flagship widening participation programme for students from the Greater Manchester area. The programme is designed to help our student recruitment teams identify and support outstanding students from the Greater Manchester area, many of whom wish to study locally, but do not have the support network in place to make informed choices about a future in higher education.

When they join, MAP gives them a chance to demonstrate their potential and academic curiosity through a series of campus-based activities and tasks, completed during sixth form.

These include an academic assignment, produced with the support of an academic tutor at the University, one-to-one mentoring and a three-day University Life Conference where students get a real insight into what it’s like to live and study on campus.

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All students who complete MAP and successfully take up a place at Manchester are guaranteed £1,000 for each year of their course in addition to any other financial support they are entitled to.

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I feel like I have a head start in life through my time on MAP and the additional financial support I receive.

Typical of the talented young people you are helping is Kamran Hussain, who is studying Criminology at the University. He believed a university education was out of his reach.

“My mum always tells me the story of how I wanted to be a bin man and it makes me laugh,” Kamran said. “I had no hopes of going to university before MAP, but when someone came to school to tell us about it, I could see it was a great opportunity.”

First-year Kamran, who is 18 and from Longsight, added: “The programme was hard work but I’m glad I did it. I met lots of nice people and it gave me the confidence and skills to apply to Manchester. I feel like I have a head start in life through my time on MAP and the additional financial support I receive.”

Kamran’s Scholarship is funded by the North American Foundation for The University of Manchester which supports a number of students on the programme.

In an open letter to the University’s alumni supporters and donors Kamran sums up his feelings: “My parents never went on to further education.

My dad is a taxi man and my mother is a housewife so I’m the first from my family to attend university. In the future I’d like to do a conversion course after three years of Criminology to become a legal solicitor or a barrister within criminal law.

“I’d like to thank you for the support you’ve given me. I can’t stress how much it’s really going to help me throughout my degree programme.”

Thank you to all those alumni and friends who have supported young people like Kamran. You are helping to broaden access to university for more and more youngsters who cannot afford a university education despite being academically talented.

If you too would like to support the next generation of doctors, engineers, lawyers and dentists, to name but a few disciplines, then you can find out more about Opportunity Manchester Scholarships here: www.manchester.ac.uk/ yourmanchesterfund

‘More Tomorrows’ for cancer patients Inspirational cancer survivors took the first step in helping to build a new £28.5 million University research building for the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC).

Stan Parker, aged 73, from Salford, together with nine-year-old Amber Irvine, from Ashton-Under-Lyne, dug the first piece of ground for the foundations of the centre, which is set to revolutionise cancer treatment.

They were joined at the ‘breaking the ground’ event by the Director of the MCRC, Professor Nic Jones, and supporters of the ‘More Tomorrows’ campaign.

The new facility, which will be one of the largest cancer research centres in Europe, will allow scientists and clinicians to work collaboratively under the same roof, speeding up the process of translating research into practical applications and treatments for patients.

Cancer patients Amber Irvine and Stan Parker dig first ground for new cancer researc h facility

Stan, who was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2004, has been part of a clinical trial for a drug, which works by triggering the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells, for six years. Doctors have been testing whether it would be useful for cancer that had started to grow again.

He said: “I have received the most fantastic cancer treatment here in Manchester. It makes me incredibly proud to know that Manchester Cancer Research Centre researchers will be on my doorstep and it is going to make such a difference for people like me who are diagnosed with the disease in the future.”

The fundraising campaign, called ‘More Tomorrows’, has been launched by MCRC partners Cancer Research UK, The Christie and The University of Manchester to deliver the remaining funding commitment of £16m needed for the new building, due for completion in spring 2014.

The University of Manchester, and the More Tomorrows campaign partners, would like to thank the Wolfson Foundation, Oglesby Charitable Trust and the Stoller Charitable Trust for their support of the MCRC building.

To find out about supporting cancer research at the University please contact emma.davey@manchester.ac.uk and visit www.cancer.manchester.ac.uk for more information.

To learn more about the More Tomorrows campaign visit: www.moretomorrows.org

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Campus Community Enchancing the student experience

Donor support helps to open the doors to spectacular space fit for 21st century learning This academic year The University of Manchester proudly opened the doors of the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons; a building dedicated to providing a 21st century learning environment for students on campus, designed to give them a focal point for individual and group study.

The iconic building, named in honour of the University’s inaugural President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Gilbert, was designed in consultation with students who wanted more dedicated space on campus for independent and group learning.

The new equipment means Fuse FM can broadcast from beyond the studio walls

Donor generosity fills the airwaves

The grant from the Learning Enrichment Fund has been invested into professional equipment fit for the digital broadcasting era, offering the volunteer student technicians and presenters the opportunity to develop industry standard skills, as well as providing a better listening experience for Fuse FM fans.

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Managed by the University Library, a dedicated team of staff provide guidance and support. University Librarian Jan Wilkinson said: “The opening of the Learning Commons is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through collaborative work across the University. The facilities that have been created for our students are undoubtedly amongst the best in the UK; exactly as Alan Gilbert wanted them to be. He would be delighted to see fulfilled this aspect of his aspirations for Manchester students.”

The new Fuse FM studio

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Manchester’s student radio station, Fuse FM, was able to purchase state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment for its new studios at the heart of the Students’ Union building, opening a new chapter for student media at the University.

The station, which was established over ten years ago and draws thousands of listeners in the North West and round the world via its online stream, had reached the limit of the programming they could offer with their ageing equipment.

The eye-catching structure, built in the heart of the campus, is situated on the site of the former refectory and Moberly Tower hall of residence. The building, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offers 400 computer stations, laptop charging lockers, 30 bookable group study rooms, a Skype area and media screens for presentation and group work. The wifi available throughout the building extends to the space outside and to the ground floor café, which is open to the public.

Station manager, Philosophy and Religious Studies student, Joe Kearney said: “We train our volunteers on all aspects of putting together a radio show, which appeals to potential employers. As a result of our new studios and equipment, we've seen station membership increase meaning more Manchester students are considering radio and the media as possible career paths. Some of our team members have gone on to work for the BBC, XFM and Key 103 radio stations as presenters, studio assistants and technicians.”

Fuse FM, with the help of the Learning Enrichment Fund, is a fantastic radio station and our student volunteers continue to impress industry experts everyday. Their success is down to your kind support, thank you.

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The new structure has become a focal point for campus life and alumni, as part of the University community, feature prominently in its design. The Arthur Porter Room, an impressive space featuring inspiring views across campus, was funded by the North American Foundation for The University of Manchester. This donation was made possible by the generosity of alumnus Emeritus Professor Arthur Porter, who graduated four times from the University but who sadly passed away in 2010 at the age of 99. The room is named in recognition of Arthur Porter’s long-standing relationship with and support of the University and its students.

To provide inspiration for everybody studying and working in the Learning Commons, its fabric and facilities celebrate The University of Manchester’s rich heritage of achievement and innovation. Students have created designs reflective of the Manchester experience, which are printed on to the walls, doors and glass panelling of the learning spaces for everyone to see.

Distinguished alumni feature on floor tiles in the entrance of the building alongside motivational quotations from eminent figures from the University community.

The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons is an example of where we are directing significant investment to student support activities, new lecture theatres, laboratories and study facilities.

Through the Learning Enrichment Fund, alumni and friends support a range of campus based projects. Students and staff, groups and individuals are encouraged to apply to the fund with innovative ideas to enhance the university experience for the student body as a whole.

Project applications are reviewed by the Learning Enrichment Fund Board, which meets three times a year.

Members of the board include University staff involved in student welfare as well as alumni representative Dr Roy Wood (MSc Photography 1954). Roy said: “It’s very gratifying to see students benefiting from the funds we have allocated as the projects are so diverse.”

Dr Roy Wood

The board carefully considers each application it receives.

Roy explained: “It’s not an easy decision as we have to

judge how many students are likely to benefit but sometimes just a couple of hundred pounds can make an enormous difference to a person’s comfort on campus and their ability to concentrate on their studies.”

Roy is pleased to help current students by volunteering his time for the Learning Enrichment Fund: “It’s given me a great deal of pleasure knowing I’ve done a little bit of good for my University and its students on behalf of the donor community.”

Get involved! From writing a career profile to inspire our current and prospective students’ career choices, to providing mentoring and internship opportunities, please visit www.manchester.ac.uk/getinvolved to find out how you can help by volunteering your time.

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Professor Arthur Porter

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MSc Management of Construction Projects International Equity and Merit Scholarship recipient

Every day I know I am walking the path of privilege that takes me to study at Manchester. And that privilege has come from you.

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MA Creative Writing International Scholarship recipient

U Adrian Harwood PhD Aerospace Engineering Research Scholarship recipient

Development and Alumni Relations The University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL United Kingdom tel +44 (0)161 275 2620 fax +44 (0)161 306 8066 www.manchester.ac.uk/yourmanchesterfund email yourmanchesterfund@manchester.ac.uk Charitable tax exemption number: XR82062

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T Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye

N Alicia Rouverol

Without your help, my aspirations of an academic career and having a positive impact on the world through engineering research would simply not be possible.

Your generosity has made all the difference in the pursuit of this PhD student’s dream.

My Scholarship has changed my life because I now have hope that my future will be brighter.