The prosthetic clinics where University of Salford student Sisary Kheng works have received over £178,000 from MrBeast’s Beast Philanthropy YouTube channel, enabling them to keep vital services open. 

Sisary, a student of the university’s EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Prosthetics and Orthotics (CDT), works for Exceed Worldwide prosthetic and orthotic clinics which have been providing free treatment to amputees for over 30 years in Cambodia. Just a few months ago, she’d never heard of MrBeast, one of the most popular accounts on video-streaming service YouTube.

Sisary, who works as the Country Director for Exceed alongside her studies, explained that when Exceed was first contacted by MrBeast’s team, they couldn’t believe what they were hearing, and thought it must be a scam. 

She explains:

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“Exceed’s two provincial rehabilitation centres in Cambodia faced financial constraints and we were facing the reality that we may have to look at scaling down our support to these centres.

“The Beast Philanthropy team including Dan Mace, CCO and Darren Margolias, ED, spent a whole week with us. They witnessed the work we do at our clinics, and the training we deliver for young prosthetists from all around the world. We also told them about all the challenges facing the two provincial clinics.

“At the end of the week, Darren and Dan asked to meet us slightly later than planned the next morning as they had to make a call. At the end of the day, Darren called me in together with Mr. Carson Harte, Exceed’s CEO, telling us that based on what they’d seen from us during the week, the passion, the professionalism, and the attitude, Beast Philanthropy considers that we are the right partner for them and they have decided to absorb the full cost of the two provincial clinics for the next 12 months, a total of $223,400USD (approx. £178,425) or equal to 2,200 prosthetic limbs. 

“It was so unexpected and so emotional! Instead of writing and delivering redundancy letters in March, we were able to inform all partners and staff to continue with their vital work.”

Within two weeks of finding out about the funding from MrBeast, the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation also confirmed funding for 800 prosthetic limbs in Cambodia.

Sisary continued:

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“I am really happy that we are able to continue our service for people in need. Prosthetic limbs give people mobility, mobility gives them opportunities in life, opportunities in life give them independence though income generation and improved self-esteem where they can realise their dreams!”

Darren Margolias, Executive Director of Beast Philanthropy, said:

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“We came to Cambodia with the intention to pay for limbs for around 150 amputees. But after meeting the users, learning about them and the massive impact a prosthetic limb has on their lives, and seeing the absolute dedication of the people at Exceed Worldwide to help these users overcome their restrictions, we knew we HAD to do more.

“We are extremely proud to align ourselves with a team of people as dedicated to helping as many users as possible as Exceed Worldwide. Together we hope to restore some independence and relief to thousands of people who have suffered for so long.”

A fully-funded training programme available to every working person in Greater Manchester is accelerating the region's ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2038. 

With government targeting a reduction in emissions by 78 per cent by 2035, the Low Carbon Skills: Journey to Net Zero programme helps people to better understand the environmental challenge in their workplaces, empowering them to begin or progress their net zero journeys and create a clear and strategic plan for achieving those ambitions.

Delivered by Greater Manchester-headquartered social enterprise The Growth Company, the course helps participants to understand key net zero terms and the risks and opportunities for business.

Catriona Watson, Programme Manager - Net Zero Training at the GC Business Growth Hub, says:

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"Organisations across Greater Manchester are starting to reckon with the environmental challenge we're all facing and the role that they can play in adapting their own practices for the benefit of us all. 

"Our intention is that the people undertaking this training will be able to become environmental ambassadors within their own businesses and lead from the front."

 

Manchester-headquartered textiles producer Thomas Kneale supplies bedroom, bathroom and household textiles and undertook the Journey to Net Zero programme in July 2021.

Since completing the programme, the company has achieved a reduction to date of several tonnes of CO2e per annum. The replacement of an old boiler with a modern, combi model is saving 2.3 tonnes of CO2e every year. In April 2023, the company was recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category.

The course consists of 21 CPD hours of guided training across seven separate units. Participants also have the opportunity to gain a Level 3 accreditation in Low Carbon Skills: Journey to Net Zero. Learners can take part in person at the Green Skills Academy in Trafford Park, fully online or a hybrid of the two.

Watson adds:

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"By providing a wealth of training as well as an extremely detailed bespoke action plan for their businesses, our learners will be supported to make the necessary changes to help embrace practices that are better for the planet and the bottom line."

Each learner leaves with a carbon calculator workbook to implement what they have learned and put into practice with their business. Further support is also available through The Growth Company, including access to a local green tech supplier marketplace.

Llyr Roberts, Sustainability Officer at Onward Homes, undertook the training in March 2023. About the course, he says:

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“For me, the biggest take away was how relevant to each organisation the course was made, discussing what the information you were giving us meant specifically to our organisation was really helpful in identifying the correct steps for us.

“The workbook provided is also really helpful as it provides you with a template to start taking the first steps in calculating your emissions. We have started setting our initial boundaries and considering who within the business we need to start engaging in order to start collecting data.”

 

The course is being run in partnership with Bee Net Zero, a Greater Manchester-wide initiative that aims to make the city region the easiest place to be a net zero organisation. Bee Net Zero consists of five pillars of activity: Training & Awareness; Technical Support; Collaboration; Acceleration and Programme Management.

Learners can work for charities, third sector organisations and local authorities. There's also no limit on the number of learners each organisation can send. Hayley Hulme, managing director of Starts With You, has also undertaken the course.

She adds:

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“The course was thorough, accessible and practical. As well as providing knowledge it also provided a useful tool to calculate your footprint and we benefitted from some really helpful post completion support with access to ongoing advice, guidance and encouragement.

“Since completing the course we have calculated our carbon footprint so we can now put in place a reduction strategy. We have also upskilled some internal colleagues and put processes in place to ensure data is captured to help monitor our impact.”

 

Journey to Net Zero is part of our ‘Accelerating Net Zero Opportunities’ programme. To support individuals, prepare for the opportunities and challenges presented by the global transition to a net zero economy, other fully funded courses include:

•             IMI Level 3 Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Repair and Replacement

•             Level 3 Domestic Retrofit

•             Digital and Social Marketing

Visit the GC Education and Skills website to find out more.

Pupils at Irlam primary school are turning to poster power to boost road safety.

Young road safety champions Flo and Tallulah are working with Salford City Council enforcement and road safety officers to remind parents not to park on pavements and on the ‘school keep clear’ zig zag lines on Elsinore Avenue.

The pair plan to run a poster competition amongst classmates and attach laminated copies of the winners to the fence outside the school as a long-term safety reminder.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment and community safety, said:

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“This is a twin approach – regular enforcement and a direct appeal from children.

“Drivers know they should not be parking on the school zig-zags which are normally directly outside the school entrance. Parking on pavements can also make it impossible for wheelchair users and people with prams to get past, forcing them out into the road. I’m sure no-one wants to see anyone put in danger or get hurt through thoughtless parking.”

 

Flo and Tallulah also plan to develop a display board to highlight their work and design a power point presentation for the rest of the school.

Salford has been chosen as one of three areas selected by the government to drive up school attendance rates

Along with three other areas in the country, it could mean parents getting a text when their child doesn’t show up at school.

The plans include the expansion of the successful sector-led Attendance Hubs programme with nine new lead hub schools, alongside the expansion of Attendance Mentors in areas of the country with the highest levels of pupil absence.

The expansion of the attendance mentors programme, delivered by children’s charity Barnardo’s, will see trained mentors work directly with 1,665 persistently and severely absent children and their families across Knowsley, Doncaster, Stoke-on-Trent and Salford to understand and overcome the barriers to attendance and support them back into school.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said: 

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“Though pupil attendance is continuing to recover, the pandemic has still had a real impact on pupil absence in school.

“That is why we’re expanding some of our most important attendance measures today – including the attendance hubs and mentoring programmes, to ensure children have the best chance of receiving a high-quality education.”

 

Hal Eccles hopes project will help boost grades and inspire GCSE students

A secondary school teacher has been awarded a grant of £25,000 to develop an educational podcast produced and hosted by students that will help them prepare for their GCSE exams.

Hal Eccles, who works at St Patrick’s RC High School in Salford hopes the new project will inspire students, and help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain better exam results.

Each podcast episode will cover a different subject of the curriculum, covering difficult concepts and content.

Hal explained:

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“We might do an English episode covering complex themes from ‘Of Mice and Men’, and then the next episode we might do History discussing the problems faced by Weimar government in 1920s Germany.

“The idea is that there is going to be a season’s worth of content, each subject with its own episode. Within each episode, there will be segments on how to revise, difficult content and tackling  misconceptions.

“I will speak to each department and find out what the students typically find difficult and then create an episode focused on the things most useful to them in their exam preparation.

“I also want to include information on well-being during exams and promoting good mental health practices, ensuring that students are looking after themselves during exam time. We’ll interview older students who have already been through the GCSE exam process and get them to share their thoughts and what worked for them/didn’t work for them.

“I think what will make this podcast stand out is that it will be more of a light entertainment format, with students discussing things that are relatable to others. I hope this will make it more accessible for students as typical education podcasts either feature a voice actor reciting a textbook in audio form or only teachers delivering their lessons online.”

 

Speaking about how he plans to spend the £25,000 he has been awarded, Hal said:

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“Our primary focus will be investing in podcast technology. This includes setting up a studio within the school premises and providing myself and another teacher with comprehensive training on operating and producing quality podcasts.

"We will then be delivering workshops to the students to help them become skilled podcast creators.

“Our team will involve multiple teams of children who will be assigned roles, ranging from podcast hosting to marketing. By offering them such immersive experiences, we are hoping to inspire them to seek media-related careers when they leave school.

“Additionally, we have allocated a portion of funding towards subscribing to podcast hosting platforms such as Apple and Spotify. By doing this, we aim to host our podcasts online and make them accessible to a larger audience. Our intention is to ensure a professional standard, allowing us to reach the widest possible audience.”

 

Hal’s vision for this project extends beyond the initial season. He is already contemplating ways to broaden the scope of the content, introducing more subjects and themes as the project evolves. He envisions the possibility of expanding the programme to include A-Level topics or catering to Year 6 students as they prepare to enter high school.

He added:

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“I would love to do collaborations with other schools in the region, thereby involving students from diverse backgrounds. I am also keen on partnering with BBC Media City, given its proximity to our school, which could provide us with valuable insights and exposure.

“In addition, I have contacted local universities, such as the University of Salford, to explore the possibility of their contribution to our project through, for instance, organising field trips.

“I would like to create a sustainable project that will continue to thrive over the years. To achieve this, I plan to design a comprehensive training programme that will equip the next batch of presenters with the skills and knowledge required to produce high-quality podcasts.

“The aim is to establish a rolling programme, ensuring that each year, a new group of trained presenters will take over the reins, thereby ensuring the sustainability and longevity of the programme.”

 

When asked about his reaction to receiving £25,000, Hal said:

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“I felt pleasantly surprised and thrilled at the support and opportunity to explore the project’s viability. It is something which I firmly believe in. I have had lots of positive feedback from people when I’ve explained my idea. I’m hoping it will be a great success.

“There is lots of excitement amongst the students whom I’ve told about the project, with many eager to contribute in various ways such as creating jingles, intros, and taking responsibility for different segments of the podcast.

“I envision the project to be all-encompassing, involving every department of the school and having the potential to reach beyond local schools, extending to the wider community.”

 

SHINE CEO, Dr Helen Rafferty, says:

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“At SHINE we believe in the creativity of passionate teachers and Hal is a great example of this in action. We are excited about the potential of this project and look forward to hearing more from the students at St Patrick’s RC High School through the podcast when it goes live.”

Replica of Europe’s largest living wall in playground will improve air quality and possibly inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious construction, community and climate innovators

Primary school children at St Philips in Salford hit the jackpot recently when they were not only the lucky recipients of a mini living wall to brighten up their playground but were also visited by the Blue Peter team.

The installation of the living wall at St Philips has been inspired by the construction of a new office building close to the school. Eden, a £36 million, 115,000 sq. ft 12-storey office building in Salford, is ground-breaking in terms of sustainability and when complete this summer will be home to Europe’s largest living wall.

Comprising 350,000 plants (32 different species), home to bird boxes and bug hotels, and measuring 43,000 sq ft, the wall will also be the second largest in the world and has been designed to remove air pollutants including carbon and deliver a 174% net gain in the biodiversity of the area.

Each species of plant has been specially selected for its biodiversity, being rich in pollinators or the ability to mitigate air pollution. Plant species include Thymus Vulgaris (English Thyme), which is good for air quality, Hypericum Hidcote (St John’s Wort) which provides nectar and berries for birds and Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell) that is an early source of nectar.

Wanting to extend this wonderful innovation to the local community, the businesses involved in the construction of Eden contacted the head teacher at St Philips to find out if they would like their very own replica wall.

St Philip’s headteacher, Beverley Jackson, said:

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"As an urban school green places are particularly special to us, so the installation of this mini green wall is a most welcome injection of flora and fauna! More than that though, we all hope it will serve as a source of inspiration to the children, to the environmentally conscious builders and architects of the future.  One can’t help but be curious about how the wall works as a construction and the relationship shared by the plants and insects living on it. The children are extremely excited, and we are all looking forward to watching it grow and thrive!”

Ella Woodward, Development Manager at Muse, said:

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“It’s been such fun to provide the children with this unique insight into construction and property, showing them how it is linked to sustainability and the environment. As a nationwide developer with people, place, and the planet at the heart of everything we do, it is great to think we may have inspired some of tomorrow’s property professionals to think green when it comes to building!”

The programme will be shown on the BBC in the autumn.

A Salford nursery manager has won the Higher/Degree Apprenticeships category at the Public Services People Managers Association (PPMA) Apprentice of the Year 2023 awards.

Another Salford City Council worker, Olivia Gettings, Customer Service Officer at Eccles Gateway, was a finalist in the Intermediate/Advanced Apprenticeships category.

Angela Jones has been a Nursery Manager at Barton Moss Nursery since 2014 and has worked with Salford City Council since 2009. She was presented with the award at an event on 27 April.

There have been recruitment challenges in the early years sector for many years, and one way the service has tried to overcome this is by ‘growing their own’ through apprenticeships. Having supported apprentices on their journey, Angela was keen to understand more about their learning and assessments.

Angela said:

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“I’m really pleased to win this award, especially after all the hard work that has been involved. I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to join the Assessor Coach (Level Four) Apprenticeship, which was funded through the apprenticeship levy.

“It was interesting to learn something new and as it was for my own professional development, I didn’t mind doing some of the work in my own time as well as in working hours – I would often sit with my children so we could do our ‘homework’ together. My son did ask if I was too old to do an apprenticeship, but I assured him that learning should be a lifelong activity.

“I have developed many transferable skills, including coaching and mentoring techniques, and how to provide good quality feedback. I’m more confident to try new things and I have even inspired my deputy manager to undertake an apprenticeship too!

“I am glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to do the course and go for the award. I’m a firm believer you never regret what you have done, just the things you haven’t, and there is always something to learn from every experience.”

 

Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services, said:

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“I’m delighted Angela has won this award. This is a wonderful achievement and recognition of her dedication to professional development. She is a fantastic example of the great staff we have working in children’s services, who do their utmost to provide the highest level of support and care for children and families in Salford. I’m sure Angela will continue to learn, grow and stretch herself and she is already inspiring others to do so.”

The 2023 PPMA Apprentice of the Year event is for all levels of apprenticeships to personal qualities in a range of development activities, while at the same time helping people to enhance their confidence and resilience.

The aim is that by participating in this development programme, it will encourage people to achieve more than they thought possible in their career. The awards is about identifying and showcasing the breadth and depth of talent in the public sector.

Angela also won an award at the Salford City College Annual Apprenticeship Awards 2023.

To celebrate International Nurses' Day (12 May), we spoke to student Amy Harding, who shared how her passion and personal experience helped her create educational videos to help children with asthma to learn to use respiratory equipment.

Mum-of-two Amy knew she wanted to become a nurse when her son was diagnosed with brittle asthma at just two years old.

Watching him go through several life-threatening asthma attacks, including one which ended up with him being intubated, Amy explained that becoming a children’s nurse to help other children living with asthma became her goal.

Amy says she was attracted to the University of Salford due to “the facilities they have on offer for nursing students”. She explains that: “The course has been beneficial for me in several ways, including having the support of my personal tutor offering advice and facilitating opportunities.”

One of these opportunities led to Amy being able to fulfil her dream of supporting children with asthma, before she has even qualified as a fully-fledged nurse. “I reached out to the asthma nurse specialist and asked if it would be possible for me to have a placement with them to gain a deeper understanding of their role. This was agreed by the nurse and after having a chat with my personal tutor, the university agreed too.”

In her final year, Amy was able to return to her placement with the asthma nurse once more, and went along to a diagnostic hub to look at the facilities offered. During the visit, Amy had the chance to speak to other healthcare professionals such as a service improvement manager for children’s and maternity care in Salford, as well as a clinical General Practitioner (GP) lead for Salford. One of the topics discussed was Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) testing, a medical technology used to aid in the diagnosis of asthma.

Amy explains: “The meeting highlighted that FeNO testing would be beneficial to children living with asthma and for children who are yet to get a diagnosis. I mentioned that from my experience the test can be quite tricky, as my son had done it numerous times while participating in a research trial with the FeNO machine. We all agreed that a video would be useful to help explain how to do the testing.”

Following the meeting, the Greater Manchester Children and Young People’s Asthma Programme agreed to fund the project, providing £2,000 for the video to be created. Amy and the asthma nurse worked on developing two videos, one for children aged 5 – 10, which Amy’s son will star in, and another for children aged 10 – 16.

The videos are scheduled to be filmed this month, and once produced will be shared across Greater Manchester and with other respiratory services. A link to the videos will also be on appointment reminders for patients who have a FeNO test booked.

Amy tells us: “These videos will help ensure that each child knows what to expect when going into their FeNO appointment and so should relieve any anxiety they may have. They also include educational information to support children in gaining a deeper understanding of their asthma, supporting person-centred care.

“In my final week on placement with the asthma nurse I delivered a presentation on FeNO to the Salford community nurses, specialist nurses and team leaders, highlighting what FeNO is and how it can be beneficial to patient care. I was really proud to be able to share this knowledge and awareness, on a subject which many people listening didn’t know much about.”

While Amy reflects that training to become a nurse, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, has brought many challenges, it has also helped her develop as a person. “Looking back to my first day on this course, if I could give myself one piece of advice it would be to view challenges as opportunities. Throughout my time at Salford, I feel I have changed in many ways. I feel I’ve become more resilient and more empathetic to others.”

And where does Amy hope her career journey will take her in the future? “The course has given me a deeper understanding into why we as children’s nurses should be actively involving children and young people in their own care, by empowering them and ensuring they have the relevant knowledge and understanding of the services they receive.

“In 10 years, I hope to be in a role that helps improve the health and wellbeing of children who suffer with respiratory difficulties, empowering children to be at the centre of their own care.”

In recognition of her achievements, Amy’s lecturer, Miriam, nominated her in the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards 2023 and Amy received a letter of congratulations from Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Mark Fisher, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care.

Photo ©: Amy Harding - University of Salford

On Wednesday 10 May, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal joined student entrepreneurs at the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final, hosted by the University of Salford Business School, at its Peel Park Campus.

During her visit, The Princess Royal met with the next generation of pioneering business leaders who are creating ground-breaking concepts that will be instrumental in supporting the UK’s goal of becoming a global hub for innovation.

At the Institution where her father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the first Chancellor, she was joined by students from across the UK, including the University of Salford Business School’s Young Enterprise UK Start-Up finalists, Thalia Guest, Oliver Scragg and Samuel Ball, the Founders of Making Sense, which provides sensory toys for adults with disabilities. The Princess Royal also met University colleagues and industry partners, the team from Young Enterprise, as well as the Civic Mayor of Salford, Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys, the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins JP LLB, and the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Mary-Liz Walker.

The event, which coincides the 60th anniversary of Young Enterprise, saw Loughborough College’s students crowned UK winners with their business Tiaki, a sports protection business that aims to address the lack of protective equipment available for female athletes. The team will now progress to the European Start-Up final in Istanbul, Turkey in July for the final stage of the competition which has seen in excess of 300,000 students from across the continent compete.

Hosting the prestigious awards ceremony was Young Enterprise Trustee and alumna, Mina Karshala, who was joined by the national financial and enterprise education charity’s Chair of Trustees, Simon Lewis OBE, Dean of Salford Business School, Professor Janice Allan, and guest speaker, Founder of One File, Susanna Lawson.

Dr Jonathan Owens, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Young Enterprise lead at Salford Business School, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to host the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final, especially as this year’s event comes in tandem with the charity’s 60th anniversary. Salford Business School is very much a new arrival to the Start-Up programme. However, our students have proven to be trailblazers, being crowned European champions for 2022 and making it all the way to the UK final for 2023.

“The attendance of The Princess Royal, just days after King Charles III’s Coronation, is an amazing student experience and a great opportunity for our students to be part of a pivotal moment in the country’s history.”

Alongside the team from Salford Business School, the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final saw 13 student teams compete from the likes of Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Hertfordshire, Edge Hill University, and University Centre, Blackburn, with a diverse mix of businesses including everything from marketing and a fancy dress retailer, to multiple tech businesses comprising HealthTech and wearables for pet safety.  

Sharon Davies, CEO of Young Enterprise, added: “Having The Princess Royal here today at the University of Salford Business School where her father, Prince Phillip, was the first Chancellor, provides an incredible opportunity during our 60th anniversary for young people to share their experiences of setting up their Young Enterprise business. The students have also been given a valuable opportunity to really demonstrate the skills and enterprising mindset they’ve developed on their journey.”

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “I am proud that the University of Salford Business School is hosting the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final and I would like to wish the best of luck to all those taking part. The University plays a vital role in encouraging innovation and developing young entrepreneurs and organisations, and the community of Salford benefits hugely from the skills that students learn.

“I am delighted to hear that Thalia Guest, Oliver Scragg and Samuel Ball from the University of Salford are in the final, helping to empower adults with disabilities, tackle stigma and raise awareness of Angelman Syndrome and conditions of this nature.

“I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on her visit to the city, which is helping to put a positive days spotlight on the finals just days after the Coronation of King Charles III.”

Greater Manchester-based Findel, one of the UK's leading suppliers of resources for schools, sports clubs, and other education establishments, has teamed up via their Findel Foundation with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, a national charity for youth and community development, to launch a new 'Communities' programme.

Starting in April, the Communities programme will be rolled out across Manchester, Tameside, Oldham, and Salford. Offering young people from Greater Manchester an exciting and progressive three-year programme bursting with skills development opportunities in sport, music, digital, media and technology. 

The new Communities programme targets the priorities and needs of our diverse communities, leading positive change for young people in Greater Manchester and throughout the Northwest.

In addition to uniting communities through sport, music and the arts, the programme provides creative accredited training for 100+ young people per year to boost their CVs and raise their aspirations to achieve.

This latest partnership showcases the synergy between the Findel Foundation, formed in 2022 and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation. Both organisations have shared roots in Manchester and a focus on leading positive social change to power young people’s potential.

Latest statistics show that compared to the rest of England, growing up in Greater Manchester can be more challenging, with 32,000 more children living in poverty than the national average. This programme supports the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and NHS ‘Taking Charge’ plan to not only improve health and well-being, but also the collective vision for young people to grow up inspired to exceed expectations.

Sarah Power, Enterprise Coordinator from the GMCA, who has worked closely with Findel over the past 3 years, said “The GMCA Careers Hub is working to support and help prepare young people to actively participate and thrive in the economy. 

Findel has worked collaboratively with GMCA Careers Hub, engaging with a number of schools in Greater Manchester to give young people a line of sight into their future. 

They have organised many informative and engaging workplace safaris which give young people the chance to experience a real workplace and support young people to make more informed choices about their future pathway and career.

The work that Findel is doing is inspiring and can have a huge impact on prospects of young people - ‘A young person who has four or more meaningful encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training and can earn up to 22% more during their career.’ This is an incredibly exciting partnership and I can’t wait to see the progress made across Greater Manchester.”

Supported by Findel colleagues, the programme will give participants access to various personal and social development workshops to build their skills and confidence, including CV writing, mock interviews, and workplace safaris. The Community’s programme is the first step in the Findel Foundation’s ambition to provide work experiences to 2000+ children and young people by April 2026.

The programme also takes learning from the 2022 Rio Ferdinand Foundation digital skills programme, which was delivered in Oldham in partnership with the Department for Education and through its extensive partner network that includes Warner Music, the Jockey Club and Kiss FM. It will provide progression opportunities and pathways for marginalised and underrepresented young people into a range of industries, with a keen focus on females in STEM as well as sports.  

On the partnership announcement, Claire Woolley, Head of Findel Foundation said:

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“We are incredibly excited about our partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, right from our initial conversation it was clear that there were so many synergies between both of our ambitions and overall objectives. 

“The Communities programme will allow us to support children and young people in and around Greater Manchester to help raise their future career aspirations as well as promoting their health and wellbeing. 

“Since we launched the Findel Foundation in November 2022, we have already had some amazing success stories where we’ve positively impacted children and young people through our volunteering and careers programmes and the partnership with Rio Ferdinand Foundation will allow us to further develop our reach across the Northwest and beyond.”

 

Gary Stannett, CEO at Rio Ferdinand Foundation added: 

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“I am pleased to announce our new partnership with Findel – a company based in Greater Manchester that works in education, using their staff, expertise, and resources to support young people to improve their education and life chances. I am looking forward to seeing this partnership develop and the impact we know it will have on young people participating in the project. That it’s a three-year commitment to young people demonstrates the value both partners have put on this relationship, and a huge thanks to the team at Findel for putting these opportunities together.

We are looking forward to working with you.” 

 

The University of Salford swept the board at the Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Student Awards last night with students picking up gongs in every category at the ceremony in Manchester’s Alan Hotel.

Students picked up awards for Best Drama, Best Animation, Best Entertainment & Comedy and Best Factual with three student projects also going forward to the national RTS student awards having been specially commended on the night.

The university had received a stunning 14 of the 20 available nominations heading into the evening which follows years of success in the regional awards after winning two in 2022, four in 2021 and five in 2020.

The winners were:

Best Drama – Sausage and Chips – Aleshya Easen, Alex Williams, Reagan Rudlinton and Rebecca Randall

Best Animation – Wild Rides – Ines Vukobrat and Paloma Angelim

Best Entertainment & Comedy – Double Yellows – Joseph Macaulay, Callum Atherton, Phoenix Thompson, Archie McWilliams and team.

Best Factual – The Game – Erin Hughes, Meg Jones, Miles Taylor, Jacob Teagle and Amber Barratt

The three journalism projects that were specially commended on the night were Tales from the Dales by Marcus Smith, Are Canals The Quay? By Neave Fowkes and Salford Weekly 2 by Joe Lander, Adam Clark, Beth Wightman, Drew Robilliard, George Icke, Scarlet Mullender, Leo Christian and Faith Tudor.

Erin Hughes, who directed and produced The Game, a documentary which highlights the sexist abuse that female fans face online and in the football ground, said:

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“Throughout this journey, it became obvious very quickly that this project wasn’t just a grade to achieve but a deeply personal and emotional film that projects an important message that resonates with so many people. People who are tying to make football and sport a safer, more inclusive place for everyone, especially women.”

Lyndon Saunders, Lecturer in Broadcast Media at the University of Salford said:

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“A clean sweep at the illustrious RTS NW Awards is just an incredible achievement. I truly believe this is down to how hard the University of Salford’s teaching teams worked to keep practical work going throughout the pandemic, against the odds.

“These graduate winners were our first and second years in 2020 and 2021 so this feels like a legacy of that.”

 

Ric Michael, Lecturer in Radio and TV Production at the University of Salford said:

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“This is a wonderful achievement for all of us at MediaCity. The students showed so much creativity and tenacity. All of those nominated and those who won, worked with lecturers, technicians, students from their own and other programmes. This achievement showcases the values of trust and collaboration working.”

Debra Prinselaar, Programme Leader of the BA Television and Radio Production programme said:

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“With these awards, the Royal Television Society NW has once again recognised and rewarded the incredible production talents of Salford students.  Most of the winners have endured very difficult times during their courses due to Covid lockdown restrictions. 

“We as a university did our utmost to reflect industry practices, encouraging our budding journalists, animators, drama and documentary makers to adapt to new ways of working.

“This has paid off and today staff and students alike can celebrate their successes.  Our students can now head into the world of work, with award-winning calling cards.”

 

Beth Hewitt, Director of the MediaCity campus said:

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“To have swept the board, winning all the categories of the RTS NW Student Awards is an incredible achievement and is such credit to all our teaching staff and students alike and one which reflects the high standards, skills, and creativity across the board in so many areas.

“Winning an RTS North West Student Award is great recognition of the talent and hard work that goes into producing these films. We are extremely proud that these students have been acknowledged by the media industry they are hoping to graduate into.

“What a fantastic team we have located in our MediaCity campus for broadcast media, creative technology, film production and journalism!”

 

The full list of nominees for the awards can be found on the RTS’ website here.

The University of Salford and Coventry University have been chosen to develop new nationally recognised allied health profession-specific training programmes for healthcare workers.

The training will be available for practitioners across seven allied health professions (Dietetics, Diagnostic Radiography, Occupational Therapy, Operating Department Practitioners, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Prosthetists and Orthotists).

The new Enhanced Clinical Practice (ECP) project will provide a framework for structured education pathways and apprenticeships for allied health professionals, helping to support career progression and retain staff, many of whom leave in their early to mid-stage careers. It will aim to support the development of the workforce, ensuring people can continually grow and update the skills they need throughout their careers.

Dr Gill Rawlinson, Director of Allied and Public Health at the University of Salford, said:

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“There are significant issues with retention and a lack of clear career development opportunities for allied health professionals and we really hope that through this work with Health Education England (HEE) we will be able to address this need.

“This new training framework will offer a means for people to develop their careers further and feel more valued without having to leave the profession they love and are skilled at. The University of Salford and Coventry University are both among the largest providers of Allied and Public Health subjects in England, and we are proud and excited to be working together to develop and deliver this innovative new programme.”

 

Amanda Royston, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Coventry University, said:

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“We are proud to be undertaking this important project with the University of Salford; using our combined strength and expertise in the education and development of allied health professionals to deliver new education pathways and apprenticeships for the health and social care sector across England.”

Dr Kim Stuart, AHP Professional Development Lead at Coventry University, stated that:

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“We are working with Health Education England, health and social care employers across England, professional bodies, and allied health professionals to ensure that the new education pathways and apprenticeships are fit for purpose and deliver the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to deliver high-quality person-centred care.”

Pupils at an independent boys’ school in Salford have been ‘severely let down by leaders in all aspects of their school life’, according to inspectors.

The Ahavas Torah Boys Academy has been deemed ‘inadequate’ following an inspection between November 30 and December 2 last year. 

A report published by Ofsted reads:

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“They [the pupils] do not receive the quality of care or education they deserve.

“Despite this, pupils enjoy being with their friends at school. However, they are expected to spend their play times in grounds that are poorly maintained and, in parts, strewn with hazardous litter.

“Pupils learn in classrooms that are dirty and damaged. On occasions, pupils are not properly supervised. This puts them at risk.”

 

The report said leaders’ expectations of pupils’ achievements are ‘too low’, adding that the work teachers give the pupils ‘does not help them learn well’

.It went on:

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“The work set by teachers does not support pupils to learn the knowledge in the curriculum.

“Added to this, some pupils do not understand the work because teachers do not provide clear explanations. Pupils, including those with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not achieve well.”

 

The report said:

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"leaders’ expectations of pupils’ behaviour are ‘equally low’. 

"Pupil’s behaviour is sometimes inappropriately boisterous while moving around school,

“This occasionally leads to a lack of care for the safety of fellow pupils. That said, pupils are generally polite to adults.

“Pupils said that bullying is rare. They trust that adults will address it quickly if ever it happened.”

 

But the report said that although pupils know that they must respect people who they perceive people to be different to themselves, they do not learn about all of the ‘protected characteristics’ [race, gender, age, sexual orientation].

The report continued:

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“Neither do they receive an appropriate programme of impartial careers education, advice and guidance,

 “This prevents pupils from being fully prepared for life in modern Britain.”

 

In addition, the report said arrangements for safeguarding ‘are not effective’.

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“Leaders do not carry out all the necessary checks on the suitability of staff to work in the school and they were unable to provide evidence that such checks have been carried out by the proprietor.

“They do not have an awareness of the latest safeguarding guidance from the Secretary of State for Education,” it said. “Their policies are based on outdated legislation. They are not fit for purpose. However, the safeguarding policy is made available to parents on request.”

“Leaders have not provided staff with sufficient up-to-date safeguarding training. Some staff struggle to remember the last time that they had such training or its content. Therefore, staff do not learn how to recognise when pupils may be at risk of harm, for example from child-on-child abuse.”

“Pupils’ understanding of how to keep themselves safe is limited to matters such as road safety. Leaders do not ensure that pupils learn about the risks associated with using the internet or within the wider community.”

 

The school, on Winders Way, in Salford, has 74 pupils aged between 11 and 16.A spokesperson for the school told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

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“Our school is thankfully doing really well; the students are happy and thriving, and the parents are unanimously delighted. We would welcome any genuine desire to verify that this is the case.

“That the Ofsted inspector chose to deliver a report such as this, is unfortunate. The negative outlook and critical intent are evident in every section of the report. It is riddled with factual inaccuracies, and most of the report carries little bearing on what is actually going on in this wonderful  educational establishment. So much so that the report is not worthy of our comment.

“Notably the fact that there is no oversight to their work, and the fact that they chose whatever it is that they wish to focus on, add up to the fact that prior to fundamental reform – this sort of report only adds to the dismal failings of this organisation.”

 

Responding, a spokesperson for Ofsted said:

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“We’ll let the report speak for itself.”

University of Salford Business School marks International Women’s Day with roundtable of inspiring Greater Manchester women

To mark International Women’s Day 2023, University of Salford Business School welcomed inspiring women from the Greater Manchester business community to a roundtable conversation to tackle this year’s theme – embrace equity. The roundtable debated how far barriers faced by women in the workplace have been broken down.

Moderated by Claire-Marie Boggiano, Director and Coach, Lurig Leadership and Change, participants told stories about their own lived experience of the barriers they’ve faced throughout their careers. They also shared their thoughts on what they believe business leaders and policymakers need to do to fully embrace equity.

While there has been considerable progress on some measures in the last 48 years, since 1975 when the UN officially recognised the 8 March as International Women’s Day, the current landscape for women in business and working parents remains challenging. Recent data from Pregnant Then Screwed revealed three-in-four mothers (76%) who pay for childcare, say it no longer makes financial sense for them to work. In addition, while the latest FTSE Women Leaders Review revealed women now make up 40% of FTSE 350 boards[ii], only one-third are in leadership positions - on the current trajectory, it’s expected to take approximately 70 years for an equal split[iii].

The barriers women continue to face in the workplace

During the roundtable, Dr Ayesha Chowdhury, Lecturer in Law, Salford Business School shared her experiences of juggling a career and family life. She said:

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“The prime time to raise a family coincides with important career milestones and in my case, finishing my PhD. At just 35 I was classed as a high-risk ‘geriatric mother’ and there’s little support in place for those managing being the matriarch of their family, while trying to develop professionally. We should be focusing on how we can get more women into the workplace, not putting up barriers that make life more difficult.

“My advice for anybody looking to progress/starting out in their careers, is to know their priorities when they’re planning their future. We often plan the professional aspects but forget our personal priorities. Women also need to stop apologising just for being a woman or a mother. When we do this, we bring ourselves down unconsciously, but we really need to be doing the opposite.”

 

Claire-Marie continued:

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“We fare the worst in the developed world when it comes to cost of childcare and then to add to this, when we hit our 50s, we face another huge barrier in the menopause. In addition to managing the effects of the menopause we’re juggling so much, typically caring for elderly parents, still having teenage children at home and a busy household to run, on top of navigating the world of work which really isn’t set up for us to operate successfully. It’s no wonder women in their 50s are leaving the workforce in their droves, as it’s an impossible situation to manage.”

Rebecca Collins, Managing Director, Organisational Design Consultant and Executive Coach, Chapel House Training and Consultancy, and Honorary Industry Fellow at Salford Business School, said:

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“The fact there’s a strategy in place to entice older women back into the workplace showcases we’ve really not come a long way. What we are also seeing is women harnessing their entrepreneurial skills and circumventing those organisational barriers by creating their own spaces and setting up their own companies, as they just couldn’t get to where they wanted to and into those board level positions they deserve in the corporate world. The other sad reality is that on many occasions, women can be a barrier to other women, forgetting sometimes the difficulties they faced once. They are able to affect meaningful change or sometimes take the attitude that because they had to fight tooth for their success, so too should the next generation of women in the workplace.”

Liz Larner, Deputy Dean, Salford Business School, continued:

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“As a mother to daughters, the fact that the gender pay gap continues to exist is embarrassing. It’s also impossible for many women to come back to the workplace due to the sheer fact they simply cannot afford to without cost-effective childcare.”

Kate Palmer, HR Advice and Consultancy Director, Peninsula, and Honorary Industry Fellow at Salford Business School added:

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“Upon doing the Myers-Briggs personality test, my most dominant colour was green which is typically diplomatic and caring. When I did this, it was frowned upon though as this isn’t seen as strong. There’s a perception that women are fluffy, but we’re not. Women are strong and the opinion that we’re weak needs to change, even if our personality type is more caring than fiery and competitive.”

Taking action to break down barriers and embrace equity

To make matters worse, the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is rapidly progressing through Parliament and proposes the removal of 4,000 employment-related laws. Many of these protect women in the workplace, for example, equal pay, protection against maternity and pregnancy discrimination, paid maternity and parental leave, as well as protection against unfair treatment such as unfair dismissal or being overlooked for promotion while on leave. While the impact of this proposed change is not known, it is highly anticipated that the result will make work more challenging for women.

Dr Francine Morris, Associate Dean for Enterprise & Engagement, Salford Business School, said:

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“It’s worrying that to this day the gender pay gap actually fluctuates around what men are doing. For instance, when mens’ pay goes into decline or more men leave the labour market, the gender pay gap starts to close. Then there’s the pension gap - when we temporarily leave the labour market for caring reasons, we experience a gap in our pension contributions; meaning we’re more likely to struggle with financial instability later in life than men.

“We need more women on boards and not just in advisory board member positions – in leadership roles, so they have a real say and can embed real change. Government policymakers should be implementing a minimum quota for women in leadership roles on boards, then we’ll start to see genuine improvement.”

 

Louise Hall, Lecturer in Law (Practice), Solicitor and SILKS Lead, Salford Business School, added:

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“Beyond teaching our daughters to use their voice, it’s essential we also teach our sons. The next generation gives me hope as they’re not afraid to speak up for what they believe in. They won’t stand for tokenism and that’s the level of appetite for change we need in the world.”

Dr Kathy Hartley, Lecturer in People Management, Salford Business School, continued:

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“How we structure organisations and that organisational design piece needs to be addressed by some workplaces. They are often built around traditional, male hierarchical ways of working and a lot women prefer to work in a different way. As women, we have different experiences and we can bring a lot to the workplace from other areas of our lives. Many of our skills are transferrable and this isn’t always valued, as it doesn’t necessarily fit into traditional ways of operating or career frameworks used by organisations, and I think that needs to change.”

Mary Fashanu, Agile Delivery Manager, CAVU, and entrepreneur, commented:

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“If a company wants to improve on equality, diversity and inclusion they need to be doing it at board level and there should be a woman leading that conversation, not others speaking on our behalf. More and more are being vocal and not accepting, which gives me hope for the future.”

Kate continued:

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“Something that’s always resonated with me is that I believe women can have it all. It might not all be perfect all of the time, but we can. We can progress in our careers and be successful, while having a family. But some things, like picking the kids up from school every day, may slide and it’s important we’re not hard on ourselves for that.”

 

Rebecca concluded:

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“A lot of organisations are re-evaluating the world of work and while it’s slow to yield results, leaders need to start thinking differently and holistically to see the change we all want and need.”

The University of Salford has received a share of £33,500 funding to research ideas aimed at improving the mental health of male carers and their children.

The award is part of The Ideas Fund grants programme run by the British Science Association and funded by the Wellcome Trust. It enables the UK public to develop and try out ideas that address problems related to mental wellbeing by working with researchers.

The project will see the university work to co-create a research project with local community partners. Researchers will be working with Oldham-based organisation Men Behaving Dadly. Additional project partners are Oldham Play Action Group and Greenacres Community Centre.

The project will work alongside the community to co-create approaches to explore the role that play has in relation to mental wellbeing of dads and male carers. Researchers will seek to understand how to maximise the positive impact of play on children’s lives and boost their sense of mental wellbeing, helping to prevent mental health issues.

Dr Robert Bendall, Lecturer in Psychology and lead researcher for the project, said:

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“I am delighted to be collaborating with Men Behaving Dadly within an authentic community-researcher partnership. We hope that this co-created project will deliver positive real-world impact for families and more broadly across local communities.”

The Department for Education (DfE) has approved a new primary free school to be built in Salford. The decision has been confirmed following a Salford City Council bid last year outlining the need for the new provision in the city.

Gaining approval for a new free school in the city is part of the council’s strategy for the DfE. This was in response to a growing need to enable more young people to be educated in the city, rather than having to travel out of the area to get the support they need.

Free schools are a type of academy. Like academies they are operated by a multi academy trust. The plan will see this new school welcoming and supporting children aged 4  to 11 years old who have complex educational needs. It will complement the existing range of special schools and additionally resourced schools that already exist in Salford but will offer parents a broader choice for their children. It is expected the school will prioritise supporting children with autism and focus on communication and interaction.

Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services said:

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“This really is positive news for the children and parents of our city. Our population has grown rapidly in recent years and continues to do so. A new primary special school will be an important part of helping us manage the help families need in Salford.

“This is the start of a long process. We can now start working to find a suitable location and an academy trust partner to deliver and bring this new school to life. More children will be able to have their special educational needs met in the city, instead of having to travel to special schools out of area.”

 

Three University of Salford Business School students have been crowned North West finalists and will now progress to the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final 2023 with their business Making Sense, which provides sensory toys for adults with disabilities.

Making Sense, which is led by second year students, Thalia Guest, Oliver Scragg and Samuel Ball, follow in the footsteps of last year’s European winners. In 2022, Salford Business School students, Jake Naylor, Jordan Hall and Arran McDonald, went on to win the coveted top prize for their biodegradable and affordable ear protection business, hearNprotect, beating fierce competition from 375,000 students from 42 countries across Europe.

The foundation for Making Sense is driven by an incredibly important cause, which is close to the team’s heart. The inspiration for the business comes from 22-year-old, Renee, who is Thalia’s boyfriend’s sister and has Angelman Syndrome, a genetic condition affecting the nervous system which causes severe physical and learning disabilities. The business’ mission is to empower adults with disabilities, while removing any stigma by creating positive awareness of conditions of this nature.

Making Sense’s Oliver Scragg, who is currently studying BSc (Hons) International Business Management, commented:

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“We really didn’t think we would get to this stage, so it really has been an incredible journey which we hope will go the distance. When we initially started to conceptualise the business model, we knew it had the potential to be something huge and because we’ve developed something we’re all passionate about, due to the personal connection, it’s only given us more drive to succeed.”

The North West final, which took place at UA92 (University Academy 92), welcomed 13 teams of student entrepreneurs from the likes of Manchester Metropolitan University, Liverpool Hope University, Edge Hill University, University Campus Oldham and UA92, with just five teams going on to represent the region in the UK final.

Judges for the charity’s 2023 North West Final included DWF LLP’s Tim Scott, Avanade’s Vinny Leach, The Marketing Trust’s Nigel Coates, The Institute of Leadership and Management’s Jay Ludditt and Becky Martin, The Institute of Export and International Trade’s Marcel Landau and Gary Wattley, as well as Salford Business School students and 2022 winners from hearNprotect, Jake Naylor, Jordan Hall and Arran McDonald.

Gabi Round, Lecturer in Enterprise at Salford Business School, who works with Young Enterprise at the University alongside module leader, Dr Jonathan Owens, commented:

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“The entrepreneurial mindset of our students never ceases to amaze me, so it’s great to see Making Sense has been recognised as one of the best groups of student entrepreneurs in the region. Through their business model, they’ve really encapsulated purpose with commercial drive and I have no doubt they’ll go on to do great things.”

Making Sense has also already been credited for having a firm hold on recognising the importance of ESG (environmental, social and governance). During the first stage of the competition earlier this year, they won the Sustainability Award based on the business’ returns policy which paves the way when it comes to reducing environmental footprint. Essentially, customers who order from Making Sense but no longer wish to keep their product(s), can return and, upon receiving any returns, the company will then clean them before donating them to charity.

Oliver concludes:

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“While we know we’re competing against some other amazing entrepreneurs, we’re hopeful we’ll be successful as the home team here at the Business School come May for the UK final.”

The Young Enterprise UK final will be held at the University of Salford’s Peel Park campus on 10 May 2023 and will welcome student entrepreneurs from across the UK to pitch their business to a panel of respected judges.

For more updates from Salford Business School, visit: https://salford.ac.uk/news.

Academics from the University of Salford are helping support students in war-torn Ukraine with the creation of virtual field trips (VFTs) because across the country, the war has made fieldwork impossible.

Ukraine has now been at war with Russia for over a year. Since the conflict began early in 2022 Russia has also targeted Ukraine’s infrastructure and energy production, as well as it’s education system.

The Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) for Ukraine Project is currently helping to bring back some sense of normality to the country’s fractured education system. As part of the initiative academics from Salford are working with colleagues at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (KKNU). As Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv has seen some of the worst fighting of the war, beyond the immediate front lines, with frequent missile attacks.

Courses for many students have been violently disrupted due to physical damage to infrastructure, and both staff and students being displaced and becoming refugees in other countries.

As a result learning in many universities has been moved online. Because of this, courses such as Geography and Environmental Science, that rely on field-based teaching, are badly impacted and will be for the foreseeable future. This initiative aims to rectify and support this issue by providing virtual fieldwork for the students at undergrad and postgrad level.

Dr Simon Hutchinson, from the University of Salford, and Dr Nataliia Popovych and Kateryna Borysenko from KKNU have teamed up to teach students how to create their own VFTs safely. They have been holding informative and engaging online workshops for the students in Ukraine to give them the skills to create their own virtual field trips using smartphone-level digital tools.

Usually, a staff member would create and then share the VFT, however the initiative is applying a different approach where the students are co-creators. With the help of the academics from the university, students have been perfecting the process of creating these digital visualisation tools, despite the isolating and difficult conditions where power supplies and Internet connections are frequently disrupted across the country.

Simon said:

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“The use of virtual field trips in teaching exploded during COVID lockdown and they worked very well for many students. Field work is a really important part of the curriculum for these courses and the war makes it impossible. However, even just using a smartphone, you can create content for courses. So we knew it would work. It can be done with existing resources and hopefully it a morale boost for the students. Some of the feedback we have had about the workshops has been very humbling.”

The initiative is helping to enhance the curriculum for those affected by the war in Ukraine and the approach will continue to do so for years to come once the country inevitably begins its reconstruction. VFTs were used as a key resource in learning during the COVID-19 outbreak. A pool of resources from previous years has helped to shape the initiative into the success that it is today. Other universities across Ukraine have signed up to in the initiative, and soon these resources may reach out nationwide.

Nataliia, from KKNU, said: 

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“Supporting our students in such a difficult time and enhancing the intellectual potential of our country is our aim. While soldiers are defending our country from Russian aggression, we are holding our own, educational front.

“We are very grateful for the support provided by the University of Salford and Dr Simon Hutchinson in particular. Our department’s students are really enjoying the opportunity to learn something new and exciting led by British experts. I hope our fruitful cooperation will continue and even increase in the future.”

 

Student feedback about the initiative has been really positive. ‘Thank you very much for the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills!”, wrote one student.

An amazing example of one student’s work of a virtual field trip around Lake Ivor, in the Carpathian Mountains, can be found here.

Photo ©: University Of Salford

Dozens of inspiring textile art panels which aim to raise awareness of the threat of climate change are to go on display at the University of Salford.

The pieces of artwork are part of the Loving Earth Project and are crafted by people from across the world, with each panel representing a place, person or thing that is loved, is being affected by climate change and what people are doing to address it.

The exhibition, which was part of the cultural events for the COP26 global climate change summit in Glasgow, is currently on an international tour and will be on display on the ground floor of the University’s MediaCity campus from Monday 13 March until Friday 24 March.

Over 400 panels have been made for the project in total depicting images of polar bears, bees, flowers and sea creatures caught in plastic in the ocean. Each piece of artwork is accompanied by a short text from its maker, explaining its design.

Marta Strzelecka, Sustainability Engagement Officer at the University said:

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“At Salford, we aim to embed sustainability in all aspects of our university. Community engagement – such as temporarily hosting these panels – is a crucial part of this. This project is a celebration of people, places and things that are important to us, while raising awareness of environmental issues which could put them at risk.

“It is an excellent opportunity for Salford students, staff and the local community to learn about these issues in a creative, engaging way which can leave them feeling hopeful, inspired and ready to take action.”

 

The project is being brought to Salford by the University’s Associate Quaker Chaplain, Sandra Dutson with a digital display also set to be present to help showcase some of the other hundreds of panels that have been created to date.

Sandra added:

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“This project, started in 2019, has now inspired hundreds of people in the UK and elsewhere to make panels or view them. It really does help us to engage with so many environmental crises without being overwhelmed. The designs have been inspired and created for the sake of what we love. Making or viewing them means we take time to reflect more deeply, learn about the issues and focus on them in a creative way so we go on to take action and help.”

A free panel-making workshop will take place at the exhibition on Wednesday 15 March from 2pm until 5pm. You can reserve a spot at the workshop here.

For those unable to make the exhibition in person, the panels can also be viewed online here.