Over 200 guests attended the event to celebrate the University’s commitment to social responsibility, and recognise staff, students and members of the local community, for their involvement in a variety of social and environmental initiatives.

Winners and highly commended received their awards from the University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell.

The Awards covered 9 different categories, including: Outstanding contribution to Environmental Sustainability, Inspiring Communities, Outstanding Contribution to Equality and Diversity and Outstanding Public Engagement and Outstanding, with all of the winners highlighting the significant difference they are making to the social and environmental wellbeing of our communities and wider society.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell gave the opening keynote address and the University's Chancellor Lemn Sissay closed the event with his poem Inspired and be Inspired.

There was a huge amount of interest in the Awards this year, with over 150 entries, making the judges’ jobs very difficult.

In addition to the 15 winners, 26 projects also received the accolade of Highly Commended.

Special Awards were also given to mark the sustained contribution over the past 10 years of the Universities Manchester Access Programme, Manchester Leadership Programme and the Equity and Merit Scholarship programme for developing countries.

Professor James Thompson, Associate Vice-President for Social Responsibility said: “The Awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate some of the inspiring activities in which our staff and students are involved.

"They provided the perfect opportunity to share some of the best social responsibility stories, raise the profile of dozens of University and community initiatives and in doing so contribute further to their impact.”

Measuring the Difference, a short film which highlights the impact that the University’s social responsibility work is having on wider society also premiered at the Awards event.

Details of all the winners and highly commended entries can be found on the social responsibility website and short films about each of the winners can be found on the social responsibility YouTube channel.