University colleagues support the Student Hardship Fund during RAG Week

26 Apr 2016

Results of the Purple Pig Challenge

During RAG Week (Monday, 11 to Sunday, 17 April), colleagues from across the University took part in the Purple Pig Challenge, urging their colleagues to spare some change in aid of Emergency Student Hardship at the University.

The Student Hardship Fund, administered by the Student Services Centre, makes grants to students who find themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own, allowing them to continue their studies and complete their degree at Manchester.

Members of staff used purple piggy banks to collect spare change from their teams with the fantastic resulting total £269.09.

After organising a ‘bake-off’ and coffee morning to boost their collection, the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Faculty Office, led by Rebecca Oldfield, collected an impressive total of £63.34. The team have won the chance to go behind-the-scenes at Manchester Museum and ‘Meet the Mummies’ with Curator of Egyptology Dr Campbell Price.

There was also a competition for the best ‘Pig Picture’ posted to Twitter with #IloveUoM. The winners were Simon Jones and Phil Dawson in Design Services, who will be enjoying lunch at Christie’s Bistro – thanks to The Chancellors’ Collection for donating the prize. 

Thank you very much to all of those who took part, spared some money, and raised awareness of this important area within the University’s charitable priorities. There is no longer any dedicated Government support for student hardship, so donations are vital to allow talented students to complete their degrees.  You also supported Manchester RAG’s fundraising total, which will allow the RAG Community Fund to make grants to good causes in the local area.