Times Higher award makes a difference

The Making a Difference programme drew together four large universities in the North of England - Northumbria University, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Central Lancashire and Salford University. A diverse academic team of more than 200 experts was mobilised to help tackle some of the biggest issues affecting society. Its focus was in Northern British cities which face similar challenges in economic and social regeneration. Last night at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2010, at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane, it was declared the winner.

Making a Difference led to 46 projects which involved collaboration with more than 600 external organisations. Its principal themes were Community Cohesion, Crime, Enterprise and Health.

The scheme has already created more than eighty new jobs and a total of 1,265 days of community training were provided by the universities with sessions covering social entrepreneurship, leadership skills and business skills. 

The Project Director, Professor of Knowledge Transfer at Northumbria University, Professor Oisin MacNamara, said: “Many of the projects focussed on communities at the gravest risk of being disadvantaged – migrants, workless people living in relative poverty, people living in areas of multiple deprivation and children living in areas with low educational aspirations and attainment. We also worked with young offenders and children in schools, creating opportunities for policy makers to listen to what they have to say, and to raise aspirations.”

Ewart Wooldridge, chief executive of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and a member of the judging panel, said: "What convinced the judges was the sheer scale and diversity of the initiative.

"This is a vivid story of knowledge transfer and exchange deeply embedded in challenging communities, demonstrating the tangible benefits that can arise from universities, local authorities and communities opening up their worlds to each other and building the most fascinating web of partnerships."

The projects in the Crime theme of Making a Difference sought to tackle the social and environmental issues surrounding crime and its consequences. Individual projects helped excluded pupils to develop, deterred young people from crime, improved community safety and supported organisations dealing with alcohol abuse and domestic violence.

The Enterprise theme delivered ten projects helping small and medium sized enterprises, including social enterprises, to gain access to funding and win contracts. Potential entrepreneurs were also encouraged to deliver innovation within a business environment.

The North of England has some of the worst health profiles in the UK, with startling inequalities.
Making a Difference included projects which tackled the wider causes of poor health, including housing, poverty, transport and employment. Thirteen Health projects dealt with issues including dementia care, women’s mental health, offender health, partnership working for health, caring for older people and understanding the role of health in urban regeneration.

Full details of this pioneering and award-winning scheme, which was supported by the Regional Development Fund of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, are at http://www.regennorth.co.uk/