Alumni Impact Fund
The Alumni Impact Fund supports a diverse range of student and staff-led projects, all of which positively impact student experience at both our Edgbaston and Dubai campuses. Through this fund our generous donors give students (and the staff who support them) the power to enhance opportunities for learning and connection that happen outside of the lecture theatre.
We are grateful to our alumni and supporters who come together annually to support our giving day, Birmingham Gives. Your donations to the experience fund as part of this fundraising moment help to make projects like these possible.
Athletic inclusion for students with disabilities
A thank you message from FinnThis ambitious project was led by Finn, a member of the University's Athletics and Cross Country Club. Funding for this project aided the club in hosting its first para-specific meet, providing an inclusive, competitive experience for students here on campus.
The fund also covered a total of four coaches for a number of training sessions for both students and local para-athletes and a contingency to provide adaptive aids for participants.
Finn himself coached a number of these sessions, seeing first hand the impact of the project on those who participated. The project also gave Finn, who hopes to pursue a career in teaching, the chance to develop both professionally and personally outside of his studies.
Project Menstrucate
Medicine student Pia and a team of healthcare students used the fund to tackle period stigma and improve access to menstrual health education and safe, sustainable products. Through Project Menstrucate, they delivered menstrual health sessions to over 300 Year 5 and 6 girls and distributed 945 reusable pads through their ‘Dignity Kits’.
The project’s impact extended far beyond the classroom. It improved awareness and confidence around menstrual health, promoted sustainability through reusable sanitary products, and supported the development of the university students involved in delivering the programme. By sourcing products from women in Jaipur, the project also contributed to financial independence and economic empowerment overseas.
Pia’s inspiring leadership earned her the Community Impact Award at the Guild Awards in 2026, highlighting the transformative potential of this funding.
This has undoubtedly been one of the most rewarding experiences during my time at University. It has helped me grow personally and professionally by augmenting my confidence, leadership and ability to drive positive change through work I am passionate about
The Casting Project
Watch Ethan's workshops in actionThe Casting Project engaged students from the School of Metallurgy and Materials in hands-on metal casting. Participants were able to take part in hands-on workshops to create 3D-print blanks, create sand moulds and cast aluminium in the School's foundry.
The funding was awarded to Ethan, a PhD student in the School, which enabled him to upskill in delivery of such workshops, as well as allowing the purchase of necessary resources for the sessions.
Thanks to the funding we are giving undergraduate and postgraduate students practical experience of sand-casting outside of the taught curriculum. Alumni funding has also allowed me to upskill myself to plan and deliver these sessions in a safe and engaging manner.
Student Visit to Welsh Parliament
Follow our students on the tripZainab, a Student Experience Officer working in the School of Government, applied for funding through the 2025/6 Alumni Impact Fund in response to student feedback that more professional development opportunities and real-world experience outside of London would greatly benefit them. With funding from alumni donations, Zainab tailored a trip taking over 80 students to visit Welsh Parliament, allowing them to gain important insights and alternative perspectives on UK law-making and governmental practice.
Being an international student as well as international relations major, the Welsh parliamentary trip proved to be the best thing happened since coming to the UK. It was genuinely an amazing experience. It helped me connect with my peers I didn’t know before and the leads were kind, informative and supportive.
From Campus to Career
This project based out of our Dubai campus is giving MSc students an insight into Microbiology career pathways through valuable industry visits, workshops and support.
One of the many students who benefitted was Parsa Taheri, who gained insights into industry at Sharjah Central Laboratory-MOCCAE.
Parsa said: 'The visit was very informative; seeing how advanced laboratory techniques are used in real time to ensure food safety across the UAE was very insightful, especially how efficiently samples are processed and monitored.'
A major highlight was meeting the amazing team who shared Fakeeh University Hospital's work in antimicrobial stewardship, digital and cumulative antibiograms and infection prevention and control. This was where so much of what we teach in class came to life! A memorable day that reminded us that sometimes the most powerful learning happens outside the classroom.
Fossil Preparation Workshops
Professors Richard Butler and Kirsty Edgar used funds to create the opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of fossil preparation.
Preparation is a process whereby encasing rock is removed slowly from around a fossil using tools such as pneumatic air pens, allowing the fossil to be used for research, museum display or commercial purposes.
By purchasing specialist equipment and expanding the academic expertise, the team have set up a facility in which current and future Geology and Palaeontology students can learn these techniques.
The workshops formed part of our summer term enrichment programme, UoBXtra, giving students outside of the taught curriculum the opportunity to learn new skills to take forward into the next academic year and indeed their future careers.
Your support shapes even more student experiences
Kayaking Society
Kayaking Society
The University of Birmingham Kayak Club utilised funding to support their whitewater safety and inclusion initiative, aiming to update the safety equipment and standards of the club and support and celebrate womens+ participation in kayaking.
The safety equipment was first used in the club’s annual Whitewater Safety and Rescue (WWSR) training course.
Being able to provide access to equipment to members means that the club’s ethos of keeping kayaking as affordable as possible boosts uptake of and inclusion in the sport.
The purchase of additional ‘cag’ jackets in a range of sizes and better fits have meant that the club been able to provide a warmer and drier experience for female club members in particular.
The overall initiative culminated in a womens+ whitewater trip on 3 June, which focused heavily on creating a safe space for women to paddle together, with the experience enhanced by the upgraded equipment.
Project DOME
Project DOME
As part of the summer enrichment programme, UoBXtra, a team from the School of Metallurgy and Materials used funding to host a number of workshops which invited students to design, build, and showcase a network of geodesic domes across campus. Students used 3-D printed connector kits and repurposed campus waste to construct domes of different sizes and configurations.
Now constructed, the domes will host a programme of events including multidisciplinary talks, creative workshops, and outreach activities, with themes that span sustainability, responsible innovation, and the intersection of art, science, and design.
Support from the Alumni Impact Fund has enabled to team to carry out research into design and materials and get the 3D-printing holders needed for the construction.
This project brings together students from across the university to make a truly interdisciplinary initiative.
Watch students and project lead, Iljia constructing the domes.
Birmingham Filmmaking Society
Birmingham Filmmaking Society
To celebrate our 125th anniversary, students from the University's Filmmaking Society, aided by the Alumni Impact Fund, came together to make their first-ever documentary. Featuring interviews with alumni and archival footage, this film is a fascinating insight into student life at our University. Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you to our alumni interviewees: Bev Mitchell, Baljinder Singh Atwal and Julie Bedford.
All archival footage sourced from and digitised by the University of Birmingham’s FTV Department. Produced by Thomas Meggitt and Eloise Howell, edited by Atshiga Bonvin.
We want to see exciting and impactful student-focussed projects being delivered throughout the year, so get thinking – we look forward to reading your application!
Students: Learn how you can benefit from the Alumni Impact Fund