We are proud of our students, proud of our staff, and proud of our city. And we constantly work to make Leicester proud of us, not just as a major employer making a contribution to the local economy, but as a local player on an international field. Our success reflects well on the city (and vice versa). We strive also to be a good neighbour, a team player and a cheerleader for Leicester. We add massive value to the stock of learning and education in schools and colleges via our outreach and widening participation programmes and adult learning courses. Much of our research targets the local population, local heritage and local priorities.

ChangeMakers: Centenary Festival

On Saturday 2 October 2021, as part of our Centenary Celebrations and Community Engagement strategy we welcomed students, staff, alumni and guests from the local community to a public celebration of our Centenary. 

Our family-friendly ChangeMakers Festival, took place just 2 days before our official birthday on 4 October, marking 100 years since the University was founded as a living memorial to the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Health and wellbeing

Our George Davies Centre helps to tackle health issues we face in Leicester, including diabetes and heart disease. We are already creating opportunities for local communities to get involved in research, trials and consultations about what we do in the future.

The Heartwize Schools Programme wants to teach as many people as possible how to perform CPR. The team also placed Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) into schools and other community locations where they could be life-saving for victims of cardiac arrest.

Leicester University Community First Responders (LUCFR) are trained student volunteers who provide potentially life-saving medical treatment to 999 emergency patients across the city.

Our environment

Our work on tackling Leicester's air pollution is ground-breaking and we are already working in partnership with Leicester City Council on its Air Quality Action Plan (PDF). 

Culture and heritage

As one of the most culturally diverse cities in the UK, access to culture and heritage is a priority for many within our local communities. Through our Museum Studies, Archaeology and Ancient History, and English Departments, we continue to work closely with our local communities.

In 2017 crowds flocked to see amazing Roman mosaics uncovered by our archaeologists.

Children and young people

Through student volunteering and schemes such as STEMNET, we are helping young people develop skills to help them progress in later life.

The Leicester Academy scheme run by our Sport and Active Life team promotes both sporting participation and educational aspiration among pupils in disadvantaged local schools.

Children from local schools were photographed for the poster and cards of the Everybody Counts project, promoting numeracy and diversity in schools throughout the city and county.

Our annual Dynamic DNA event introduces pupils from local schools to the fascinating world of genetics.

Skills development

We work with local schools, charitable organisations and local companies to develop skills for Leicester's future.

We are working towards being a University of Sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers, as part of which we provide free language skills training through our English Language Teaching Unit.

Through our Pro Bono Society, students from Leicester Law School encourage awareness of legal rights while also directly supporting claimants with free legal advice and help.