Hollywood star and music hitmaker join forces to launch University of Leicester’s £100m philanthropic campaign

Stars of Hollywood and popular music have backed a major philanthropy campaign from the University of Leicester.

Richard Armitage, of The Hobbit movie trilogy fame, and Kasabian frontman, Sergio Pizzorno, jumped at the chance to front the University’s 2121: Founders of the Future campaign, which aims to raise £100m to fund life-changing research and education.

Both sons of Leicestershire, the duo appear in the campaign’s promotional film, which was premiered at the 2121 launch party held at Leicester’s Phoenix arts venue, on Wednesday 4 February. Richard is the film’s narrator, while Sergio makes a cameo appearance from his home studio.

2121: Founders of the Future is the University’s most ambitious philanthropic endeavour to date, which looks to secure funding to allow the institution to tackle some of the world’s largest issues head on. Funding is sought for research across four themes: People, Planet, Health, and Culture.

Richard and Sergio are firm supporters of the University, which has awarded them both an honorary award in 2022 and 2025, respectively.

Another screen star, the University’s Chancellor and television space scientist, Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, appears in the film.

She said: “As the University’s Chancellor, I couldn’t be prouder of Leicester’s long-term ambition and commitment to creating significant change in our world through this campaign.

“Our supporters will be true Founders of the Future, enabling both present day research and that of many generations to come to solve some of the critical issues that our planet and its inhabitants are facing in the coming decades.”

University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, said: “The generosity of funding that founded this University led to the discovery of genetic fingerprinting; the creation of one of Europe’s biggest university space research programmes; health programmes that transform and save lives, and the world-famous discovery of the mortal remains of a lost English king.

“The visionary work of our donors led to impacts across health, heritage and science and positioned Leicester as an inclusive and dynamic university.

“We stand at a moment of history for this University. Our vision for the next 100 years will be shaped by the actions we take now. Past, present and future philanthropists now have the opportunity to shape destiny of this University and impact upon generations of scholars to come.”

After a two-year silent phase, the campaign has already secured more than £33 million, including a personal contribution of £100,000 from the President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, to support students facing financial hardship.

Find out more about 2121: Founders of the Future on the website.

Facts about the 2121 film

• It stars three week-old baby Maddie – other potential infants lined up for the role weren’t born in time.
• More than 70 University staff and students featured in, or supported the film’s production.
• Great British Bake Off finalist and University chemist, Josh Smalley, makes an appearance.
• The video’s forest scene was filmed in the exotic environs of Leicester – Knighton Park, to be precise.
• BBC Gardener’s World presenter and the University’s Botanic Garden Director, Nick Bailey, is featured in one of the garden’s greenhouses.

Leicester philanthropy facts

Between 2023 and 2025:

• the University received £33m in gifts and pledges from 3,307 donors
• 2,766 of donors were alumni, 541 were non-alumni
• £2.9m was gifted via legacy donations following a donor’s death
• 44 gifts of £25,000 or more were gifted by legacy donors
• Jimmy Mayer donated £4m to fund The Becky Mayer Centre for Phage Research in memory of his wife
• 74 current scholars are supported by philanthropic donations
• There are 23 active scholarships, nine of which were created since 2023.
  
  Examples of philanthropy
• The Stoneygate Trust has funded kidney research, a foundation year for medical students, financial support for students and the creation of the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare.
• Alumni Martin Smith (BA 1986) has pledged £30,000 in his will to support Politics and International Relations students.
• Engineering lecturer, Les Booth, donated £1.13m to support future engineers.
• Musician, songwriter and Leicester alumnus David Cousins, from The Strawbs band, bequeathed a sum to nurture the next generation of Leicester musicians through scholarships and performance opportunities.