Civic engagement and community

Public and community engagement

UWE Bristol has a strong record of public and community engagement that traverses a wide portfolio of civic activities. We are a future-facing, locally embedded, anchor institution with global reach. We take a whole university approach to public engagement, with strong leadership, governance and resource to deliver high impact social value activity.

We share our academic, research and professional insights, resource and skills; ensuring that we listen to and learn from the expertise and insight of our civic partners. We aim to foster equitable and mutually beneficial community, industry and policy partnerships which are built on trust and a reciprocal knowledge economy; supporting local economic prosperity, shaping the health and sustainability of our communities and creating solutions to global challenges.

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University Civic Agreement

UWE Bristol, University of Bristol, City of Bristol College, Bristol City Council, and the City Office have strengthened their relationship by signing a Civic University Agreement (CUA).

The partnership reflects the many positive benefits to the city that the institutions collectively bring, including new jobs, apprenticeships, research collaborations and educational opportunities. It outlines the intention to do even more in collaboration across several key social impact areas.

At the heart of the CUA is a desire to ensure that the local population benefits from the thriving further and higher education sectors in Bristol.

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Widening access

We deliver a range of targeted workshops, activities and events for schools and colleges to help students realise their full potential and maximise attainment.

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Community Together Fund

Run by the Community Liaison team, the UWE Bristol Community Together Fund offers grants of up to £250 for projects linking students and staff with community organisations.

Group of black, Asian and minority ethnic students working around a table

Windrush generations

This project explores, celebrates and documents the contribution of the Windrush generation in Bristol, British societies and across the African diaspora.

UWE Bristol healthcare student holding equipment used in MRI scan.

Integrated Care Academy

The Integrated Care Academy (ICA) is an exciting new partnership between UWE Bristol and our NHS and commercial, charity and independent sector partners across local and regional health and social care systems.

Community and third sector collaboration

We are involved with public, community and third-sector organisations through a variety of exchanges, partnerships and collaborations.

  • Provision of direct services – student volunteers, student placements and internships, provision of specialist academic advice (for example legal advice), provision of specialist skills, mentoring, opportunities for life-long learning, free consultancy, contribution to governance via board membership and trusteeships.
  • Development work – capacity building work with neighbourhood, faith and other community and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, work with service user and special interest groups, civic partnerships with schools and voluntary organisations.
  • Engagement in policy and social innovation – through research and knowledge exchange contributing to policy development in local and national government and across the second and third sector.
  • Citizen-led collaboration – to scope and define research questions and develop mutually beneficial research projects.
  • Discharging ethical responsibilities – to inform the public about socially sensitive research topics, such as, developments in nanotechnologies and bioengineering.
  • Disseminating information and knowledge to non-specialist audiences – such as public lectures, science cafes, public conferences and debates as well as more informal two-way interactions through public events such as the Festival of Nature, Festival of Ideas, etc.
  • Producing work to be seen by large audiences – such as Centre for Music concerts, visual art, performance and digital media outputs.
  • Mobilising the University’s physical infrastructure as a public resource – through Spike Island, our Centre for Sport, transport and our plans for the new campus.
  • Supporting government agendas – such as engaging young people with STEM subjects, widening participation and enterprise.
  • UWE Bristol was one of the first UK universities to sign the Public Engagement Manifesto.

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