Salford Giving

How we work with you

Philanthropy is a powerful force that can transform lives in countless ways, whether through long-term giving or one-off donations.  It is through this that we can contribute to the advancement of the university through research and the development of the campus and its facilities and create a lasting and meaningful impact on our students’ lives.  We are immensely proud of our diverse and dedicated supporter community, which includes alumni, industry partners, and trusts and foundations.

Meet our Philanthropy team !

Nic Whyley, Senior Philanthropy Manager

Nic leads the fundraising team, which sits within the Philanthropy, Alumni and Supporter Engagement team, expertly managing our fundraising and stewardship. She oversees everything from regular support to major and transformational gifts, and supports fundraising across our priority areas, which includes access and outreach, campus development and research. Nic’s strong background in relationship building spans international education and inward investment. She has successfully attracted overseas students to study in Greater Manchester and encouraged large global businesses to invest in operations here.

When asked about working in the Philanthropy sector, Nic said, ‘my real passion point is building community and placemaking, and bringing people together for the greater good. I’ve always enjoyed brokering engagement and partnerships between industry, education providers and the VCSE sector and so am in my element here at the University of Salford.’

Get to know more about Nic, her fun fact is ‘I spent three years living overseas in Valencia and I am a RHS level 2 qualified horticulturalist.’

Get in touch: N.Whyley@salford.ac.uk

Hannah Whitehurst, Philanthropy Manager, Major Gifts

Hannah manages a portfolio of major donors, including individuals, corporates, and trusts and foundations, to secure philanthropic gifts for a range of programmes and projects across the University. She works closely with donors to build meaningful, long-term relationships, ensuring their giving aligns with their passions and creates lasting impact.

When asked about working in Philanthropy, Hannah said, ‘For me, a huge part about working in philanthropy is about widening access to education, especially through outreach, scholarships and bursaries. Someone once said, ‘Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,’ and that really stuck with me. That’s why I do what I do—connecting generous donors with opportunities to make a real difference in students’ lives.

Get to know more about Hannah, ‘Coming up with fun facts about myself is harder than convincing donors to fund a new scholarship’.

Get in touch: H.C.Whitehurst@salford.ac.uk  

Rachael Baker, Philanthropy Manager, Trusts and Foundations

Rachael is the newest member of the Philanthropy team. Rachael brings a wealth of experience, having worked in the sector for most of her career. Most recently, she worked as a Senior Manager for Fundraising, Finance, and Communications at an LGBTQ+ youth charity in Manchester.

When asked why she chose to work in Philanthropy, Rachael said, ‘There aren’t many jobs that allow you to develop relationships with such a diverse range of people. I really enjoy figuring out which areas of work will interest people and building from that. I always wanted a job that would have a positive impact, and I find Philanthropy really ticks that box for me.’

Get to know more about Rachael, her fun fact is, ‘My surname is Baker, and I worked as a baker for several years before my career in fundraising!’

Get in touch: R.Baker11@salford.ac.uk

Ellie Jackson, Donor Engagement Officer

Ellie is responsible for engaging the supporter community by leading the Philanthropy team’s stewardship programme. Ellie cultivates long-term relationships with our supporters by actively communicating the impact of their contributions. She makes them feel valued and appreciated through various channels, including a newsletter, mailings and events.

When asked about working in Philanthropy, Ellie said ‘My career journey has naturally led me to philanthropy. Many of my roles have focused on demonstrating impact, and stewardship is the perfect way to highlight the incredible contributions of our supporters.’

Get to know more about Ellie, her fun fact is, ‘I have a very energetic working cocker spaniel, named Rudy, after our favourite pizza restaurant!’

Get in touch: E.Jackson4@salford.ac.uk

The University recently concluded its annual ‘HackCamp’ event, an intensive three-week software development project, which is a key part of the curriculum for second-year Computer Science, Software Engineering and Cyber Security students. This year’s HackCamp saw over 150 students work in small groups to tackle real-world challenges, including dynamic user experience, customer feedback aggregation, and placement search solutions. We rounded this programme off with a showcase event in January, where students presented their solutions to both the academics and their industry partners.

The HackCamp model is designed to simulate a professional project environment, with students employing agile software development methods. They engage in multiple development iterations, each ending with a demonstration of working software to their ‘’clients’ (industry partner). ‘Clients’ provide feedback at the end of each iteration to guide the students. This approach integrates skills and knowledge from across the computing syllabus, and also provides students with invaluable experience working with external companies.

This year several of the university’s scholarship donors engaged with this programme, including representatives from Morson Group and IRIS Software Group. The continued support from these industry partners plays a crucial role in the success of HackCamp, providing students with opportunities to work on live briefs and gain insights into current industry practices. In addition, the latest innovation is that MSc Software Engineering students who learn about Agile Coaching, get the unique opportunity to coach our undergraduate HackCamp teams. This is helping students deliver even better solutions to our industry partners.

Other industry partners involved in this project include; ABL, Bureauveritas, BCS, Chippy Digital, Competa, and Naimuri.

Julian Bass, Professor of Software Engineering, said “Our latest innovation is that MSc Software Engineering students, who learn about Agile Coaching, get the unique opportunity to coach our undergraduate HackCamp teams. This is helping students deliver even better solutions to our industry partners.”

Reflecting on the event, Gloria Iyawa, Senior Lecturer of Software Engineering at the University of Salford, stated, “We are proud of the reputation we have gained with industry in the area of Computer Science through HackCamp and our empirical software engineering research. Our industry partners play a vital role in helping us deliver high calibre programmes.” 

HackCamp continues to be a cornerstone of the University of Salford’s commitment to providing industry-relevant education, equipping students with the skills and experiences necessary to excel in their future careers.

At the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies (SAMCT), the legacy of a former colleague, Colin Lloyd, continues to inspire creativity. Colin was a beloved friend and colleague, who worked at the University on the BA (Hons) Visual Arts programme from 2008 to 2016. His passing in 2021 was a huge loss, but his impact remains.

The programme leader for Fine Art, Brendan Fletcher, has said: ‘We are thrilled that we’re able to remember and commemorate the contribution of Colin Lloyd to the development and the health of the Fine Art programme here at the SAMCT.  Veronica and Dave Russell’s generation donation has allowed us to create a lasting memory and testament to his work and his activism which directly supports and benefits our students’.

Their support has included not only financial assistance but also guest lectures, materials and workshops. Most recently, the school welcomed Marlene Smith, one of the founding members of the BLK Art Group, to deliver the Colin Lloyd Memorial Lecture. Funded by the Veronica & Dave bursary scheme, this special lecture brought nearly 100 staff and students together.

Veronica and Dave tell us that they are delighted by the impact of the first year of the bursary scheme. ‘The students receiving support are clearly making excellent use of it, especially in terms of buying materials and equipment which are allowing them to demonstrate their talents to the full: their commitment and enthusiasm is obvious. Marlene Smith’s lecture, which we enjoyed tremendously, clearly inspired the students present and elicited really interesting questions from them. We are already looking forward to the degree shows.’

Through their generosity, Veronica and Dave have not only honoured Colin’s memory but have also ensured that his passion for supporting young artists lives on. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing support and look forward to seeing the impact it will continue to create.

You can read more about Colin’s remarkable life and contributions in this touching Guardian obituary.

The Progression Project has been a resounding success, offering students the opportunity to explore creativity, build confidence and develop meaningful connections. Through a series of workshops, participants not only gained new skills but also laid the foundation for a group exhibition at New Adelphi.

The workshops were designed to achieve three core goals:

Build confidence – Encourage students to step out of their comfort zones, engage with peers and experiment with new techniques.

Build a community – Create a welcoming environment where students could form friendships and connect across levels of study.

Introduce workshop spaces – Familiarise students with studio and print room environments, enabling them to navigate these resources independently.

The workshops were particularly well-attended by Level 4 Fine Art students and participants fully embraced the creative process. Working within both their own studios and New Adelphi’s print room, students explored diverse techniques such as:

• Collage
• Monoprint
• Cyanotypes
• Dry-point prints
• A collaborative cross-level final piece

Some students produced as many as three prints during the brief sessions, a remarkable achievement showcasing their enthusiasm and talent.

The project also offered leadership opportunities to Level 6 Fine Art students, with two employed as Workshop Assistants and a third hired to support exhibition setup. These roles provided invaluable experience and enhanced cross-level collaboration, as Foundation Year and Level 4 students benefitted from the guidance of their senior peers.

The highlight of this initiative was witnessing the transformation of students who built connections, who initially struggled with confidence, health or mental health challenges. A Student Progression Adviser (SPA), said, ‘I had the privilege of building stronger relationships with the students. Many opened about challenges they were facing, and we were able to connect them with the university’s Disability and Wellbeing Teams for further assistance.’  For many, these workshops became a turning point, enabling them to submit work for their Trimester 1 modules and take pride in their accomplishments.

The upcoming exhibition in January 2025 will be another milestone for these students. The opening event will invite external guests, further boosting their confidence and visibility as emerging artists.

The Progression Project’s success highlights opportunities for refinement and expansion:

• Increased focus on engaging Foundation Year students in future iterations
• Exploration of how small, informal groups support student learning and retention
• Ongoing monitoring to evaluate long-term impacts on student success

The findings will be shared at Congress within the school, sparking conversations about how similar initiatives could benefit other programmes.

This project would not have been possible without the funding and support provided by our generous supporters. It has been an incredible journey to see students create meaningful work, forge connections and gain confidence. As the January 2025 exhibition approaches, we look forward to celebrating their achievements and the community we’ve built together.