Salford Steps Up: Celebrating Our Aziz Awards Recognition

The University of Salford has been named runner up in the Inclusion category at the Aziz Foundation’s Social Impact Awards. It is a proud moment that reflects the work your Student Officers and the university’s EDI team have done to make campus more inclusive and supportive.

Last year, your Officers worked closely with the EDI team to create Salford’s own definition of Islamophobia. Only a few universities in the UK have one, so this was an important step forward and set the tone for the rest of the year.

Since then, a lot has taken place across campus. Some actions were small. Others took time and planning. Together they created real change. Here is a look at what your Officers and the university delivered.

Building awareness and community

• Marked key Muslim events in the university’s Diversity Calendar.

• Hosted the Aziz Roadshow Scholarship Panel event on campus.

• Represented Muslim Asian women at the 2024 Arts and Media Awards.

Supporting students during Ramadan

• Secured £1,000 from the EDI team to run daily Iftars open to everyone.

• Introduced two new prayer rooms in the Maxwell Building.

• Encouraged lecturers to allow breaks during Iftar when teaching overlapped.

• Organised a Grand Iftar with the Islamic Society.

• Ran stalls in the library that gave away over 300 English Qurans and offered a modesty try on space for hijabs and thobes.

• Secured another £1,000 from the SU for free Iftar meals for students and staff.

• Worked with Building Managers to open the Faith Centre on weekends.

Improving access to food and facilities

• Raised awareness of Halal food options on campus.

• Helped increase Halal availability to around 90 percent across outlets.

• Installed new Qibla signs in prayer rooms across campus.

• Hosted an Islamophobia awareness workshop with MEND.

This recognition came from student voices and the drive to make sure everyone feels supported. It shows what can happen when students speak up and Officers take action.