Alumni, staff and students share how becoming a Birmingham Gives ambassador means paying it forward and championing education.
No one knows the University of Birmingham as well as alumni, students and staff. The years you spend here give you unique insights, and your personal experiences of what helped you most can help deliver extra support for both students and researchers.
In 2025, alumni, students and staff volunteered to lend their voices to support Birmingham Gives, a 36-hour online event uniting our community to support students and medical research at Birmingham. Sharing their Birmingham story helped spread awareness and encouraged friends, family and colleagues to get involved.
What our 2025 ambassadors said
On giving more people opportunities to learn
I volunteered to spread the word about an incredible campaign that helps students from underrepresented backgrounds at university gain access to a top-class education.
I volunteered as an ambassador because I believe in widening access and opportunity, and I’m proud to support initiatives that help Birmingham students thrive.
Being part of the Birmingham Gives campaign was a meaningful opportunity to support students who want to pursue further studies but are held back by financial constraints. I’m truly grateful to have been involved, as I see so much of my own journey reflected in theirs.
On paying it forward
Paying it forward is a principle of mine that is dear to me. Last year, it was a privilege to volunteer my time to support the Birmingham Gives Campaign because I am a beneficiary of generosity from others hence I deem it as necessary to also pay it forward so someone else can benefit. A better world is created when we pay it forward!
I was lucky enough to attend the University of Birmingham because of a scholarship, which completely changed my life trajectory, and I wanted to help ensure that other students have access to the same life-changing opportunities I had.
On how Birmingham helped graduates to where they are today
The University gave me such a great start to my career, it's a pleasure to support them when the opportunity arises.
It was a real pleasure to be asked to take part in Birmingham Gives. As a Birmingham alumnus, and a member of staff of some 13 years standing, it’s great to have the chance to give back and make a difference – however small – to my alma mater.
