Green Gown Awards 2014 - Student Engagement - De Montfort University - Finalist

DMU Square Mile

DMU Square Mile has enhanced De Montfort University’s profile locally, nationally and internationally, receiving multiple awards for the concept of mobilising staff and student expertise for the benefit of local communities.

DMU Square Mile creates a platform that benefits all of its stakeholders:
• Academic ideas responding to community need
• Students deliver projects, in the process enhancing their employability and forming sustainable partnerships with community organisations
• Local communities receive projects that respond to their needs

Achievements include:
• Twice broken the record for number of donors recruited to the NHS stem cell register in a single day
• 200 student volunteers have provided 1-1 academic mentoring for 1,000 7-16 year olds
• 70 students have supported 17 SME’s; in one case saving one charity, LOROS, thousands of pounds after implementing multiple energy saving campaigns
• Working in partnership with Diabetes UK, 45 students have found
130 community members with undiagnosed diabetes.

Top 3 learnings

1 Consent: Ideas cannot be forced on staff, students or communities, they must have input and embrace the ethos of your project, programme or initiative
2 Marketing: Pictures tell a thousand words! If you cannot describe your project in two minutes you risk losing people’s interest
3 Understanding: Know your audience; understand individual’s motivations for participating in your project. It will help you increase involvement from others.

Videos

• DMU Square Mile (click to hide)