Tuesday 23-06-2026 - 12:00

Welcome back to In The Loop!

In this edition, we’re focusing on the everyday things that can make student life feel easier, safer, and more connected - from moving around campus after dark, to accessing financial support, understanding your housing rights, and feeling confident that your voice leads to real change.

As always, this report brings together insight from conversations, surveys, social media, The Union Unfiltered, and partnership work across the city.

While the themes may vary, one message comes through clearly: you want clear information, visible support, and proof that when you share your experiences, something happens!

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Student Safety 🛡️

What we heard:
+ 72% of students say they always feel safe on campus during the day
+ Safety feels different at night, with confidence dropping after dark
+ Over half of students (53%) want more visible security presence
+ Awareness of safety tools (like SafeZone and Report & Support) is mixed

Safety shapes everything - from staying on campus longer to feeling like you belong.

What we’re doing:
+ Pushing for street audits in areas that students identified as unsafe
+ Supporting major safety investment (Mancunian Way underpass)
+ Exploring increased use of student ID-only access across campus
+ Encouraging clearer, repeated messaging around Report & Support

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Money & Financial Support 💸

Money worries continue to shape the student experience, and support needs to feel simple, accessible, and worth the effort. Students want more human, supportive processes - not just systems

What we heard:
+ Awareness of the Success Fund is low 
+ Students are unsure if they’re eligible or whether applying is worthwhile
+ Application processes can feel complicated or overwhelming
+ Some students miss out entirely due to a lack of support or clarity

What we’re doing:
+ Working with Student Financial Support to improve awareness and access
+ Advocating for:

• Clearer eligibility guidance
• Reduced evidence requirements
• Simpler, more user-friendly application processes
• Better staff training for signposting

 

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Housing & Renters’ Rights 🏠

Understanding housing rights is critical - but often confusing.

What we heard:
+ Students need clear, simple explanations of tenancy rules and changes
+ Unclear rights or unexpected costs can create serious stress
+ Demand for accessible, timely advice is high

What we’re doing:
+ Partnering with the Greater Manchester Student Partnership (GMSP)
+ Signposting students to the Advice Centre for personalised support

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Equity, Inclusion & Awarding Gaps ⚖️

Some of the most important conversations are also the most challenging.

What we heard:
+ Awarding gaps remain a key concern shaped by systems, not just individuals
+ Students and staff highlighted: Lack of representation and trust 

What we’re doing:
+ Launching a new campaign,  “Make the Pie Bigger”
+ Using micro-surveys, videos, and interactive activities to gather student insight
+ Promoting resources like Mind the Gap for staff development

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Student Voice & The Student Futures Promise 🎓

+ Students want: more consistent systems, clearer routes to support & visible follow-through when feedback is shared

What we’re doing:
+ Supporting the refreshed Student Futures Promise
+ Ensuring it is grounded in real student voice, with 700+ student contributions shaping it
+ Working in partnership with the University to improve how feedback is acted on

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Coming Up Next 👀

We’ll be back in September with the final edition of In The Loop for this year, bringing more student insight, updates, and progress from across The Union, the University, and our wider city partnerships.

In the meantime, we’ll keep listening, sharing what you tell us, and pushing for the kind of change you can actually feel.