The University of Nottingham

Donations from the University’s community of alumni have created Cascade, a fund to support transformative student projects.

Previously known as the Annual Fund, Cascade awards grants of up to £25,000 supporting projects which enhance the skills, confidence, social awareness and employability of students, while making a significant impact on communities, both locally and globally. A panel of leading alumni donors judges applications.

Since 2007 a long line of projects have benefited from Cascade Funding with more than £1.2m given to a diverse range of ventures. Enhancing the Nottingham Experience is a key project within the University’s biggest ever fundraising appeal to date. Impact: The Nottingham Campaign is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future.
Visit: www.nottingham.ac.uk/impactcampaign/cascade

Vets go online 

Veterinary students are benefiting from a state-of-the-art online veterinary anatomy, histology and pathology e-learning museum thanks to our alumni. Despite the School of Veterinary Science and Medicine having only been open for the last five years, staff have collected over 200 biological exhibits along with hundreds of x-ray, MRI, pathological and histological specimens.

Now, with the help of nearly £9,000 from Cascade, the specimens have been labelled and added to an online museum to provide students with an invaluable learning and revision resource. Around 25% of the specimens will also be available to veterinary students across the globe via an open access online museum.  Visit: www.onlineveterinaryanatomy.net

Students teaching schoolchildren

The unique work of the Lakeside Literacy Project brings together the University’s creative writing students and primary school children at Lakeside’s Djanogly Art Gallery, where students run writing workshops using a current exhibition as inspiration. So far this academic year four third-year students have been involved, and have run five two-hour literacy sessions with more than 130 key stage two children from Nottingham City schools.

Cascade funding means the student volunteers are trained by a local playwright and teacher, so the Lakeside Literacy Project offers schools a quality product, while giving the students some truly rewarding work experience.

Crream of the crop

The popular student-run Sutton Bonington Farmers’ Market has been named Farmers’ Market of the Year in the BBC Food and Farming Awards. The awards showcase some of the UK’s most exciting food and drink businesses. It’s a staggering success for the students and their monthly market, which has more than doubled in size since it was launched in May 2011.

The market was initially launched following donations from alumni and friends of the University, including the Old Kingstonian Association (OKA) and the Cascade Fund. The Sutton Bonington Allotment Society has also had success, achieving Level 4: Thriving in the RHS Britain in Bloom Awards. Visit: www.facebook.com/groups/114367928629516/ or email: SB-Farmers-Market@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk

Chance to see one of the world’s finest guitarists

Alumni have a rare opportunity to see one of the world’s finest guitarists at 3pm on Sunday 16 June. Internationally-acclaimed Xuefei Yang joins the University Philharmonia and conductor Jonathan Tilbrook, for Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. This new initiative, supported by Cascade funding, will showcase the talents of student performers, not only in Nottingham but also on our China and Malaysian campuses via pre-recorded video footage on a large LED screen next to the stage. The programme includes music by classical composers from around the world. The free event is open to the public so why not bring a picnic and enjoy an afternoon of orchestral classics in the beautiful grounds of University Park.
Visit: http://tiny.cc/LakesideSummerSymphony