Small Change: Big Impact – which enables University staff to donate a few pence from their monthly pay packets to an Impact project – is this year raising money for research into dementia.

The scheme works by asking staff to round down to the nearest pound their monthly salary. Collecting these surplus pennies generates an average of £300 a month in donations.

Last year the 650-plus staff signed up to Small Change: Big Impact raised £4,190 for Children’s Brain Tumour Research in Nottingham.

In 2015, money from the scheme is already helping the University’s vital research into dementia. Over 800,000 people in the UK have dementia; one in three of us is said to have a family member or close friend who is affected.

Nottingham pioneered MRI scanning and Small Change: Big Impact will be supporting another world first when new clinically enhanced MRI technology, thousands of times more sensitive than standard scanners, will be used at the Queen’s Medical Centre to research ways of diagnosing dementia earlier and improving its treatment.  This offers real promise for advancement in our understanding of and ability to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Dementia is characterised by a decline of the brain and its abilities, causing effects such as memory loss and personality changes. It cannot be prevented and current treatments merely delay the inevitable decline.

Staff already signed up to Small Change Big Impact need take no action as their pennies will automatically be redirected to dementia research.

If you wish to sign up for Small Change Big Impact, or to find out more about the supporting the Impact Campaign, please visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/impactcampaign/staff

Small Change Big Impact supporters receive a donor pin and Jen Wickham, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “Please wear your donor pin with pride throughout 2015 to symbolise your support for the University. We hope this will inspire others to give by increasing awareness of the value and pleasure of giving to Nottingham.”