These students dug deeper and went further than most when it came to enriching their experience at Nottingham by helping others.

The six Engineering and Nursing students travelled to Ghana to support an eco-sanitation project that is improving local people’s lives.

As well as building a compost toilet in a village, the students developed an understanding of water and sanitation challenges in Africa through carrying out a community survey for the Dream Big Ghana NGO.

Vicky Lonsdale, Martelle Henry and Chantelle Hughes, who are Master of Nursing Science students, and Master of Engineering students Portia Heley, Robert Parry and Joanna Stanyard, took part in the No Flush! project thanks to a £8,900 grant from the University’s Cascade fund.

Cascade – part of Nottingham: The Impact Campaign – supports students who want to enrich their experience at Nottingham while making a difference at home and abroad.

The fund, which is supported by friends of the University, allocates grants of up to £25,000 to student projects that will enhance the skills, confidence, social awareness and employability of students, while making a significant impact on communities, both locally and globally.

Dr Linda East, of the School of Health Sciences, said of the Ghana trip: “It was wonderful to see the depth of learning and engagement among the students, and great to see future engineers and nurses working together on a project with such tangible public health benefits. The generosity of Cascade supporters will leave a lasting legacy, not only among the students involved but among the villagers.”

The next deadline for applications from staff and students for Cascade funding in 2014 is 10 February, followed by 2 June and 10 November. Successful projects are normally notified within one month of these deadlines.

Head of Development (Regular Gifts) Simon Buttenshaw said: “As the co-ordinator of the Cascade fund, I never fail to be impressed at the diversity of projects applying, which I know is something that is motivating to the alumni and friends of the University who donate to Cascade.

“But whether a project takes students to rural Africa or somewhere much closer to home, what most projects have in common is that they involve students working together for a common aim, showing great initiative and leadership skills, often in some quite challenging environments.

“I hope those involved in Cascade projects reference them in their CVs, because I’m sure employers are impressed that Nottingham has given them such a rounded education.”

Click here for more on Cascade or email cascade@nottingham.ac.uk for an application form or information about how to make a donation.