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What is Manchester 10/10?
There are students and staff who are building bridges to connect you with likeminded people, grow your confidence, and remind you that you belong.
Miebi Youdeowei / Manchester 10/10 attendee
Manchester 10/10 offers a series of tailored events and opportunities which support students to find community, build belonging and develop confidence in their place at The University of Manchester.
Designed in partnership with Black heritage students, our events (such as networking and masterclasses by industry leaders) support students to build their peer, professional and academic networks and develop the confidence to engage with all that the Manchester student experience has to offer.
Black Leadership Programme
Manchester 10/10 also includes the Black Leadership Programme, designed to train and upskill a cohort of student leaders who are representative of the diverse Black heritage student community.
Participants will have the opportunity to undertake leadership roles, support micro-projects, and become eligible to access the Leadership Programme Bursary Award of up to £500. For more information, please email us at manchester1010@manchester.ac.uk.
Manchester 10/10 is open to students who:
- are of Black African, Black African-Caribbean, Mixed-race Black African or Mixed-race Black African-Caribbean background;
- have Home fee status;
- are studying for an undergraduate degree.
If you meet the above eligibility criteria, you will join the programme automatically.
Manchester 10/10 provides access to:
- community and personal development events;
- tailored careers workshops and opportunities;
- peer and professional networking opportunities;
- a chance to have your say about the Black student experience at Manchester;
- opportunities to recognise and celebrate Black identities at Manchester.
The Programme delivers a variety of events throughout the year based on building community, careers development, networking and much more. Here are some examples of the events delivered during 2024:
M10/10 x BEN – Black X Conference
The conference included a series of masterclasses led by industry leaders from Black heritage backgrounds on topics such as Entrepreneurship, Careers in healthcare, Being Black in the corporate space, STEM and Finding the right career for you. There was also the opportunity for attendees to network, enjoy a spoken word performance, food and refreshments. We were excited to welcome Frederick Afrifa from the Apprentice as our keynote speaker.
TEDx Event
A night of ideas, interactions and inspiring TED talks, passionately delivered by fellow Black student leaders. Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions and listened to empowering stories.
Student networking event
M10/10 students from various Faculties, year groups and backgrounds were able to connect with each other, develop their networks and gain insights into different fields of study.
Miebi, a recent 10/10 attendee, shares her reflections on the Programme
"Manchester 10/10 is more than a space for Black students to feel seen, and get pushed to their full potential, it’s a space where students can loosen their shoulders, and unclench their jaw, a space for company, a space of community.
In my second year at Manchester, I can say M10/10 has played a larger role in my time here than I ever would have imagined. The first event I attended was a ‘Writing Good Applications Workshop’, knowing I would be surrounded by people that look like me and led by staff who want to see me win, drew me to attending. At my first student networking event, Coordinator Ayoola engaged the audience and ensured we left knowing new names and faces.
My highlight event of first year was the Black X Conference, set in Manchester Museum, this event exceeded expectations, having the opportunity to talk to Black professionals, enjoy a well-cooked meal, and meeting Frederick Afrifa from The Apprentice was a great way to end first year. The talks I attended left me feeling confident and unafraid to be the ‘first’ or the ‘only’ and grew my understanding of the importance of failing and getting back up.
One of the things I love about M10/10 is the consistency, the anticipation of exciting events coming up again, and knowing the team has worked hard to top the previous year. I observed this in this years ‘Application Masterclass’ and ‘Student Networking’ events. The careers team continue to update presentations, dive deeper into the components of a successful candidate, and demonstrate how those traits lie within each one of us, that all we need are the tools to communicate them. The event was engaging and detailed, it’s clear the careers and M10/10 team truly want students to put their best foot forward by highlighting opportunities, events, and resources which will help us get the most out of our degrees, as well as taking time to discuss application advice on an individual level.
Similarly, the Student Networking event allows students of varied years, degrees, and ethnicities, to meet new people, and take a break from university workload. Many of us are one of few on our course and may feel like one of few at UoM, yet in these events discussing your favourite Nigerian dish, your next hairstyle, or the hobbies no one would ever assume you do, due dates and life’s stresses don’t seem to matter.
There is power in excelling in a space which was not made for you, going to a university founded in a time when Black students, nor women were allowed to attend, and having communities such as M10/10, African Caribbean Society, Black Girl Space, and more. This is all to say that university can be isolating, especially when you are part of a group represented by merely 6.6% of the student population, however there are students and staff who are building bridges to connect you with likeminded people, grow your confidence, and remind you that you belong."