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Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund is designed to invest seed funding in innovative, exciting projects tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our students today. Every year alumni and supporters have a big impact on the student body when they power these forward-thinking projects. Overseen and distributed by the Student Union, students propose new and sustainable projects that they believe will meet the ever-changing needs of students today.

Year over year, our alumni and friends help to establish several such projects through their gifts.

Many Innovation Fund projects have continued as full-fledged programmes still in operation. Look back on previous projects powered by alumni support.

23/24 Innovation Fund Projects

Warwick Growers

A short-term and long-term project that aims to increase food growing on campus and embed this into the SU and University Strategic plans. Warwick Growers will increase herb gardens and permanent allotment space on campus and provide a percentage of all veg produced on campus used in the university. Not only will this improve the sustainability of Warwick’s campus but offer students and members of the wider Warwick community the opportunity to participate in this project, improving wellbeing.

The (Free) Breakfast Club

The (Free) Breakfast Club is a student-led initiative, coordinated by the Vice President for Welfare and Campaigns, Enaya, which aims to support students struggling with food insecurity by providing free breakfasts on campus two mornings a week. The stations will be manned by volunteers recruited by the SU and monitored by termly polls to evaluate performance.

Sportswear For All Fund

To overcome financial barriers exacerbated by the ongoing cost of living crisis, the Sportswear For All Fund will provide financial assistance to support individuals and clubs. Funding will be used to purchase any sportswear or equipment that would benefit students’ welfare and allow them to feel comfortable participating sport.

Disability Item Fund

To provide disabled students the means to purchase disability items. These items will help students with university and everyday life. This could include items such as stim toys, weighted blanket, books, sensory items, ear defenders, disability pride items, sunflower lanyard, radar key, non-slip matting, and more. Applications can be submitted via the SU website’s funding hub.

Trans Activism and Wellbeing – Campaigning in a Culture War

A multi-day conference for trans people and active allies. Speakers will include politicians, comedians, activists, and academics, who will discuss what it’s like to be trans in our current society. The purpose of this project is to hear trans people and allies talk about their experiences and inspire important conversations in the community.

PG Connections

The PG Connections project will offer a diverse range of events throughout the academic year, designed to enrich postgraduate student experience. These include networking and social events, life skills workshops and guest speakers. The events will cater to the academic, social, and personal development needs of postgraduate students, fostering a sense of belonging, engagement, improving their wellbeing and academic performance.

A2Z

An SU celebration in collaboration with ‘Culture Week’ held across the SU atrium. A2Z recognises the diversity of our student body and will include music from various locations across the globe. The event will promote integration between different races, ethnicities, and cultures on campus in the SU, promising an enjoyable night.

Donate

Unrestricted philanthropic funding makes it possible for Warwick to say ‘yes’ to programmes like these which nimbly address the most pressing concerns facing students today.

Donate

Sabbatical Officers, Student Union representatives, and Students may apply to the Warwick Innovation Fund in August

Thank you so much honestly. I really hope that other people will be given the opportunity to access something like this in the future as it has really helped me.

Warwick Student after participating in an Innovation Fund Project

Get in touch

Your donation has a direct impact on student life at Warwick. Get in touch to discuss your gift and the impact it could make using the contact details below:

Sebastien Sinclair
Individual Giving Officer
Seb.Sinclair@warwick.ac.uk

T: 07385145083