Community Connections 2025: an evening to celebrate our volunteers

 

Earlier this year, we welcomed alumni volunteers, students, and staff to the Wills Memorial Reception Room for our annual Community Connections event – an evening dedicated to recognising and celebrating the remarkable contributions of Bristol’s alumni volunteers.

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‘The support and atmosphere at the marathon were unreal, it was a day I’ll never forget’: reflections from our #TeamUoB 2025 London Marathon runners

A huge congratulations to our incredible #TeamUoB runners who recently took part in the 2025 London Marathon – a truly unforgettable year for the world’s most iconic race. Not only did 56,640 finishers cross the finish line on The Mall, setting a new Guiness World Records title for the most marathon finishers ever, but together, participants raised over £75 million for charities – the highest total for any one-day annual fundraising event in history! 

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Feeling the Bristol spirit around the world

Over the last few weeks, University of Bristol alumni from around the world have come together at 25 Global Gatherings held in 23 countries, spanning 6 continents. These events were hosted by alumni, for alumni, giving Bristol graduates the opportunity to meet old friends, forge new friendships and expand their professional networks.

A large group of Bristol alumni are gathered together in a group and are smiling at the camera.
Bristol alumni at the Bangkok Global Gathering

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A celebration of our volunteers

The Community Connections Thank You event was a lovely evening held last month in the Wills Memorial Building. We welcomed some of our valued volunteers, mentors, and students to reflect on the achievements of the past year and celebrate those who contribute so much to our Bristol volunteering community. Attendees included mentors and mentees from our Bristol Mentors and Bristol Voices programmes, Bristol Connects e-mentors, and active student event organisers.

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Meet our 2024 London Marathon runners raising money for Healthy Minds

Legs of runners wearing race bibs on pavement

In April 2024, a group of five Bristol alumni, two students and a member of staff are taking on the 2024 London Marathon in support of the University’s Healthy Minds programme.

This programme supports students to take positive steps towards improving the way they feel through a varied and socially engaging programme of physical activity and has now supported over 500 students in improving their wellbeing.

Each runner is aiming to raise at least £2,000 for Healthy Minds, and you can support them via their JustGiving pages linked below.

Introducing this year’s runners… (more…)

Watch the Vice-Chancellor’s annual Alumni Briefing

At the start of each academic year, Professor Evelyn Welch, the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, holds the Alumni Briefing, a digital update for alumni around the world to learn more about the opportunities and challenges she sees ahead. For those of you unable to watch this year’s Alumni Briefing live, we recorded the event to share with you. Click the video below to watch!

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Watch our panel discussion, Bristol in Conversation: Our Natural World

This spring, we were honoured to host our first annual Bristol in Conversation event. It was an amazing opportunity for so many alumni and friends to make new connections and reconnect with old classmates, while hearing from two of our remarkable alumni speak about their careers in wildlife filmmaking. Dr Mike Gunton (BSc 1979), Creative Director of BBC Natural History, and Gillian Burke (BSc 1995), presenter of BBC Springwatch, offered insightful discussions on our changing world and how documentaries can help engage the public.

The event was held on campus, but for those of you unable to attend, we’ve put together a video featuring the most memorable moments. Click the video below to watch! (more…)

Lord Evans of Weardale, former Director General of MI5, on balancing security and ethics

A portrait of Lord Evans wearing a business suit, standing in an office setting

Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL (BA 1980, Hon LLD 2008) is the former Director General of MI5, the British Security Service. He graduated from the University with a degree in Classical Studies before joining the Security Service in 1980, focusing on international and domestic counterterrorism. In 2001, he was appointed Director of the Service’s international counterterrorism work just ten days before the 9/11 attacks.  (more…)