Citizens UK awarded the University top honours for its role in helping community organisations to register people to vote, and for engaging over 5,000 people, including students, to take part in the 2024 General Election.
Edge Hill staff and students attended the Citizens of the North Fringe event, held as part of the Convention of the North in Preston, where they were presented with the award.
Dr Victoria Foster, Associate Head of History, Geography and Social Sciences (KE) and Director of the Centre for Social Responsibility was thrilled to accept the award on behalf of Edge Hill:
“So many of my colleagues are doing amazing work to engage our students and staff in democratic processes which we see as essential for shaping our future.
“The University’s colours of purple, green and white are in recognition of the Suffragette movement, so we are especially delighted that our commitment to democracy and equality of opportunity continues to be recognised.
“We also take our civic mission seriously and have spent time engaging with local organisations and local people to promote the importance of voting.”
“So many of my colleagues are doing amazing work to engage our students and staff in democratic processes which we see as essential for shaping our future.
“The University’s colours of purple, green and white are in recognition of the Suffragette movement, so we are especially delighted that our commitment to democracy and equality of opportunity continues to be recognised.
“We also take our civic mission seriously and have spent time engaging with local organisations and local people to promote the importance of voting.”
As part of the University’s strategic engagement plan to enhance voter registration, an opt-in voter registration option was implemented for all newly-enrolled students, during the 2023-24 academic year – 25.9% of the first-year student cohort elected to opt in.
The University also ran a podcast series and blog to inform people about voter registration and to explain the voting system, achieving nearly 15,000 views and listens. The Student Union further amplified this effort through effective social media campaigns and student outreach.
Additionally, a team of staff, students and community partners spent the day at the Concourse shopping centre in Skelmersdale to encourage passers-by to use their vote in the upcoming General Election, as part of the University’s commitment to the Citizens UK Voter Registration Champion project.
Sixteen students on business, history, criminology and psychology courses, and members of the SustainNet clubs were able to attend the Citizen of The North @ Convention of the North event thanks to Edge Hill’s Student Opportunity Fund, which paid for a coach to take them all.
The event creates a space where communities across the North from primary school students, secondary, college and university students, community groups, the workforce, parents, carers, faith groups and pensioners to be heard by council leaders, decision makers, MPs, mayors and policy makers.
Scott Marshall, a master’s student in 19th Century Studies at Edge Hill University, actively encouraged student participation in the Citizens of the North event. He attended many university lectures in his department to emphasise the significance of attending such forums. Scott stated:
“I feel it is important for students and young people to be aware and discuss how government and decisions can be made and should be at the heart of democracy as they are the ones who will be a part of the world it creates.
“Voting is one part of democracy but so is speaking out.
“My experience of the Fringe event can be summed up as inspiring, seeing all this hard work pay off, seeing all these voices being heard. I have had chance to speak with MPs and get them to see the world that they are detached from.
“I would love to see more young people inspired to change the world, rather than suffer in silence. Those students who attended last night showed the willingness to engage, that is step one.”
Karen Rooms, Chair of Trustees of Citizens UK, said: “Citizens UK is proud to welcome Edge Hill University as the first accredited Voter Registration Champion to achieve gold status.
“We are encouraging other organisations to follow their excellent example and put plans in place to register their people to vote, educate them about the photo ID they will need to cast their vote, and encourage them to turn out on polling day.
“Together we can help make sure at-risk voters get to participate in our democracy – especially the upcoming local elections in Lancashire.”
The Student Opportunity Fund is an initiative which contributes financial support to help students take part in activities which enhance their employability, build confidence and develop transferable skills.
March 6, 2025
