Our new University Challenge team and presenter Jeremy Paxman
New faces take up University Challenge
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eet the new University of Manchester team bidding to achieve an unprecedented third successive University Challenge title.
Manchester has been champions four times in the last eight years, in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2013. This year's team is captained by Elizabeth Mitchell from Birmingham (studying Politics,
Philosophy and Economics), and includes Jonathan Collings from Manchester (studying Geography), Joe Day from Bideford in Devon (studying Physics with Astrophysics) and Edward Woudhuysen from London (studying History). Manchester’s winning teams have been brilliantly mentored by long-serving coach Stephen Pearson, who has enjoyed
considerable success with University Challenge having captained the team himself in 1996. The media has already dubbed Stephen the ‘Alex Ferguson’ of the quiz world, but the modest librarian said: "I don't know about that – but as long as I keep finding it fun, I hope to carry on until retirement, which is not for another 20 years or so."
Patients help devise dementia care training Academics and healthcare professionals from across Greater Manchester as well as people with a diagnosis of dementia and family carers have teamed up to devise a new training programme for general hospital staff. The University and Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust worked with three other NHS Trusts in Bolton, Salford, and Central Manchester to develop the new “Getting to Know Me” programme. Over 800,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, but hospital staff do not always feel confident and skilled in the provision of care to this group. The training programme, which can be downloaded free of charge from www.gmhiec.org.uk, aims to increase staff knowledge, confidence and skills.
Heart of gold
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anchester has become the first university to receive a Gold CardiacSmart award for its dedication to raising awareness of heart health, basic life support and defibrillators Janet Makin, the University’s First Aid Co-ordinator, received the award at a ceremony, together with Rachel Valentine from the Staff Training and Development Unit (STDU) and Christopher Worden from Security (pictured).
With 20 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) already on and around campus, eight more on order, and many members of staff aware of their location and/or able to administer basic life support, the University is making a real contribution to increasing the survival chances of anyone who suffers cardiac arrest on campus - and this award provides welcome recognition of that achievement. For a list of AED locations, visit: • www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/services/ occupational-health/first-aid/defibs/
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