It has been a busy period at Bangor University, with preparations underway for the graduation ceremonies, a highlight in the university calendar taking place between 7-11 July. Congratulations to those who will soon graduate!
The university’s Community Fund continues to support connections and build relationships between university staff and external partners. In April, a group of young people from Porthi Dre, a community hub in Caernarfon, visited Aria Film Studios in Llangefni. The visit, organised by the university’s Screen Academy manager, provided them with an opportunity to see how the ‘Rownd a Rownd’ TV drama is filmed and produced, and they also met some of the actors. The fund also supported the 22nd Rural Entrepreneurship Conference that took place in Pontio, M-SParc and the Thoday building on 3-5 June.
The university’s Community Board met on 5th June. The board provides a platform for the university and partners across the public and voluntary sectors to come together and discuss opportunities for collaboration. The meeting included presentations on the university’s work on the Race Equality Charter, an update on community cohesion work across Ynys Môn, Gwynedd and Conwy local authorities, the work of Student Volunteering Bangor in the community and an update from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The university continues to work closely with Bangor City Council, with a number of projects and events underway as part of the 1500 anniversary celebrations. In April, the university and council announced the establishment of a new student bursary fund to strengthen academic research. This initiative aims to support students and researchers who are undertaking projects that align with the council’s priorities and ambitions.
The university also worked with the council on the VE Day event on 8th May. Bangor joined other towns and cities across Wales and the UK to note and celebrate 80 years since VE Day. Representatives from the university, council and Diocese of Bangor spoke at a short remembrance service, with the names of those who never returned to Bangor projected onto the walls of Pontio. Representatives from the university also attended the Bangor military parade on 29th May. Preparations are also underway for the Bangor History Festival, taking place on 17-18 October.
The university has been awarded the Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze Award in recognition of its progress to understand and tackle the issues faced by its black, Asian and minoritised ethnic staff and students in higher education. The REC’s mission is to improve the representation, experience, progression and success of minoritised ethnic staff and students within higher education. It provides a rigorous framework through which institutions work to identify, critically reflect and act on barriers to equality. Awarded by Advance HE, the Bronze Award marks the university’s commitment to working to achieve race equality across the institution and is accompanied by a 5-year Race Action Plan.
Pontio continues to offer a varied programme of events for the community, and welcomed the Regional Urdd Eisteddfod for Eryri in April as well as the first ever Wales Dance Awards Competition organised by Byd Bach Events, and supported by Bangor City Council as part of the 1500 anniversary celebrations – bringing in hundreds of children from the local area to Pontio to compete. Sell out events over the past months have included Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn’s ‘5 Diwrnod o Ryddid’, Theatr Cymru’s ‘Huw Fyw’ and a Slow Fashion Day with Menter Môn and Cylchol.
Pontio also welcomed a group of young people from Maesgeirchen in April. The visit was supported by Gwynedd Council’s youth engagement team and the local Police Community Support Officer, and provided the group with a taste of what the university offers. Demonstrations and activities were provided by colleagues from the School of Education, School of Ocean Sciences and the Reaching Wider programme, and the group were also given a tour of the Main Arts building.
The popular S4C entertainment programme ‘Noson Lawen’ filmed six special programmes in Pontio on 18-22 June. Pontio’s engagement with local schools and groups continues: Ysgol David Hughes’ production of ‘Grîs’ takes place on 2-3 July, whilst the MaesG Showzone production of ‘Calling all the monsters’ will take place on 26-27 July. BLAS, Pontio’s youth engagement programme, will host their show, ‘Y RALI’, on 12th July, whilst the Canadian circus company FLIP Fabrique will have family friendly performances on 19-20 July.
On 4th June, the Royal Welsh Show 2025 was officially launched at the university. With Caernarfonshire this year’s sponsor county, it was a privilege for the university to host the launch event. The show will take place in Llanelwedd on 21-24 July.
On 6th June, Parc y Coleg (College Park) was fully re-opened to the public. Transformed into a peaceful and accessible area, Parc y Coleg now serves as a more welcoming shared place for the entire community. The main entrance to the Parc has opened up creating a clear connection and welcoming green space joining the lower part of the City of Bangor with Upper Bangor. Key improvements include a new accessible pathway linking with Pontio, a new safer entrance off Deiniol Road, and new lighting.
The university continues to support and participate in local events. On 10th May, colleagues from the School of Education supported the Educators Wales stand at the Caernarfon Food Festival. On 18th May, colleagues from the School of Ocean Sciences attended the Bangor Garth Pier festival, providing visitors with fun ‘Discover the Menai and beyond!’ activities.
On 7th June, the university attended Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Community Fun Day at their Parc Menai site. Colleagues from the School of History and Archives, School of Education and School of Environmental and Natural Sciences provided visitors with interactive and educational activities. Also on 6-7 June, colleagues from the School of History attended the Ecoamgueddfa archaeology festival in Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw (6th) and Felin Uchaf (7th). The festival provided visitors with an opportunity to learn more about life on Pen Llŷn in the Iron Age.
On 9th May, RHS fellows visited Treborth Botanic Garden as part of their UK tour. The group took the opportunity to learn more about Treborth’s features and projects, including the Size of Wales Garden, the new Welsh Herbal Garden, and the National Lottery funded woodland restoration.
This April and May, Treborth Botanic Garden hosted its annual Spring Plant Sales, drawing over 700 visitors to enjoy a vibrant selection of plants and homemade refreshments, all cultivated and prepared by dedicated Garden staff and volunteers. The event also featured a variety of handcrafted goods from local businesses, who contributed donations in support of the Garden as part of their participation.
Attendees included members of the local community, university staff, and students, some of whom joined the volunteer team to assist with parking and stewarding duties. As a much-anticipated highlight of the local calendar, the Spring Plant Sales play a vital role in raising funds to support the Garden’s ongoing work and community engagement.
On 7th June, Treborth Botanic Garden welcomed over 750 attendees to the annual Draig Beats festival, a family-friendly fundraising event that continues to strengthen the connection between Bangor University and the local community.
The festival featured a vibrant mix of live music, engaging talks, hands-on workshops, and a variety of food and drink stalls. All proceeds from the day, totalling over £4,000, will go toward supporting Dr Sophie Williams, a former university lecturer in plant conservation. Dr Williams continues to receive intensive care following her diagnosis with Japanese Encephalitis, and the funds raised will help provide ongoing support so she can live among friends and family. With strong community spirit and a meaningful cause, Draig Beats once again proved to be a standout occasion in the Treborth calendar.
The M-SParc ‘On Tour’ locations in Bangor and Pwllheli continue to thrive, with the sites a popular place for students, locals and young people to call by and take advantage of the working spaces, use the Ffiws Maker Space and attend workshops e.g. upcycling hoodies, Clwb Sparci’s ‘football on the green screen’, and animation. A recent student workshop in M-SParc’s site on Bangor High Street focused on the circular economy and M-SParc’s work with Repair Cafes and the Library of Things. M-SParc will also host ‘Egni Conversations’ events over the summer. On 16th May, M-SParc hosted ‘An Evening with Malcolm Allen’, the former Cymru football player. The event helped raise money for the 2026 Urdd Eisteddfod on Ynys Môn. On 24th June, members of the public and local communities had the opportunity to discuss clean energy with experts, whilst the conversation will turn to green transport on 15th July.
Bangor University’s Student Volunteering Bangor (SVB) continues to work on volunteering projects that make a real difference in the community, including the Hot Meals Project, taking place in Penrhyn Hall every Saturday. On 7th May, the SVB High Sheriff Awards took place. Student volunteers were recognised for their excellent work in the community, including the Greener Gwynedd, Healing Gardens and Hot Meals projects.
The university’s programme of public lectures and events continues. On 31st May, the university welcomed the adventurer and runner Rob Pope for his ‘Becoming Forrest: One man’s epic run across America’ talk. On 8th June, Elgar’s ‘The Dream of Gerontius’ was performed in Prichard-Jones Hall. The performance included Cantorion Menai, the Bangor Saint Deiniol Cathedral Choir and the Bangor University Symphony Orchestra.
On 10th June, the Main Arts building hosted the ‘Biblical Landscapes of Gwynedd’ event. The event was co-organised by the National Centre of Religious Education for Wales and the Institute for the Study of Welsh Events, bringing together scholars, artists, musicians and the public to explore the deep connections between the Bible, landscape, identity and Welsh culture. Also on 10th June, the online ‘Empowering women and girls through sport and exercise science’ webinar took place. The webinar focused on how to support and empower women and girls through physiology, psychology, health and performance.
Looking ahead, the university will be attending the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham on 2-9 August. The university stand will have activities, talks, presentations and more: a warm welcome to all if you’re visiting! The university’s Dean Street car park will also be part of the Bangor Summer Festival on 16th August.
Ahead of the summer break, the university would like to wish everyone well for the summer holidays, and we look forward to updating you on the university’s work and relevant developments in the autumn.
#YourUniversityYourCommunity
