The Centenary Project Grant Scheme is now open for applications to celebrate the University of Reading’s upcoming 100th anniversary.
Do you have an idea to commemorate our centenary and develop our legacy for the next century? If so, this could become a reality. A £250,000 fund to support centenary projects is now open for applications. The application window will be open for a period of five weeks, closing at 23:59 on Friday 8 November 2024.
The Centenary Project Grant Scheme will give members of our University community the opportunity to put forward their ideas for projects and activities that will both mark our centenary year, and forge a lasting legacy for the University.
Alumni, as well as staff and students, will be able to bid for a share of the £250,000 dedicated centenary fund. This Scheme is designed to encourage collaboration between staff, students and alumni, and therefore graduates wishing to apply need to be planning to work with an individual currently employed by, or studying at the University, on their project.
The Scheme will fund grassroots projects whose outcomes will showcase our past, current or future impact and thereby increase the profile of our research, education or reputation locally, nationally or internationally. Ideally, each project or activity will create a lasting legacy, which will benefit our community.
Read the full guidance notes and when you are ready, apply here before 23:59 on Friday 8 November 2024.
Centenary Celebrations
On 17 March 2026 it will be 100 years since the University of Reading was granted a royal charter and became a university. We’ll be celebrating the occasion throughout 2026 and the planning is underway.
Our centenary year gives us the opportunity to showcase the past, present and future impact of the University and its people and we can’t wait to share more details with you of events and activities closer to the time.
We would love for you to get involved in our centenary planning. Our alumni are a crucial cog in our community – after all, a university is nothing without its people.
Thank you to everyone who already helped us by voting for the symbol of our centenary celebrations. Here is the winning logo:
This was designed by Hannah Milway, Head of Creative and Print Services at the University of Reading, and a University of Reading typography alumna. It features the University’s heraldic crest and the year of our Royal Charter, with the typeface giving the logo a modern twist.
Read more about Hannah’s experience of designing the centenary logo.
Share your stories
The Centenary 2026 project is about creating a lasting legacy for the next century, building on the foundation created by the staff, students, alumni and wider University community.
We want to celebrate this rich history by telling the many stories of the diverse people that make up the University of Reading community, and the ways in which their lives have been changed by living, studying or working here.
We want serious stories, funny or poignant memories, personal perspectives, and everything in-between.
Your stories – or excerpts of them, and any images you may send us – may be shared in the online alumni magazine, CONNECTED, as well as on other Alumni and Supporter Engagement or wider University of Reading or Reading Students Union platforms and channels – including websites, emails, social media, or in other marketing materials and campaigns. As we are collecting material for our centenary in 2026 please note that your story may not be shared immediately.
If you would like to share your memories please email alumni@reading.ac.uk.
Find out more
As part of the centenary celebrations the University is also proud to be supporting the delivery of the National Education Nature Park initiative; and creating an enduring legacy for the next 100 years by fully cataloguing our University archive to make it more accessible.
