Cambridge students driving social change

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Posted:

10 Jun 2025

Students from across the Univerity of Cambridge came together at the Trinity Hall Catalysts Showcase to present their social ventures, ideas and projects that tackle pressing social and environmental challenges.

From real-world maritime engineering challenges, celebrating and preserving culture and identity through stories, and promoting food security, students from across the University pitched their ideas to a panel of experienced social innovators who provided thoughtful and practical feedback to the students to help develop their ideas further.

Beez Fedia sitting at the Catalysts Showcase, waiting to present.

Catalysts participant Beez Fedia (pictured), who is studying the MSt Social Innovation at Trinity Hall, unites social intrapreneurs to supercharge change from within successful organisations. Beez and his team offer a 6-month programme that gathers 20 peers from across organisations to beat burnout, foster networks, exchange skills, and nurture colleague relationships. Beez has supported almost 1,000 social innovators through his workshops and coaching on design thinking, user research and community-led design.

The Showcase was the culmination of the inaugural year of the Trinity Hall Catalysts programme, designed to support innovators to turn their ideas for social impact into action.

Dr Nicole Helwig, Trinity Hall Postdoctoral Research Associate and Executive Director of the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, said “Catalysts equips students with the mindset, skills, and practical tools needed to address global challenges while championing ecological and social well-being over financial profit.”

About Trinity Hall Catalysts

Trinity Hall Catalysts is a pioneering social impact programme, anchored at Trinity Hall and delivered in partnership with Cambridge Social Ventures. This initiative aims to equip University of Cambridge students with the skills and mindset needed to drive meaningful social change through entrepreneurship. By blending practical, experiential learning with innovative approaches to social enterprise, students will develop a repertoire of skills that social innovators require to address complex societal challenges. The programme is open to students from across the University and provides a flexible learning experience through live sessions complemented by an online platform.

The Trinity Hall Catalysts programme is designed with several key characteristics that make it both dynamic and impactful. It emphasizes experiential learning through hands-on, interactive activities that encourage students to think critically, discuss, investigate, and create. The programme fosters active learning, providing a space for students to explore new ideas and develop a deeper understanding of social issues.

The programme has been made possible by generous support from Trinity Hall alumnus and Honorary Fellow, Graham Ross Russell.

Find out more about Trinity Hall Catalysts Discover more student opportunities at Trinity Hall