“We are keen to work with the University and provide students with performance and social space in the city centre, we would love to set up a mentoring and a paid internship scheme to enable students to become involved.”

Catherine Murray, MA Applied Social Research Methods (2004) and EdD Education Policy and Practice (2012)

Catherine Murray is proud of her long connection with the University of Hull where she studied for both her Masters and Doctorate, where she worked between 2000-2009 and where she is now a member of the Council. Originally coming from Hull, she is deeply committed to the city and is now involved in the campaign to save the New Clarence and make it the city’s first Community owned Pub.

“Last summer I was asked to help out with a project to save my local pub, which is near the Hull New Theatre,” says Catherine. “I joined the group of former regulars who formed the Save the New Clarence campaign. Over time others have joined the group and it has evolved into the Hull Community Pub Society. The goal of the Society is to make the New Clarence Hull’s first Community owned and run pub, offering social support and creative space in Hull for generations to come.”

Catherine and the Society’s aim isn’t for the New Clarence to be just another pub. This won’t be run at a profit, but instead will see all funds reinvested into the facilities and services and to developing initiatives with other organisations in the community. There are plans for there to be multipurpose spaces where local artists and musicians can promote their work, and to create a friendly environment, open to anyone.

And that includes members of the University of Hull community.

“We are keen to work with the University and provide students with performance and social space in the city centre,” Catherine continues. “We would love to set up a mentoring and a paid internship scheme to enable students to become involved. We are selling shares in the Society to raise money and recruit members to help us deliver the project.”

The aim is to provide a co-operative foundation to the Society and to enable everyone in the community to be part of the New Clarence either by donating, volunteering, investing in shares, or simply making use of the space.

“If any fellow alumni are interested in this project it is a unique and exciting opportunity to put something back into the city where you studied,” says Catherine.

More information about the project can be found at: www.hullcommunitypub.com