Audio visual experts Universal AV have provided a donation of AV equipment to Rekindle School in Manchester to help bring its teaching environment to life.

Rekindle, an education charity, takes a different approach to schooling. They offer a rich cultural curriculum, targeted homework support, mentoring, masterclasses, and visits to inspirational spaces, to help young people fall back in love with learning.

Originally connecting with the organisation at The Business of Yorkshire event in November 2024, Universal AV were inspired by the work of the charity and its founder, Ruth Ibegbuna, and were keen to explore how they could work together.

Whilst the Rekindle School already had an amazing space and team, they didn’t have access to the technology which is key in modern education environments – which is where Universal AV’s expertise was utilised.

Universal AV regularly work with universities and colleges as part of their technology upgrade cycles, keeping stock that is no longer needed for its original project, but still has plenty of life left. The audio visual integrators offered to donate some of this AV equipment and provide free installation at Rekindle’s site in Moss Side, with the first installation of AV tech taking place in March 2025. Further installations are already on the horizon, to be completed as additional equipment becomes available.

The project was seen as a win-win for all involved: Rekindle gained the tools needed to enrich the learning environment, whilst Universal AV gave a second life to equipment that might otherwise go unused, supporting its commitment to sustainability and responsible product lifecycle management. Most importantly, it gave Universal AV the opportunity to give back to a very deserving community.

Ruth Ibegbuna, founder of Rekindle, comments, “At Rekindle, we believe young people deserve learning spaces where their creativity can thrive. This partnership with Universal AV couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s not just about the kit – it’s about showing young people they’re worth investing in. Nick, Shelley and the team at Universal AV just got it – they listened, they cared, and they took action. This kind of support helps us bring a radical vision for learning to life, every single day.”

Nick Fitzpatrick, Managing Director at Universal AV says, “There’s that old John Wesley quote: ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can for as long as you can..’, we saw a chance to do some good with Rekindle and we were more than happy to get stuck in.”