Butler Engage

Butler Engage is the name given to Josephine Butler College’s enrichment offer.  

Personal development sits at the heart of the enrichment offer. Students have access to a huge range of opportunities that help build confidence and discover new interests. These activities support the wider development of skills that complement academic study and are part of university initiatives to establish Durham Graduate Attributes and a skills framework that help students articulate what they have learned beyond their degree. 

At Josephine Butler College, the JCR (for undergraduates) and MCR (for postgraduates) are at the heart of this experience. They are student-led communities that organise sport, music, theatre, volunteering, campaigns, socials, and formals, and they provide countless ways to get involved, whether you want to join in, perform, compete, or lead. Through committees and elected roles, students shape the life of the College, develop confidence, and build the teamwork and leadership skills that last well beyond graduation. 

Colleges also provide everyday moments of enrichment. Conversations with peers in common rooms, cross-disciplinary discussions, student-led events, and creative projects all contribute to an environment where ideas can flow freely across disciplinary boundaries.  

A core part of our Butler Engage offer is ensuring every student can participate fully in College and University life. Initiatives focus on identifying and reducing barriers to inclusion, broadening access to enrichment opportunities, and strengthening the sense of belonging that defines the Durham experience. The Butler Engage funding programme provides students with opportunities to develop and excel, and helps remove financial barriers to participation. The funding programme helps to fund practical experiences that enhance students' professional skills and networks, as well as enabling participation in experiences such as cultural exchanges, College activities, and other wider student experience activities, and specialised training programs that students might not otherwise be able to afford.