UniHomes steps in to save historic University of Birmingham student newspaper
Student accommodation and utilities platform UniHomes has intervened to save one of the UK’s oldest student newspapers from closure with a £1,000 donation.
Run entirely by volunteer students, Redbrick has served the University of Birmingham’s student community since 1936 but has been forced to turn to fundraising this year to survive amid rising costs and limited funding.
UniHomes’ donation will help it keep printing newspapers and fund reporting for another year.
UniHomes began investing in UK student journalism in February 2025 through their Content Ambassador programme, which offers paid writing opportunities to current students to produce guides which will help future freshers make the most of their time at uni.
Their Birmingham correspondent, Ash Sutton, a UniHomes Content Ambassador and Redbrick contributor and former editor, alerted the programme organisers to the newspaper’s desperate plight.
“UniHomes’ generous donation and sponsorship means that Redbrick’s almost-century-long legacy can carry on strong for another year, and continue providing a space for students to get to grips with journalism and see their work in a newspaper,” Ash says. “On behalf of Redbrick, we’re so grateful to UniHomes.”
Now active in 60+ university towns and cities across the UK, UniHomes launched in Birmingham in 2021, and offers a streamlined solution for students to find university housing, working with a range of Birmingham letting agents and landlords to showcase the city’s best student accommodation from across the market in one place, with bills included.
“Birmingham is one of our biggest student communities - Birmingham students make over 300,000 accommodation searches on our platform each year - so when we heard about Redbrick’s struggles we immediately wanted to help,” Lian Chambers, UniHomes Head of Marketing, said.
“UniHomes exists to help take the stress out of the uni experience by making it easier to find student accommodation and sorting students’ utility bills for them. Ensuring Redbrick’s future and allowing UoB students to continue enjoying one of its biggest and best societies is a natural extension of that ethos,” Lian added.
“We know from our work with Ash how passionate and talented Redbrick writers are, and how important the paper is to the wider University of Birmingham community - so we’re delighted to be able to help secure its future.”
Redbrick has launched the careers of a huge number of journalists, including former Newsround presenter and current BBC News correspondent Lizo Mzimba, Nottingham Post editor Natalie Fahy, BBC Entertainment Head of Studio Central Mel Bezalel and the ITN and Channel 4 producer Sophie Braybrook.
“Redbrick is more than just a university society, it’s the first stepping stone into a career,” Ash adds. “I’ve fallen in love with writing and with the Redbrick community and it’s led to external paid opportunities with the likes of UniHomes themselves.”
A number of UK student newspapers have had to close in recent years, with many others only narrowly surviving. A 2020 Student Publication Association survey found that more than half feared they wouldn’t survive the next 12 months.
“UniHomes’ support will not only help us print more physical papers, but will also smooth our transition into a more sustainable business model,” says Redbrick editor-in-chief Vidhi Bhanushali.
“Their contribution will be invaluable in helping maintain and continue Redbrick’s legacy and the amazing talent that it produces every year.”
For more info, see https://www.redbrick.me/ and https://www.unihomes.co.uk/student-accommodation/birmingham
