Talented students overcome hurdles with the help of sport scholarships
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Following its success as University of the Year, Northumbria University celebrates yet another win.
In its first year of fundraising, the university has secured £2million for its Higher Education Without Barriers Fund, set up to help students from all backgrounds succeed. The university is now expanding its fundraising efforts to create special athletic scholarships for students with outstanding athletic ability.
Made possible through the generosity of corporations and individual donors, the fund offers a range of support measures, including scholarships and hardship grants. Last year, alumni and companies created 87 new scholarships. These are a lifeline for gifted scientists who would otherwise encounter obstacles to university study.
Now the university is trying to create specific scholarships for students who have the potential to excel in both the university and the sports field. The scholarships will support students from backgrounds typically underrepresented in higher education to study any subject while benefiting from the university’s world-class sports facilities, coaching and reputation. The purpose of the scholarships is to expand participation and diversity in both higher education and sports. In the first year, the scholarships support prospective trainers and officials (only 18% of qualified trainers are women).
In addition, the fund will also provide doctoral scholarships to candidates from low-involvement backgrounds wishing to contribute to sports research in Northumbria. This is an unrivaled opportunity to join one of the UK’s most senior departments. Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria University is ranked 5th in the UK for research performance and 92% of their research is independently rated as world leading or internationally excellent.
Combining elite sport, research excellence and social justice, these scholarships are an ideal match for Northumbria University. The institution has a strong commitment to expanding participation in higher education and has an enviable athletic pedigree. Notable sports alumni include Olympic competitors and Queen’s Honors recipients such as Pete Bakare, Paul Blake, Martin Corry, Steve Cram, Jon Dutton, Ellen Falkner, Stephen Miller and Victoria Pendleton.
In October (20th) companies and individuals will have the opportunity to celebrate these sporting achievements at Northumbria’s Sport Fundraising Dinner, to be held at St James’ Park. The dinner will raise funds for:
- Provide scholarships for underrepresented students to continue their academic studies and to develop their sporting talents as athletes, coaches or officials.
- support them Development of volunteer and internship programs in sports that enhance students’ leadership and employability skills.
- fund research grants for gifted scholars to undertake a PhD in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation (ranking 5th in the UK for research achievement).
- Provide learning resources, gear and equipment for students to reach their potential in sport and to increase diversity in the sports arena.
- increase sports participation and physical activity programs, including the NUTHINKING mental health and wellness program.
Companies interested in supporting the Sports Dinner (by purchasing a table) or providing an athletic bursary can contact James Wilkinson to discuss their options. Backers will join frontrunners Enterprise, Sodexo, Santander Universities UK and Qolcom to support this exciting initiative.
Please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/sportsdinner or email [email protected]
This was posted by Northumbria University in Bdaily’s Members’ News section.