UWE's Better Together Fund transforms lives
Donations from staff, friends and alumni go towards our Better Together Fund. The fund supports projects around the University in three different categories: student hardship bursaries, student experience and community projects. Each year, UWE welcomes applications for funding from staff, students and alumni to support projects they are passionate about, deadlines for which will be published later in the year.
Listed below are just a few examples of what UWE are funding in each category this year.
Community Grants
Community grants are awarded to projects which connect staff, students and alumni to the local community, make a global impact, support a sustainable future and broaden educational horizons.
Mangotsfield United girls under 14’s Coach and Catering staff member Conrad Fullbrook, applied for a Better Together Fund grant to provide support for football kits for 16-20 girls aged 6-14 and 17 girls aged under 15 from local schools, to enable them to develop their skills in the sport and have a sense of pride on match days. This will attract new players and, without the grant, the team would be playing in their old kit, which is three years old.
The People’s Supermarket in Stokes Croft is a grass-roots project seeking to transform the local community through a sustainable food initiative. They want to increase healthy food choices and strengthen community engagement involving agricultural models that can contribute to creating sustainable food systems. Their Better Together Fund grant will provide funds for UWE student volunteers to run a public campaign in St Pauls to promote healthy eating and direct engagement in local agriculture. The students will learn how to run workshops and gain experience engaging with the community.
The South West Scorpions Wheelchair Basketball Club (SWSWBC) was set up at the request of disabled children and their families and has since then changed the lives of young athletes. The SWSWBC was awarded funds to develop the club and conduct strategic outreach so that other disabled children can access this opportunity, play, meet others in similar situation and develop their confidence and skills.
Vashti Seth, UWE alumna and Founder of Deki, applied for grant to embark on a partnership with UWE and launch a programme of student volunteering. To launch the partnership they are planning an event to take place in October 2012, which will be funded by the Better Together Fund. Deki works to empower people in developing countries to create sustainable livelihoods by providing access to microloans, training and support.
Student Hardship Bursaries
Hardship bursaries are awarded to students who are facing severe financial hardship.
Carl Morgan, studying an MA in Music Therapy, was awarded a fund to help to pay for his degree fees and with course expenses such as travel and translating material into Braille. “ As a blind person the qualification will help me to gain better employment in the future and I am very grateful for the funding".
Pablo Pasolini (Filmmaking and Creative Media), Jack Gibson BSc(Hons) Information Technology Management for Business and Elina Fatemeh Inanloo BSc (Hons) Psychology, will be awarded grants to help them cover the costs of travelling to meet with their mentors, as part of the UWE Careers Disability Mentoring Scheme. UWE’s mentoring schemes enables students to learn from experienced professionals in their field, interact with others in the workplace and build confidence and skills. Elina said of the grant: “The fund can help by paying for transport to and from my mentor’s place of work. This would be really beneficial for me, as I am completely blind, and have a musculo skeletal back disorder, which means that I often find it hard to travel to and take part in activities due to travel and other problems. The disability mentoring scheme would encourage me to become more confident about my career and my future plans, and would give me relevant advice and information to enable me to progress to my area of interest, counselling”.
Faye Rogers, on the BSc Animal Welfare and Behaviour course, had to put her studying on hold due to illness. Her grant has given her a second chance to study again and also to go on a field trip to Africa, one of her degree modules.
Student Experience
Student experience grants are awarded to staff and/or students to support extra-curricular or academic activities that enhance the student experience.
A Midwifery Society is being set up at UWE in order to widen and enrich the learning experience for midwifery students during the three years’ programme. The society will enable the students to invite external speakers, help students attend study days and establish contact with other midwifery societies.
UWE Dance Society applied for a grant to help bring all dancers (regardless of year or gender) together with social events and trips. The Dance Society will represent the University at competitions and will also organise an end of year show.
One World Fiesta Week activities take place across campus to showcase and celebrate the diversity of culture at UWE. A Better Together Fund grant will help the UWE Hindu Network raise awareness and share Hindu culture with the rest of the University, with projects such as a Mehndi stall, running an event coinciding with the Indian Festival of Holi and creating an arts based centre for the Living Centre.
Page last updated 12 April 2012