The Sheffield City Polytechnic ULE Class of 1979 is coming together to collectively do something transformational for current students at Sheffield Hallam University. We are raising money to fund a student scholarship in the Department of the Natural and Built Environment.

Sheffield Hallam is the most prominent university in the UK for championing education for all. 41% of our students come from low income households, 96% come from state schools against a national average of 90%, and last year we gave more students from disadvantaged neighbourhoods with low participation in higher education the chance to study than any other university in the UK.

With one of the largest intakes of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, we understand the individual barriers that each student has already overcome to secure a place at Sheffield Hallam. Our student support and wellbeing team are there to guide all of our students throughout their studies whatever challenges they may face, and while financial challenges are not the only barrier to succeeding at university, money worries are one of the biggest concerns that nearly all students share.

Scholarships Fund

For the first time at Sheffield Hallam an alumni class is coming together to fund a scholarship to help students overcome any financial barriers they may face so they can achieve their full potential. Set at £9,000, the student receives £3,000 per year for the duration of their studies. The award will fill the gap left by student finance for students who may have little to no access to financial support from home, or who are from an under-represented background in higher education. The ULE Class of '79 can leave a legacy at the old Poly and pave the way for future classes.

This scholarship will help more students like Ben, who received one of the first NBE Scholarships. After leaving school aged 16 due to his disability, Ben Skinner-Watts, now 34, didn't expect to become the first in his family to go to university. Now he studies Architecture at Sheffield Hallam. Ben said:

If the £9,000 is raised by 31 August, 2020 we can ensure that it will support a student starting their journey at Hallam this coming September!

Sheffield Hallam University is an exempt charity regulated by the Office for Students and registered with the Fundraising Regulator, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring all fundraising practices are legal, open, honest and respectful. Our charitable purpose as a University is the advancement of education, which involves sustaining and promoting teaching, learning and original research; and the support of our individual, corporate and community partners is invaluable to helping us achieve our aims.