During my final year, I was faced with the prospect of becoming homeless once my studies were completed. The stress and worry was starting to have a negative impact on my exam preparation. The bursaries and additional funds allowed me to solve my housing situation and redouble my efforts for my exams.
STUDENT HARDSHIP DURING THE PANDEMIC As each year passes, we are presented with new and evolving challenges that we must overcome, together. 2020 has been a particularly challenging year, with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic being felt in everything we do, and every aspect of life. The Student Hardship Fund is vital, now more than ever, to ensure the safety and welfare of our most vulnerable students. It provides essential and emergency financial support to full and part time Undergraduate and Postgraduate students who have nowhere else to turn. This includes care leavers, estranged students, carers, and students with no living parent. This year the demand for our services has increased far beyond all possible predictions. The kindness and compassion that we value so much in our Swansea University community has been so important in recent months. The money donated by alumni and friends has enabled us to provide immediate support to many students experiencing financial hardship at this time - many of whom are feeling the negative impact of Covid-19.
Final year estranged student
The Hardship Fund has also supplied Welcome Packs filled with a range of handy homely items, such as bedding, kitchenware and cleaning products, for those students unable to call on family support. The bursary provision for care leavers, and carers, has been increased for 2020/21, and our newly introduced Estranged Student Bursary is providing much needed financial support to students without any family to fall back on. With your support, and despite having to move our services online, we continue to offer a helping hand to a vast range of students, from those leaving home for the first time, or those having to remain at home, to those living locally who have young families of their own. “Your donations support our continued commitment to disadvantaged students at Swansea University. Thank you again for your generosity and thoughtfulness.” Alison Maguire, Manager Money@CampusLife.
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