Impact Report 2018/19 by Bath Spa University

IMPACT REPORT

2018 2019

Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we’ve been able to help Bath Spa University students live out their dreams and achieve their greatest ambitions. From travelling overseas to study, to purchasing essential equipment, or kick-starting their entrepreneurial careers, you – our donors – have had a direct impact on providing life changing opportunities for so many of Bath Spa’s talented individuals. Read on to find an inspiring selection of some of our latest student success stories.

This year... 322 students supported £103,000 given in scholarships and prizes 19 student projects crowdfunded, raising £18,269 from 457 individual donors 12 students funded to travel abroad £4,970 match-funded by Enterprise Showcase, funding nine end-of-year group projects 82 travel passes were provided by First Group Santander Universities... supported over 21 work placements 34 travel bursaries 63 opportunities for enterprise education

Work Life Balance Mature student Caroline Barnett was finding it difficult to balance life as a working parent and studying full-time, but she says the opportunities provided by her BA (Hons) Business and Management (Entrepreneurship) degree and scholarship made her university experience thoroughly enjoyable and improved her outlook for the future. Caroline said: “After being a freelance accountant for many years I realised I enjoyed advising businesses in a number of areas, not just finance. I wanted a challenge and to gain more skills, so was inspired to start my degree at Bath Spa University, but this meant I had to reduce my freelance working hours. “As the study deadlines rolled by, my confidence in my ability to meet them, finish the course, and support my family financially after university started to wane. So finding out I had been nominated and awarded funding came

as a fantastic surprise. I felt so proud that other people believed in my abilities and this gave me a much needed morale boost. “The award allowed me to take more time to focus on my studies in my final year. It helped me avoid a huge amount of stress, and the time I saved by freelancing less enabled me to focus on achieving the best possible results for my dissertation. My confidence and outlook for the future has grown hugely and I am now putting my efforts into coming up with a business idea which I hope will also benefit many others. Thank you so much to all those who have helped me on this journey.”

Caroline was supported by the Alumni Funded Scholarship.

New Designers is a major exhibition held in London. The annual event showcases the work of more than 3,000 hand-picked graduating designers from universities across the UK and beyond, connecting them with design educators, professionals, industry and consumers.

Talent spotted

Designers ‘One Year On’ exhibition which showcases the very best talent. Continuing the success, Katie was selected by a prolific designer to work in collaboration on collections, and Emma F was approached by a company wanting to buy her designs. Emma F was also selected for a prestigious textiles scholarship as a result of her work being seen at New Designers, which led to an exhibit of her handiwork in London and Paris as part of a business mentorship programme. Emma F said: “We have all gained so much from the experience of showing our work in a professional context and made key industry contacts. Overall, being at the exhibition proved a great success and we would not have been able to fund it financially without the support we received. It has allowed us to flourish creatively and celebrate our achievements as a team. We are eternally grateful for being awarded the funding, thank you.”

at new designers

Emma F, Katie, Jamilla, Emma T and Zena were all supported by the Enterprise Showcase Fund and The University Crowdfunding platform ‘Launchpad’.

Thanks to the generous support through the University crowdfunding platform and alumni donors, Bath School of Design students Emma Fallon,Katie Barras, Jamilla Ives, Emma Trussler and Zena Martin were all able to take part in the exhibition as a group, leading to their work gaining significant exposure. Zena’s work was used for the New

Breaking down barriers As a result of receiving funding, BA (Hons) Theatre Production student Elishia Lemke was able to undertake a work placement with Taking Flight Theatre, a company committed to breaking down barriers for deaf disabled and non-disabled performers in the theatre industry. Elishia said: “My placement with Taking Flight Theatre would not have been possible had I not been a recipient of the Harbutt Fund which I am very grateful for. Being able to take part in such a pivotal, key project that has gained a lot of hype and recognition within the industry, especially within the disabled arts community has been incredible.

“Being part of this exciting placement has subsequently created many employment and networking opportunities for me. Since finishing the placement, I have already met up with two industry professionals to discuss future project opportunities and none of this would have been possible without the funding. “The placement experience has boosted my confidence immensely and helped me find my feet within the theatre community. I can now see how and where I can not only gain employment, but benefit the theatre community as well. Thank you.” Elishia was supported by the Harbutt Fund.

Fashion fORWARD

BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate Louise Desoeuvre was delighted to have secured funding to purchase the materials she needed to make her graduate clothing collection. What’s more, the generous donation also enabled her work to be photographed by industry photographer Wanda Martin whose work has appeared in VOGUE, British GQ and InStyle magazine. Louise said: “Despite working weekends and holidays I was still struggling to buy the essential items I needed to produce my graduate collection. After speaking to a student support staff member I applied for funding and the money I received has played a key role in my achieving my degree with the best results. “I am happy to say that I have graduated with a first class honours degree in Fashion Design, and I could not have done it without all the help and support I received from the University. It is important for me to say a huge thank you to all those who helped me and who believed in me. There is no doubt in my mind that the funds I received helped me considerably to gain peace of mind, to work in better conditions and to achieve my best. “Money should not be a barrier to higher education and should not be a barrier to a dream. Facing financial difficulties pushed me even more and I can say that I completely understand the value of hard work. I am so pleased that Bath Spa University and its donors believed in me.” Louise was supported by the Harbutt Fund.

Harry Mungala and Jasiel Soko are two Bath Spa University MA students from the Mufulira College of Education, Zambia who have been able to study in Bath through the Hall-Mufulira Scholarship. Harry said: “Coming to study at Bath Spa University has been more than a dream come true for me personally. It would have been nearly impossible for me to study at the University had it not been for concerted efforts of a number of individuals. One of the many benefits from this program will be the experience gained from studying and interacting with people from a whole different background. “Academically, it was challenging and exciting to be taught by experienced and competent tutors who have really contributed to my knowledge base. As a result of my experience, the students I teach will be prepared to face

challenges beyond their borders. It is my hope that this partnership with Bath Spa University will stand the test of time as it has already equipped me with new skills to try and come up with solutions that will be beneficial not only locally but internationally as well. Thank you.” Jasiel said: “My interaction with the lecturers really changed my mindset towards the world around me and the world view in general. The most interesting part during my study was mentoring and coaching. This knowledge will greatly benefit the college as I intend to educate the college on the role of mentoring in teacher training. My family has equally benefited from my training in the sense that they are also the direct beneficiaries of my academic achievement. I greatly appreciate this life-changing opportunity.”

Going Global Harry and Jasiel were supported by the Hall-Mufulira Scholarship.

Lily was supported by the International Travel Fund. BA (Hons) Business and Management (Festivals and Events) student Lily Smith was able to live out a lifelong dream of embarking on a work placement in Italy as a result of funding she received. Lily said: “It makes me so proud to say I was able to embark upon a two and a half week work placement in Vecenzia in northeast Italy at family-run bakery, Loison. The business has expanded over eighty years to become a multi-million pound enterprise, selling in over 55 countries and specialising in panettone, pandori, veneziana and butter cookies. “My role at Loison involved me working in the commercial office as the company’s UK brand ambassador. I was tasked with supporting the organisation to increase their sales in the UK; especially within Bath.

As a result, I have been able to vastly expand my experience working within international business. I have been able to learn how companies do business on a global scale and the differences in management style and negotiation tactics in other countries. This has had a hugely positive impact upon not only my studies, but my career going forward. I have gained in confidence, having worked and lived abroad for a number of weeks. “I cannot thank Bath Spa University and its generous donors enough for all of their support, and for allowing me to undertake this brilliant experience, which I would otherwise not have been able to do.”

tHAT’S AMORE 8

student of the year award

The Patrick Walsh School of Education Student of the Year Award was set up by John and Elaine Walsh in memory of their son Patrick.

If you are interested in setting up your own award, please contact daro@bathspa.ac.uk.

Patrick was a very special, kind and caring young man who graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA Business Studies degree. He was a much-loved student who made many friends and he enjoyed playing for the Students’ Union American Football team, the Bulldogs. Soon after graduating, his career took him across the pond to Palo Alto, California. Patrick looked a picture of health, however, unbeknown to him, he was suffering from heart problems. Patrick sadly died at the age of 23. The Patrick Walsh Student of the Year Award is important to Patrick’s parents as it’s given in recognition of hard work and achievement, and they know he would be so proud to have this award in his name. All they ask of the winning School of Education students is that they hold their head up high, be kind to others and be a good teacher not only in the subjects they teach, but in life in general.

This Impact Report was designed and illustrated by the talented Laura Medlicott. Laura graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA Graphic Communications degree in 2019.

led to her work being displayed inside in the place of worship. She is passionate about the natural world and is currently working on a project involving bird conservation in her home country of Honduras.

Laura says her inspiration for this publication came from the contrast of the historical and contemporary elements of the city of Bath. She said: “I chose to focus on Roman mosaics and tiles, and their contemporary counterparts, to inspire the visual language of the grid and the way I composed the illustrations.”

Laura says the course at Bath Spa helped her to “develop her design thinking and voice as a creative, while making great memories and meeting a community of peers in the process.” Laura also says the city is a great hub for students and was a rich source of inspiration for her throughout her degree.

Since graduating Laura has gone on to be a freelance designer and illustrator. She is proud to have been part of the Bath Abbey Footprint project which

If you’d like to reach Laura, please contact medlicott.laura@gmail.com

A full list of donors can be found at: www.bathspa.ac.uk/ thankyou

We would like to thank the following organisations for their support: Arts Council England The Doris Southcott Bursary Ede & Ravenscroft First Group The Furniture Makers’ Company The Gane Trust Herman Miller The Pilgrim Trust Pinewood Studios The Ray Harris Charitable Trust Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Santander Universities The Talbot House Trust The Taunton Maids Bursary

To find out how you can transform the lives of Bath Spa students, please visit: https://www. bathspa.ac.uk/ support

And finally, a big thank you to all of our other individual donors. Your contributions make a huge difference to the University and our students.

thank you

Email: daro@ bathspa.ac.uk Phone: 01225 876300

With special thanks to members of our Ambassadors’ Circle: Julian and Victoria Amey Christopher Clarke John G Cox* Teresa Fisk Godfrey and Sue Hall Jack and Audrey Ladevèze Sandra Le Marchant Theresa Lloyd Simon Lockren Ald Dr W L (Bill) Martin FRSA Marnie Middlemiss* Trevor Osborne Michael and Marlene Pennie* Stella Pirie Mike and Olive Roy Jennifer Skellett Councillor Shaun and Sean Stephenson-McGall Jo Tinworth 2 anonymous donors *Denotes legator