GIVING TRANSFORMING LIVES
YOUR GIFTS IN ACTION
DONOR DAY
How you have made a difference to the lives of those in need.
How our students and community are benefiting from your donations.
We celebrate projects and research that have been made possible because of you.
04 - 05
06 - 07
10 - 11
ISSUE 6  2015
MERL A new direction for a new generation
02 | Welcome | Giving Matters
Giving Matters | Education for all | 03
Contents Welcome
02
Education for all
03
Transforming lives
04
Your gifts in action
06
Giving to Reading telephone campaign
07
Exciting new direction for a new generation
08
Helping students succeed
09
Donor Day
10
Pathways to property
12
Bringing Roman Silchester to life
13
Reading internship
14
International alumni ambassadors
16
Career mentoring is thriving
16
Meteorology
17
Why do I want to volunteer
17
A gift that lives on
18
Launch of Developing Research
19
Charlie Waller Institute
19
Children using the PENpal
Welcome Welcome to the 2015 edition of Giving Matters, the magazine where we celebrate the generosity of our donors and volunteers who have helped to make this year a truly successful one for the University of Reading. We were delighted that the Research Excellence Framework (REF) at the end of 2014 confirmed our place as a world-leading research-intensive university. It showed that 98% of our research is internationally recognised, 78% is internationally excellent and 27% is world leading. These results reflect our commitment to producing high quality and world-changing research. Now, we are providing our donors the opportunity to contribute to this work by introducing a fourth strand of our Giving to Reading programme to support research initiatives. We are very excited about the opportunities this funding will make possible and look forward to sharing these with you in the future. Although these are turbulent times in higher education, we are working hard to prepare for the challenges ahead. It is important that we continue to attract bright, capable students, and we are. In a year when undergraduate applications only increased by 2% on average, we were thrilled that ours increased by 21%. I would like to thank all of you who have helped to enhance our reputation. From being an ambassador at Open Days, to acting as a mentor for current students – it all matters hugely as we communicate the message that the University of Reading is the place to be. Over the following pages, you will see some of the wonderful projects that your giving supports, from our International Masters Bursaries, to the outstanding work done by the Charlie Waller Institute. We share the story of how our donors supported one student who was left stranded and homeless due to the Ebola outbreak, introduce you to the successes of our internship and Pathways to Property schemes and update you on the progress of the refurbishment of the Museum of English Rural Life. All of these projects – and many more – have been supported by you, our donors and volunteers. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the University and all those who have benefited from your kindness and generosity. Thank you for your continuing commitment and practical support.
Sir David Bell KCB, Vice-Chancellor
Education for all The Learning Hub, part of the Institute of Education at the University (IoE), is committed to education, and inclusion is an essential part of this commitment. Thanks to our donors, the Hub has enhanced our IoE students’ understanding of inclusion and diversity by incorporating books and equipment designed for blind, partially sighted and dyslexic children. NEW PENpal TALKING BOOKS PENpal books bring sound to paper. They have ‘sound spots’ on each page which use ‘tactile talking technology’. When you touch the page with the pen you will hear the the contents read to you; the book effectively talks to the reader. PENpal texts are available in 55 different languages making them accessible to a diverse audience.
The Learning Hub is thrilled to have been funded by our alumni and donors. It has enabled us to purchase a range of resources to support trainee teachers’ understanding of inclusive practices. The Institute of Education is one of the leading teacher training institutions in the country. Donations from our alumni and donors have been integral to the development of our teaching and learning programme. More specifically the resources within the Hub have been instrumental in guiding and enthusing future practitioners, and we are proud to announce that the benefits have been extremely impressive! Thank you. Karen Goulding, Learning Hub Director
04 | Transforming lives | Giving Matters
Giving Matters | Transforming lives | 05
Transforming lives Your donations can make a world of difference to the lives of talented students who would otherwise be unable to fulfil their ambitions
Catherine worked as a Student Fundraiser while at Reading to say thank you for the support she received allowing her to complete her Master’s with us Catherine Makala
Each year, thanks to our donors, we are able to award six International Master’s Bursaries to help exceptional and deserving students in financial need achieve their goals and make a better future.
Last year’s recipients were: Mei Ting Sze
Hong Kong
Shrey Digambar Sukhee
India
Gloria Constance Chintsanya
Malawi
Suet Mun Lee
Malaysia
Jamelia Melissa Anderson
Trinidad & Tobago
Catherine Makala
Zambia
Tsz-Kin says:
TSZ-KIN LAI’S PROGRESS Tsz-Kin Lai is a former student who received an International Master’s Bursary.
Soon after graduating with an Msc in Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate, I joined Fugro GEOS Ltd doing applied meteorological researches such as African dust storms. It is a great opportunity for me to know more about meteorological enterprise and to gain invaluable experience on the cooperation between academic and industry sectors.
Tsz-Kin Lai
I am grateful to all donors for your kindness. Your donation was crucial to my Master’s study and subsequent academic and career development. Thank you!
Catherine says:
CATHERINE’S STORY Despite losing her parents in a tragic accident while she was studying at the University of Zambia, Catherine Makala was determined to further her education to Master’s level. She was accepted at the University of Reading, but being unable to afford the fees she searched for funding opportunities on our website, and applied for the International Master’s Bursary.
To my pleasant surprise I was awarded the bursary. Finally I am living my dream of pursuing an internationally recognised Master’s programme in Development Finance. Through your support I have accomplished much of what I never thought possible as a female student from Zambia. Thank you. There are lots of women like me who are waiting for an opportunity to further their studies and realise their potential. Your support makes higher education attainable for so many. I will use this experience and knowledge to make a positive contribution towards the fight against global poverty. I want to be the voice of change and make a difference.
Support in a crisis Tamba Dalton Kassoh, our 2014 Marshal Papworth Scholar, had completed his MSc dissertation, but was unable to return to his home in Sierra Leone because of the Ebola outbreak. He was left stranded, homeless and desperate, until our wonderful donors offered to support him until he was able to fly home in December.
Tamba says: It was unbelievable. I was shocked! When I got the information that the alumni of Reading had given me this support I was in heaven. I was able to pay my three months’ rent and buy food thanks to the alumni. I am proud to belong to the University of Reading because of what they did for me. Thank you.
Tamba Dalton Kassoh
06 | Your gifts in action | Giving Matters
Your gifts in action At the University of Reading, we know that academia is not the only aspect of an education. As well as improving their minds, we encourage our students to keep fit and active.
Giving Matters | Your gifts in action | 07 THE TEA PARTY COMMITTEE Our students also have a social conscience and many of our clubs promote charitable actions. One group who has benefited from your donations this year is the Tea Party Committee who run events for local elderly people. Giving to Reading has been absolutely fantastic. It’s enabled the committee to grow and extend its influence across Reading and also within the University itself. We have been able to provide two Christmas tea parties, three bingo sessions and gifts, with the money that has been given to us to give to the attendees of the event. We’ve also been able to acquire a portable electronic ‘super select’ bingo machine. That’s right, super select! This will be passed on to the next committee to use for years to come. All in all, the funds have given the committee the ability to realise what we wanted to achieve at the start of the year, thank you!
‘
Giving to Reading Telephone Campaign We are delighted with the funds raised through our telephone campaigns this year and that so many of you took the time to tell us what Reading means to you. Thank you for Giving to Reading!
TRAMPOLINE CLUB
There are many extra-curricular clubs for them to join to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here we highlight some of the sporting clubs you have supported over the past year:
SWIMMING CLUB With the funding we received we have purchased a competition diving block which has enabled competitive swimmers to practice diving to prepare for competitions and improve starting reaction times. It is used by other swimming clubs so it is also benefiting the wider community. The funding has also allowed us to run more training sessions and given opportunities for more swimmers to compete. On behalf of the swimming club I would like to say how grateful we are for your generosity. Funding has made swimming more accessible to students and university members who wish to maintain a healthy lifestyle and it has given competitive swimmers a better quality of training and more opportunities to compete. Thank you.
QUIDDITCH CLUB On behalf of everyone at Reading Rocs Quidditch Club, we would like to extend our utmost gratitude to you all for making this tournament possible. With your donations, we have been able to organise one of the largest quidditch tournaments ever in the UK, and mark a huge landmark in the history of quidditch the University of Reading. The Whiteknights tournament is set to become the first quidditch tournament in the UK to be held for a 3rd time, and, with the funding that you have given us, we have been able to expand the number of teams competing to 16. There will be a permanent brilliant brand new trophy that will be awarded to the Whiteknights tournament winners every year. We will be buying enough equipment to not only use at the tournament but also by the Reading quidditch team to last us the next four years! Thank you donors.
On behalf of Reading University Trampolining Club, I would like to thank the kind people that donate to the University, and the Giving team at the University, including the students on the phones. You’re doing a great job! The new trampoline we purchased with the funds raised has been a real blessing to the club. It has allowed us to practice more difficult moves and perfect our routines for competitions. The trampoline club is a great place for the members to unwind and forget about the stresses of their degree for a few hours a week, whilst having fun with friends and getting fit too! Without the trampolines, this would not be possible and so we would like to also send our thanks for making university a happier place for our students to live and study! Thank you!
WHY DO OUR STUDENTS BECOME FUNDRAISERS?
WHY DO OUR STUDENTS ENJOY MAKING THE CALLS?
We asked Jack, third year Film Theatre and TV student.
We asked Kat, fourth year Fine Art student.
As people who know me know, I love talking. So getting the chance to talk to alumni, hear about their lives and also raise money for the University is a fantastic opportunity. You get to talk to a huge spectrum of people, from recent graduates to people who studied here in the 1960s. It has helped me to appreciate the University’s rich history and to realise how lucky I am to study here.
The conversations! One of my favourites was with an elderly alumna from Barbados. We were calling in the middle of the night to reach our alumni further afield, and she caught my attention. We spoke about her time at Reading and she loved hearing about the work we were doing here. I felt privileged to have such insight in to someone’s life.
Students connect with Henley Alumni Henley alumni from all programmes have started giving in response to our inaugural annual telephone campaign. The conversations they had with current students made it clear that Henley continues to have a profound impact on lives. This was illustrated by the tremendous amount raised through the telethon for the Henley Alumni Fund, to support students in financial need. These donors join our growing community of Henley supporters who give back to the Business School and cement their commitment to business education and research. Thank you.
Many of our students benefit from your support. Working for Giving to Reading is their way of saying “thank you!”. DONOR DATA FOR THE YEAR SO FAR
DONOR DATA OVERALL
Number of donors:
Donors:
750 30
Number upgraded:
Regular donors:
270 380 Single gifts:
7250 107 Pioneers:
WHAT YOU SUPPORT Blandford Club members:
1831 51 Legators:
Students:
7250 1924
Innovative Teaching:
Extra-curricular activities:
1077 15 52308 Research:
Other:
08 | Exciting new direction for a new generation | Giving Matters
Giving Matters | Helping students succeed | 09
Exciting new direction for a new generation MERL (Museum of English Rural Life) has been a part of the University since 1951, educating and informing the local community about food, farming and life in the countryside. We are delighted that MERL has recently received a £1.7m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as grants from the Wellcome Trust, DCMS Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund and the Headley Trust. These funds, along with your incredible support, will allow us to transform the museum and the way people experience and understand our rural heritage. ENGAGING VISITORS New galleries and digital displays will explore the relevance of rural life to our modern and urban lives and bring the stories of people that live and work on the land to life. With new opportunities to handle objects and a programme of exciting activities, it will be a truly innovative and stimulating visitor experience. INSPIRING STUDENTS Students will benefit from new opportunities to engage with the library and archive material, superb learning spaces and their own exhibition areas.
Helping students succeed Henley Business School and Reading Real Estate Foundation have secured vital support from alumni to help develop the business professionals and leaders of tomorrow.
Henley Alumni Fund
FEEDBACK FORUM We are consulting with students, local residents and people with an interest in countryside issues to ensure the new museum appeals to a wide range of visitors. MERL was founded on donations from people in agriculture; its history of philanthropy goes back to its first days in 1951. We are thrilled there is still such strong support for it today. Thank you.
To find out more contact alumni@reading.ac.uk or visit http://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/research/ merl-ourcountrylives.aspx.
The Henley Alumni Fund embodies a growing culture of collective philanthropy within our international network of alumni. By supporting Henley, our alumni are helping students to excel in ever more challenging times. Their amazing generosity also enables us to offer extra hardship support to students who find themselves in unexpected financial need.
Reading Real Estate Foundation The Reading Real Estate Foundation is a unique educational charity and alumni association for graduates of Real Estate and Planning programmes at the University of Reading. We are extremely grateful to those alumni who collectively pledged an amazing £49,000 during our third annual fundraising telethon. This will enable us to provide a wide range of support and outreach activities to current and future students. Thank you for the contribution you are making to the future of business education here at Henley.
10 | Donor Day | Giving Matters
Giving Matters | Donor Day | 11
Donor Day Every year we invite our donors to see their funding in action at Donor Day.
87%
Highlights at this year’s event included our research into heart health and nutrition, the Silchester dig, cheese making and performances from the cheerleaders and circus arts groups donors have supported.
This is an opportunity for donors to come back to the University – especially somewhere like Reading where you can come back to the campus and experience that nostalgia – but you also get to see what your money is being spent on which I think is vital. I think if you had a fantastic time at university, if you were involved in societies or clubs the chances are you benefited from the Annual Fund so I think you should give students that are currently here that opportunity as well. Lizzi Hollis, Ancient History and Archaeology 2011
of attendees would recommend this event
Today is a celebration of all the great work that is still going on and can go on because of the donors. Chloe Butler, RUSU Community and Development Officer
Donor Day is a very nice and welcoming event for the University to be able to say thank you to their donors. It is such a diverse range of characters and individuals here and we are happy to be able to support it. Conrad Hill, Haslams Surveyors LLP (sponsors of the event)
I’ve really enjoyed the day. We have been coming to more events since we have become donors and we find it really useful for finding out what is going on at the University. Andrew Doherty, Computer Science 1994
Donor Day is a day for people to come in and see how the money that they have donated is being used. I also think it is a good chance for them to come back and relive their university days. Dan Stevens, Graphic Design student, Cheerleader
President’s Donor Reception Thank you to our Pioneers and Major Donors who attended the inaugural President’s Donor Reception at Cutler’s Hall, London.
12 | Pathways to Property | Giving Matters
Giving Matters | Bringing Roman Silchester to life | 13
2013
In 2013 40 students participated in the first Summer School
50% completed a work experience placement in a real estate firm
Pathways to Property In the last issue of Giving Matters we reported on our Pathways to Property initiative, which aims to widen access to the real estate industry. Led by the Reading Real Estate Foundation (RREF) at Henley Business School, the programme encourages talented sixth form pupils from less advantaged and non-traditional backgrounds to learn about careers in the property sector. Now in its third year Pathways to Property has already made a big impact: • 3500 students and teachers have been introduced to the programme • 135 students have attended our Summer School • 54 students have gained work experience • 5 students are now studying at the University of Reading
Thank you to all our funders; none of this success is possible without your support.
PRINCIPAL SUPPORTERS British Land The Sutton Trust EXISTING SUPPORTERS BNP Paribas Real Estate Colliers International Cushman & Wakefield CBRE DTZ Gerald Eve JLL Knight Frank Redevco Savills Strutt & Parker The Crown Estate UPP
NEW SUPPORTERS Allsop The Aubrey Orchard-Lisle Charitable Trust Carter Jonas The Ellis Campbell group GCW Hammerson Holtby Turner Oxford Properties SEGRO Vail Williams INDIVIDUAL DONORS We are delighted to announce Dame Alison Carnwath, Chairman of Land Securities has donated £30,000 to support work experience placements with travel bursaries.
For further information about the Pathways to Property initiative, please contact us at Pathways2property@reading.ac.uk or +44 (0)118 378 4194.
30% of attendees applied and were offered a place to study Real Estate & Planning at the University of Reading
of those
25% have accepted and enrolled at the University of Reading for 2014/15
40% have accepted and enrolled onto related programmes at other universities in the UK for 2014/15
2014
In 2014 95 students participated in the annual Summer School
86% had no prior exposure to the industry
77% had no family history of attending university
44% were female
70% indicated they would be interested in pursuing a career in property
99% of students described the Summer School as having exceeded their expectations
Bringing Roman Silchester to life Thank you for supporting my latest digital project, a reconstruction of our local Roman town of Silchester. Readers might recall that Giving to Reading supported my large digital model of ancient Rome, which, I’m delighted to say, won the Guardian’s National Higher Education Teaching Excellence Award in 2014. This prompted a separate undergraduate module, Digital Silchester, in which I teach the students to research and create their own digital reconstructions. You can see some of their work in these pictures. We are recreating Silchester, an important Roman regional capital, which has been well documented over 20 years of excavations by our own Archaeology Department. Since there is little visible on the surface at the site (except the striking walls and amphitheatre), digital reconstruction is a good way of presenting it for teaching and to the public. The next step is to create a real-time, user-navigable model, so people can explore it however they wish, walking along the ancient streets and going into some of the buildings.
Thanks to you, I have been able to finance the software I need, as well as the assistance of an MA student, Phoebe West. I am really grateful for this support, as it will enable us to give everyone a sense of how our local Roman town looked and felt. Matthew Nicholls
14 | Reading Internship | Giving Matters
Giving Matters | Reading Internship | 15 Daniel Le Marquand (student) and Steven Barber (OIA Operations Manager)
The Reading Internship Scheme recently held a celebratory event to highlight the wonderful work that is made possible thanks to donors like you.
Reading Internship
Daniel, could you briefly outline your internship project? The office I am working in is undergoing internal process changes and it’s my job to coordinate the working groups in this process. Have you enjoyed your internship? It’s been lovely and I’ve learnt a lot more than I thought I would. I have been given genuine responsibilities including coordinating the different groups within the office. It’s immensely rewarding overseeing everything as you get to know all the ins and outs of what is happening in the organisation. Would you recommend the internship to other students? Yes, it’s good experience to add to your CV and it made me aware of the variety of options open to me after my degree. I am very grateful to the donors for their support – thank you.
Steven and Daniel
Steven, how have you found your experience of having an intern so far? It’s been really good; we’ve had interns from the University of Reading for the last few years and it’s worked very well. One intern is now working for us full-time and another is working with us part-time during his masters. Dan (our current intern) has been excellent. We had a particular project in mind and because of his maths and statistics background, we tailored it to his skill set. Everyone rates him as a good part of the team. Have there been any benefits you didn’t anticipate? Dan’s engagement on the social side of things. We recently set up a community on our intranet site and he responds to posts. As the youngest person in the office he’s added energy and enthusiasm and had the confidence to get it off the ground.
Claire and Tessa
Tessa Deakin (student) and Claire Wright (Connect Reading Managing Director)
Over recent times, the battle to get a job on leaving university has increased. More and more graduates are finding the job market a difficult place to negotiate, and unemployment figures for the under 25s have been rising. The University of Reading is proud that initiatives such as the Reading Internship Scheme (RIS) help students to get the necessary experience to attract employers when they leave university. Thanks to our Giving to Reading programme, this scheme has been funded for three years, and received an individual gift of £2000. Our alumni also support the scheme by offering internships themselves. It is thanks to you that our students have more to offer when they are in the ‘real world’.
These internships represent the value of working in partnership with external organisations, and highlight the important relationship between the town of Reading and our university. The internship celebration event is a chance to celebrate how programmes like the Reading Internship Scheme have a positive impact, not only on our students and their career development, but also on Reading and the Thames Valley. Sir David Bell If you would like to find out more about this project or get involved please contact ris@reading.ac.uk or visit www.reading.ac.uk/careers/ris.
Tessa, could you briefly outline your internship project? In my role as a Marketing Intern I’ve been working on the social media and branding strategies, as well as newsletters, emails and networking events. I’m also involved with organising an event sponsored by Santander for women and business in Berkshire. I’m in charge of PR and producing a promotional video and case studies. Have you enjoyed your internship? I love it as I’ve never done marketing before; I originally wanted to go into journalism. When I started at the beginning I found the networking events daunting but now I even have my own business cards! I love working here, my managers are brilliant and I’ve learnt so quickly because I was thrown in the deep end. Would you recommend the internship to other students? Yes, without a doubt. It’s a great opportunity and a fantastic way to learn. Thank you donors for allowing me to have this opportunity.
Claire, what has been your experience of having an intern? It’s been great having Tessa. It has worked out so well that we’ve secured funding to keep her on for an additional six weeks, so we are very pleased. What advice would you give organisations considering taking on an intern? It takes a long time to induct someone before they become really productive. Tessa had a one day induction plus other training but she spent five weeks getting used to the job. I would recommend building the workload around their strengths at first and then adding stretching targets. This helps build up their confidence in the role so they can take on more advanced work comfortably. Would you take on another intern next year? Yes, Tessa has been fantastic. We wanted someone that could represent us at networking events and promote our organisation. I think her involvement in extra-curricular activities and university societies has given her the confidence to do this.
16 | Get involved | Giving Matters
International Alumni Ambassadors
Meteorology
Our Meteorology Department has formed links with industry partners and encourages them to work with our students through various projects. Here are the accounts of two volunteers, Tom Philp and Hazel Thornton.
Spotlight on Ali Abdullahi – Nigeria
Ali has done some wonderful work in Nigeria as an International Ambassador, including building up a network of alumni in the area, promoting the University at other universities and with Vice-Chancellors, holding events, providing information to prospective students and has even appeared on the radio! This proved very successful, and Ali has been invited back to appear on a programme with 20,000 listeners to speak about the opportunities the University offers to youth in Africa.
TOM PHILP
HAZEL THORNTON Works at Catlin Studied MSc and PhD at Reading Worked as an Industry Partner with the MSc project
We asked Ali why he volunteers and what benefits he enjoys through his work with us: Before ambassadors, most people in Nigeria were not aware of the academic excellence and services offered by this great university. I am proud to be able to help spread this message. Volunteering also keeps me in touch with the university and alumni.
From what we knew of the quality of research at Reading, and the specialisations of various academics in Meteorology, we had ideas for projects that were not currently being done that would be extremely useful to the insurance industry. For example, there are no real openly available historical flood data sets in the UK although there are in the US and Europe. We knew this would help us in our work.
I really enjoy working as an international alumni ambassador as it makes me feel I am giving back to the institution that offered me the excellent student services and skills that have prepared me for meeting the challenges of life after university.
Career mentoring is Thriving Thrive, our career mentoring scheme for penultimate year students in Maths and Statistics and the School of Biological Sciences, was successfully launched in 2015. Our overriding aim is to support students through their transition into work at a time when they should be making significant strides forward in exploring options, gaining experience and making career choices. Our alumni act as career mentors, sharing their experiences with, and offering support to, students who are poised to make decisions about their own future career paths.
MENTOR Being a mentor with Thrive has given me a fantastic opportunity to speak to students and give them advice on things that I wish someone was able to tell me when I was a student. It has been rewarding introducing the students to a wider range of careers and options they had not realised were out there for them.
Finally, a big thank you from all of us to those alumni who are helping our students Thrive!
This collaboration has been really useful. I knew a lot of people at Reading obviously, but through this project I got to know many more. It also raises the profile of Catlin as a company in academic circles.
Works at the Met Office and current PhD student at Reading
I was invited to listen to all of the MSc projects which allowed me to meet others in industry and to share ideas. It has given me the opportunity to maintain relationships with people who are at the forefront of research. It has also allowed me to build new relationships.
Currently supervising a PhD student
The project itself helped us to find out typical characteristics of UK summer flood events, but it is the relationship building that really appealed to us and that we have equally benefited from.
Worked as an Industry Partner with the MSc project
At the Met Office we are currently doing work on energy and how it links to climate and weather. Colleagues at the University are working on a similar topic so we decided it would be beneficial to work together. It’s invaluable for giving you different perspectives on the research and enables you to work on a wider range of projects than you could manage on your own.
Why do I want to volunteer? We are delighted that so many of our alumni have signed up as volunteers using our new Volunteering Registration Form. This form allows us to see who would be interested in volunteering, what areas they are skilled in and what they would like to get involved in.
Both the mentors and mentees really benefit from this collaboration, as can be seen from the quotes here. MENTEE My mentor has given me useful advice on how to improve my CV. We have talked a lot about my future career, work and volunteering opportunities outside of university. It is nice to have someone to contact in order to seek guidance when needed.
Giving Matters | Get involved | 17
Volunteering is a wonderful way for our alumni to give back to their university and to inspire and inform the next generation of Reading students who will become part of our alumni network. We asked one volunteer what inspired him to sign up.
If you are interested in becoming a career mentor please visit the Prospective Mentors web pages to find out more and register your interest: http://www.reading.ac.uk/careers/ placements/thrive/prospectivementors.asp
I left Reading in 1968, but still appreciate the help and stimulus given to me by the teaching staff of the Departments of Zoology and Psychology. We were based on the London Road campus and went to Whiteknights to visit the Library and the Halls of Residence, appreciating the space and wonderful natural surroundings of the Park. Since Reading, I have enjoyed a successful academic career and I am very aware of where it all started. That’s why I have become a volunteer. Roger Wotton For information on how to sign up, visit https://alumni.reading.ac.uk/get-involved/ volunteering or contact us at alumni@reading.ac.uk.
18 | A gift that lives on | Giving Matters
Giving Matters | Launch of Developing Research | 19
Launch of Developing Research
We are very grateful to the members of our community who remember us when making their will. However large or small, a bequest to the University will make a difference to our current students, as well as leave a lasting tribute to our benefactors. Legacies have contributed towards the building of the original library, financed initiatives that would be unable to proceed without additional funding, created chairs and lectureships and established student scholarships.
You told us you wanted to make a global impact with your support; Developing Research will provide that impact. Universities are instrumental in the fight to solve the world’s problems. Your support to Developing Research will help Reading to keep fighting.
One couple who have pledged legacies are Gillian and Chris Nelson who are both alumni of the University. Below, Gillian explains why they made this choice.
A gift that lives on We met as students at Reading in the late 1960s. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed our time there. It was a small university in those days and we appreciated the friendly atmosphere, hall life and the wide-open spaces of Whiteknights Park. It is a period of our lives upon which we look back with affection and gratitude especially for the strong friendships we made there which have endured to this day.
We have decided to leave a legacy to the University so that others can benefit from the grounding which we enjoyed. Reading has always welcomed overseas students and it is our particular hope that our contribution will help enable students from Africa to study at the University in an area that will assist in the development of their home country and make a small contribution to alleviating long term poverty.
The development of the University has continued to interest us and we have followed its progress and achievements with pride. It has been a particular pleasure to hear about student life in more recent times from family members and young friends who have chosen to go to Reading. Without exception, the University has been a positive experience.
Gillian Nelson
We are currently seeking funding for equipment for Agriculture and Archaeology. This equipment will help us to develop a sustainable future through agriculture, and learn the lessons of the past through archaeology. We need to raise £40,000 to support research in these areas. SINGLE ROW PLOT DRILL (£35,000) Food is a critically scarce resource in many parts of the world, and especially in less economically developed countries. Crops with a higher yield will be crucial in ensuring future food security. It is vital this is done in a sustainable, ethical and environmentally suitable way. Donors will be funding machinery to help identify crops with higher yields allowing for greater output of food. GROUND PENETRATING RADAR ANTENNAE (£5,000) Archaeology provides a detailed account of how the world once was. If we understand what came before, we can explain so much about who we are now. Learning from our past is crucial to the development of humanity. Donors will be funding equipment to aid the preservation, restoration and writing of our history.
FIND OUT MORE Please contact giving@reading.ac.uk or visit alumni.reading.ac.uk/givingtoreading/achieved
Charlie Waller Institute One in four young people suffers from a mental health issue. It’s vital that we identify teenagers at risk and treat them effectively before a tragedy strikes. Here at the University, the Charlie Waller Institute has been developing a pioneering treatment for teenagers with depression. Brief Behavioural Activation encourages teenagers to make small but powerful changes in their behaviour. James is one teenager who has been helped by this treatment. He lost his father and then his grandmother one year later and at the same time was having significant friendship issues. He was experiencing low mood, tiredness, feelings of guilt and occasional suicidal thoughts. His mother found it very difficult to encourage James to get out of bed and ready for school in the morning. He wasn’t seeing his friends and was often tearful. Brief Behavioural Action helped him deal with his situation and he no longer suffers from suicidal thoughts. James said the treatment has “helped me to work on things I’d never thought to work on before” and has “lifted my mood so much”. We need your help in order to save the lives of teenagers in danger.
How your gift could help:
£25 Run a classroom testing session £50 One treatment session £100 One to one diagnostic assessment treatment programme £500 Full and action plan Training for a Brief £1000 Behavioural Activation Therapist James’ story is 100% genuine but his name has been changed and a model photographed to protect his anonymity.