HORIZON FUND
Raising funds, broadening horizons
Whether it’s providing a lifeline in times of hardship or enabling educational opportunities, Staffordshire University’s Horizon Fund is designed to help students financially. We found out more about the vital work of this long-term project. When Staffordshire University started its Horizon Fund in 2013 the aim was to raise £1 million over four years. That total has now been reached numerous times over, with hundreds of students helped along the way. It’s important to remember that the Horizon Fund is about much more than accumulating money though. It’s about making a very real difference for current Staffordshire University students. The Horizon Fund enables the University to offer opportunity awards, scholarships and bursaries ranging in value from £20 to £2,000. Samantha Nuttall, senior development and alumni relations officer at the University, said: “We have more than 150,000 alumni and more than 1,600 staff at Staffordshire University.
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If each of those people donated £10 then imagine the difference we could make with that. £10 feels like nothing to us but it could buy a backpack to help a student in need carry their equipment onto campus.” Staffordshire University is far from the only University to call on its alumni to make a contribution, but rather than funding buildings or future developments it’s using this money to help ensure opportunities are available for all students regardless of their current financial situation. “The Horizon Fund ensures no one feels left out or excluded,” adds Samantha. “Holding down a part time job while studying can be very difficult for people on some courses, and the Horizon Fund is here to help.”
