Helping students fly

How Rebecca Dewing (EUR88) donated more than £1,000 to The Difference Campaign by giving monthly.

Looking back, Norwich was the perfect place for me to spread my wings. I was a very naïve 18-year-old, but UEA was a friendly and supportive place for me to develop.

I really liked the idea of a campus university. When I got here, suddenly I was doing loads and exploring Norwich. It felt huge to me, as I come from a little village deep in the countryside.

I love to give to charities that mean something to me personally. UEA was where I learned skills that have shaped the rest of my life – good communication, confidence with people, that kind of thing.

The personal contact made such a difference. We did lots of reading and tutorials, which suited me, and I can remember everyone who taught me at the University, even 30 years on.

I felt really lucky to come here. I got a full grant and didn’t have to pay a thing for my undergraduate degree. My parents were very encouraging – I remember them saying, “you really need to go. There are plenty who would love to but can’t.” That’s one of the reasons I wanted to help now.

For me, I’d much rather give a monthly amount rather than a one-off donation because it just builds up without even thinking about it. It’s an affordable way for me to give back, and I’d recommend it to anyone thinking about giving a few pounds a month.

A DIRECT DIFFERENCE

Thank you to all of our supporters choosing to make a regular gift. Your donations, many of which are made through our telephone giving campaigns, add up to an enormous difference for the visionary work happening at the University, including dementia research, the UEA Prostate Cancer Tests and the Difference Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships.

Three of our 2019-20 scholarship students, funded by generous supporters of The Difference Campaign.