MAKING AN IMPACT DURING COVID-19
YOUR COMMUNITY YOUR UNIVERSITY YOUR BRIGHTON EFFECT
Thank you so much for your help, I can now feel safe at work. Kalam Virdee, Pharmacy MPharm
I’d also like to take a moment to pause and acknowledge those we have lost from COVID-19 amongst our community. When we are able to come together again, we will celebrate their lives. Our civic and social responsibilities have never been more important. There is a particular group of students who have shown tremendous courage during this crisis.
Dear Alumni and Supporters, Welcome to this very special edition of The Brighton Effect, which usually takes the form of our annual magazine. However, during lockdown we have seen some incredible examples of the Brighton Effect at work, including how our university community has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact your donations have made on our students through our COVID-19 Student Fund. So many extraordinary things have been achieved, we simply wanted to share them with you. I have never been as proud to be this university’s Vice-Chancellor. In this report, we share with you some of the practical ways in which your generosity, alongside the keen Brighton spirit, has forged impactful change on the lives of our students and our community. Together, we adapted quickly to these difficult circumstances by providing supportive programmes and a new COVID-19 Student Fund to help those most in need.
Nursing and midwifery students in our School of Health Sciences and student doctors from our Brighton and Sussex Medical School completed their final exams early to enable them to bolster the NHS workforce. In addition, many of our Health Sciences and Pharmacy students and staff have volunteered to work on the frontline, and social work students volunteered to continue their placements. We have worked locally to make our student accommodation available for use by NHS key workers and to support vulnerable groups. We’re also providing equipment, facilities and the expertise of staff to help in every way we can. The selflessness of all these students and staff in stepping forward, and the donations we’ve received from alumni and friends, is a reminder to us all of the importance of making a contribution to our community. We could not have achieved these measures without your support. Thank you. With best wishes, Professor Debra Humphris Vice-Chancellor
COVID-19 STUDENT FUND: YOUR IMPACT Thanks to our Alumni & Friends Hardship Fund and donations many of you made recently in response to our urgent call for funding, and the incredible support of Santander Universities, who enabled us to redirect funds from their annual grant, we have been able to raise £86,206 to create a new COVID-19 Student Fund. Matt Hutnell, Director of Santander Universities, said: "Santander is committed to supporting higher education as well as local communities across the UK so we're pleased that our funding is able to be redirected to where it is most needed at this critical time." The COVID-19 Student Fund was set up to respond to the growing and urgent needs of our students during lockdown. It has funded practical solutions to help students continue their learning as we moved to digital teaching in March, and to support our students entering key worker roles and the NHS frontline. The fund provides grants of up to £200 and is open to all students at the University of Brighton studying at any level. It complements a range of other student finance programmes. The COVID-19 Student Fund has been instrumental in helping students from low economic backgrounds to become digitally enabled. Funding laptops and internet access has been essential to ensure these students are able to continue their learning remotely while university equipment and facilities have not been available. Thank you to everyone who donated.
Of the students using the fund to buy a laptop or other equipment, 41% are from communities that are considered the most deprived in England (under the Indices of Multiple Deprivation).
It is difficult to put into words what this fund will do for me. I have found it difficult to adapt to the new situation we have all found ourselves in. In addition to that, I lost all income that I relied upon to live. Without this fund, I would not be able to continue my studies; I would not have been able to access any teaching, submit my final assessments or sit my exams. I cannot thank you enough for the kindness and generosity that you have shown. It means the world to me. Thank you!” Andrew Pearson, Law LLB(Hons)
This award means so much to me! No one could have anticipated the devastating impact that coronavirus would have on the world. As a student nurse from the first cohort to not receive a bursary, finances have been a struggle the last three years, but more so in the last few weeks due to the challenges caused by panic buying and supply shortages. This fund will enable me to buy the supplies I need so that I can support the NHS in my final year as a student nurse.” Saffi Nantwi, Nursing (Child) BSc(Hons)
YOUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS
£64,528
total amount awarded so far
387
students benefitting
67%
HOW STUDENTS ARE HELPING THE VULNERABLE 31 students volunteered to help the vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis. Here, 35-year-old student and single mum, Hannah Beniston (final year Social Work BSc(Hons)), tells how she’s providing vital help while balancing the needs of her two teenage children.
of funds have been used to buy essential IT equipment and internet access for online learning
12%
of funds have supported NHS keyworkers
46%
of funds awarded to final year students Hannah Beniston
University of Brighton did so much to nurture me in my student days and continues to inspire me, so I wanted to do something to help students facing difficult circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s cohort face an uncertain future but they are the future; their imaginations and innovations will create the better world we all want to see as we emerge from this crisis. Donating to the COVID-19 Student Fund is the perfect way to help them overcome the current hurdles on the road to success.” Andrew Davidson, Graduate and Donor
57%
donated by new donors
53%
donations from University of Brighton Alumni
36%
donations made by University of Brighton staff
Since the new guidelines regarding coronavirus were introduced, I have been mostly working from home and have had to adapt the way I work. This is because I’m not based in our office with a team around me to guide me with my learning. Initially I was told by the university my placement may need to be postponed but I felt I had come so far and worked so hard for this degree, I didn’t want to abruptly stop now. I was fully prepared to continue working frontline for a cause I feel so passionately about.
Fortunately, there was a change in university guidelines which meant with the use of extra support and supervisions from the university, my practice educator and supervisor, and daily Skype meetings with the rest of the Duty and Assessment Team it has been possible for me to continue with this placement. Working from home doesn’t come without difficulties, especially when you have children at home also demanding your attention and help with their school work. Luckily, I am very capable of working on my own initiative. I have had to become more creative in communicating with clients. We’re all having to adjust and familiarise ourselves with new technology to do this. We have been advised to have minimal face-to-face contact. But, of course, we are frontline key workers, and our work cannot stop. Our duty is to protect vulnerable children and adults. Lockdown may cause many to become even more vulnerable. This has been highlighted with the huge spike in reports of domestic violence. People are being told to stay at home, but for many, home isn’t a safe place. As such, we are continually supporting these families be it over the phone, via FaceTime and Skype, or faceto-face. We are continually assessing need and risk and endeavouring to minimise this wherever we can. As always, we deliver the best possible service we can, but in these uncertain circumstances, we do this whilst trying to keep ourselves and our own families safe.”
UNIVERSITY RESPONDS TO PPE EMERGENCY University of Brighton researchers responded to an emergency plea to evaluate the efficiency of PPE needed by frontline NHS staff. Close to 70,000 fluid-resistant surgical masks were supplied in the Manchester area but had not been certified due to constraints in the supply chain. Manchester City Council asked researchers at the University of Brighton’s Advanced Engineering Centre (AEC) to test the masks’ quality as a matter of urgency because supplies were running low.
Dr Nicolas Miché working on the rig in his garden
Dr Steven Begg, Reader in the university’s School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, was sent a sample of the masks.
The experimental rig was successfully used to carry out over 50 tests to measure the flow resistance of four sets of masks, randomly selected from the samples. The test results were processed and analysed and were reported via Zoom to the teams in Manchester and Coventry less than a week from when Brighton researchers were first contacted.
Dr Begg said: “The whole process from initial contact to presentation of the results was achieved in four days and without a budget.”
The study concluded that none of the samples matched the CE-approved face masks in their ability to resist air flow and should not be utilised in a surgical setting.
Working together with Dr Begg were university colleagues Dr Nicolas Miché and Mr Bill Whitney, Dr Nwabueze Emekwuru from Coventry University and Dr Obuks Ejohwomu at the University of Manchester. The group decided to modify an existing experimental gas flow rig in our Advanced Engineering Centre laboratories to evaluate the flow resistance of the face masks and to compare the results with other CE certified specimens.
Dr Begg said: “The results have provided them with important independent scientific evidence that will allow them to rank, ensure appropriate use, prioritise distribution and save money through refund and removal of costly certification of unsuitable masks.” Those involved in the response were thanked by Simon Gardiner, Health and Safety Manager, and Barney Harle, Head of Major Projects, Corporate Services at Manchester City Council.
OUR CIVIC RESPONSE TO COVID-19 IN NUMBERS SHIELDING NHS WORKERS FROM CORONAVIRUS University staff produced and distributed vital face shields and visors to the NHS.
Our response to COVID-19 has focused on contributing to four key areas where we can make the biggest difference: + NHS and frontline workforce + the use of our estate for key workers and vulnerable individuals + volunteering + making our facilities and equipment available to the NHS.
30 litres of hand sanitizer produced
450 head bands and 950 visors were delivered to the Royal Sussex County Hospital and the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMBS) using equipment and facilities at the university’s Moulsecoomb campus.
220 beds provided to help homeless/vulnerable people 38 physios, paramedics and occupational therapists on the frontline
James wearing prototype face shield
The team from the School of Architecture and Design was assembled by James Tooze, Course Leader for Product Design with Professional Experience BSc(Hons). Materials such as polypropylene sheets, clear Perspex and photocopying acetate sheets from university stores and the Students' Union shop were used to create the much-needed shields.
7 pharmacy and bio science students supporting the health workforce through placements 38 midwives on the frontline
186 nursing students on the frontline
4000+ items of PPE donated to the NHS (gloves, aprons, arm sleeves, safety glasses, face mask/ shields)
LOOKING FORWARD: THE STUDENT POTENTIAL FUND Since the closure of our campuses on 23 March, we’ve learned a lot from our students about their needs. Early on, our students asked for essential IT equipment and access to reliable internet for online learning, and our NHS students needed PPE, work clothing and travel support. We know that this sort of support will be needed in the autumn term and beyond. As a result, we are changing the way your gifts make an impact to students. We’re designing a new programme that will focus on supporting students to achieve their full potential.
BEFORE THEY JOIN US
Diversity is in the DNA of the University of Brighton. To support this, we will grow a scholarship programme for talented students who experience barriers to education.
The Student Potential Fund will put students at the heart of gift giving by focusing on three priorities that will ensure students have access to higher education, that they have a first-class student experience, and are supported into successful lives and careers beyond Brighton. We've set out the key areas we will be focusing philanthropy on below.
Until then, I want to thank you for supporting the university and making it possible for us to give our students the vital help they need. Thank you.
We will bring you more news about the Student Potential Fund in the autumn. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this new approach and hope you will join me in contributing to it.
DURING THEIR STUDIES
Students should be able to take part fully in their university lives. So, we will continue to provide crowdfunding for societies and academic projects, as well as hardship funding for unexpected financial issues. We will also invest in our mental health and wellbeing services.
Without ongoing support from our alumni and friends, these important activities would not be possible. Thank you for your continued help. To make a donation visit springboard.brighton.ac.uk or email us at giving@brighton.ac.uk. To update your contact details and preferences visit: www.brighton.ac.uk/alumni/update.
With best wishes, Marnie Middlemiss Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
BEYOND UNIVERSITY LIFE
The Brighton Effect is seen in our entrepreneurial and innovative alumni. Students can develop employability and entrepreneurial skills through our Careers Service including business grants and the BeePurple Ideas Competition, an entrepreneurship incubator. All require philanthropic donations to grow.