Your Brighton Effect Welcome to Your Brighton Effect, where we highlight the impact of your generous donations on the University of Brighton community and the difference your support has made to students and staff around the university.
A DAY OF THANKS On 28 February students and staff from across the whole university said ‘thank you’ to the alumni, friends and other supporters whose generous donations have shaped their university experience. Students and staff created videos, posters and handwritten messages and took to Twitter and other social media to acknowledge the support they had received. Our student fundraising team telephoned supporters to say thank you personally. A film made by the University of Brighton Film Society can be found on our website at www.brighton.ac.uk/alumni/thanks. Mrs Sam Davies, Director of the Development and Alumni Office, said: “We spend a lot of time and effort appropriately thanking donors on behalf of the university, but today it was the students’ and other beneficiaries’ chance to say thank you. Through the act of saying thank you, we were able to raise awareness amongst the student body about philanthropy and hopefully they will remember how they were helped once they are alumni themselves.”
We would like to say a huge thank you on behalf of everyone here at the university. Your support enables us to provide help, assistance and opportunities that would not have existed without your generosity. Thank you!
FIRST BARLEYCORN AWARD RECIPIENT
BUILDING A HOUSE FROM RUBBISH
This year saw the inaugural Barleycorn Award for Continuous Professional Development in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. This award is named for University of Brighton alumna and Florence Nightingale Scholar, Donna Barleycorn and supports nursing students undertaking their dissertation. Donna created the award to nurture ambition, individual endeavour and enterprise in nursing students, supporting both the development of the award winner but also the development of patient care in the profession. She said: “I am very pleased and excited about this award. I have received a great deal of support in my progress as a nurse, particularly as a Nightingale Scholar and I want to repay that belief by supporting other nurses in training and to carry forward the ethos of professional development for all nurses.” Two awards of £1,000 are made each year. The first winner was Nicoleta Florii Stan whose dissertation focused on the role of nurses in facilitating the bonding process between parents and babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She said: “I feel very honoured and surprised at the same time for receiving The Donna Barleycorn Award. This award will contribute towards my professional development, enhancing my practice and contributing towards patients’ best care. My dissertation will enhance and consolidate my knowledge as well as contributing to maintaining high standards in practice. It will also contribute towards supporting and guiding new nursing staff and also nursing students.”
Work is progressing on an innovative ecobuilding at the university’s Grand Parade campus. The Brighton Waste House is being built using thrown-away bricks, ply sheets and wood, including surplus material from building sites: the construction industry discards 20 per cent of everything it uses, the equivalent of scrapping one in five houses built. Thrown-away items such as second-hand denim from jeans, old toothbrushes and video tapes will be tested for their insulation properties. Some materials will be new, including solar panels and high-performance windows and doors.
The project has only been possible through the generous support of a number of partners, including the Mears Group (the UK’s leading provider of social housing repair and maintenance), South Downs Solar, which is providing solar panels, and Rationel, which is providing triple-glazed windows and doors. Gary Lester, the managing director of Mears Energy said: “The waste house is a unique project which provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our apprentices to be at the forefront of sustainable development and will create a legacy for future generations. We are delighted to be involved.”
SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSITY’S RESEARCH AMBITIONS The university is gearing up for the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, the national assessment of university research. Our supporters have always been particularly generous in supporting the university’s research ambitions from our research into ageing and diabetes to resilience therapy and viticulture. The University of Brighton Ambassadors have collectively donated to a number of initiatives that support and develop the university’s research activities. In 2010, £40,000 of donations was given to support two research sabbaticals; providing funding to allow an academic member of staff to concentrate on a particular piece of research. Professor John Sugden in the School of Sport and Service Management was awarded £65,000 to undertake fieldwork in South Africa in relation to his book entitled Sport, conflict, resolution and peace building in divided societies: playing with enemies. Through this grant, John was able to perform sport-based community relation work which in turn has boosted his knowledge in antiapartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. He completed this work earlier this year. John reported on his award to the ambassador’s group: “I would like to thank the university’s ambassadors for their support and belief in my research. I would never have been able to achieve this much without their generous donations and I am extremely grateful.” The ambassadors have also generously donated a further £17,500 to begin a number of initiatives that support academic staff who are just starting their research careers. This has included funding for a dedicated post of Early Career Research Ambassador to represent the interests of early career researchers at the university and support for the inaugural early career researcher conference held in Brighton in June. Steve Maycock, who is an alumnus and ambassador and chairs the university’s disbursement group said: “The University of Brighton is serious about research and understands the relationship between academic research and teaching. My fellow ambassadors and I were delighted to support young researchers at the university and encourage them to flourish in their academic careers.”
The University of Brighton is serious about research and understands the relationship between academic research and teaching.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS… Your donations have meant that we can help and support a wide range of students and other projects; we could not do it without you. Here are some excerpts from the thank you messages and testimonials we receive from award recipients.
I would like to thank anyone who has made this scholarship possible. Their contribution is immensely valuable. Scholarship recipient
Somehow meeting in town instead of at the university, sharing a coffee, just being together hearing each other’s stories and perspectives, deciding on ways forward... changes the quality of our relationship and it makes ‘work’ so much more vital and practical. On our Doorsteps
Winning the Kenneth Forbes prize has really helped my confidence coming into the working world; it is nice to be recognised for your hard work and to know that you have achieved something. The money will really help to take away some money worries and will help towards things like buying course books which are often quite expensive. I would like to say a massive thank you as I think it is a really positive thing for me to be recognised by the university; a real boost to my confidence. Business School Prize recipient
Thank you for this truly amazing opportunity to go into the world and experience new sights and sounds. Travel Fund Bursary recipient It is great to know there are kind, selfless people in the world willing to help others. Hastings Employability Award recipient
Your support has allowed us to maintain our young and talented team of researchers who continue to work for the benefit of people living with diabetes. Diabetes Research Group
This award has given me a great sense of motivation and purpose within my discipline. Bridge Award recipient Thank you ever so much for taking some financial weight off my shoulders. Hastings Employability Award recipient
The benefits of this grant will be wide reaching for current students as well as for future generations. Springboard Grants Programme grant recipient
Studying as a mature student often involves juggling family commitments with academic commitments, relying on the support and sacrifices of your spouse and even your children. Having these efforts recognised through the award of a scholarship, not only fills you with a sense of pride for your own academic achievements, it also allows you the freedom to continue to pursue your ambitions and try to excel in your studies in the coming year. Reminding you that you have not only the support of those closest to you but also have the support of the university gives more reasons to feel proud and to motivate you to greater efforts. Scholarship recipient
Funding from donors makes all the difference, taking the local families from lack of education and struggle for survival to opportunities for change and hope for the future. A School for Malagiri
With this money I can take off the restraints and pursue the way of working that really appeals to me. Pagden Award recipient
I am eternally grateful for the support you gave to me in reaching my dreams of being an Olympian. Elite Sports Scholarship recipient
The award is greatly appreciated and will encourage me to continue developing my academic and professional skills at the University of Brighton. Santander Master Scholarship recipient
Thanks very much for the award – it is certainly going to make our lives a bit easier! Hardship Grant recipient
I am currently in the third year of my nursing degree and have an 18-month old daughter. My partner stays at home to look after our little girl whilst I finish the last part of my course. Because of this, he is unable to work, and cannot find anything to fit in with my arrangements. He is not in receipt of any benefits as because of my bursary and loan we are considered, as a family, to be over the income threshold to receive any financial support from the government. This makes it very difficult, as we pay all our living costs from my income alone. I drive to placements as we live about 20 miles away from Eastbourne where my clinical practice tends to be based. I plan on using the award to contribute to our rent and course material such as printing, paper, ink and folders. Hardship Grant Recipient
WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO? The Springboard Grants Programme provides awards of up to £1,000 to students and staff at the University of Brighton to help fund unique activities that enrich and enhance the student and staff experience. This grants programme has only been possible because of the generous support of our alumni and friends.
During the 2012/13 academic year allocation period, we saw another increase in the numbers and quality of applicants; over 150 individuals and groups applied with 37 awarded grants ranging from £200 to £1,000. Since the scheme launched in 2009, grants worth nearly £100,000 have been made possible because of your donations. Professor Julian Crampton, ViceChancellor of the University of Brighton, who is also part of the Springboard grants assessment
panel commented: “I am hugely impressed with the range of projects that we see each round. Most of the applications we receive are extremely creative, innovative and will have an impact beyond the applicant. I am proud that we have been able to support so many projects and would like to say thank you to the alumni, staff and other supporters who have made this possible.”
HANDS-ON SCIENCE
Dr Angela Sheerin, a senior research fellow in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, was awarded £400 for a project with primary school children. The programme engaged primary school children from all backgrounds and gave them a hands-on opportunity to explore science. In small learning groups children completed experiments to investigate ‘what we are’ and ‘what we are made of’. The children compared different cells under the microscope and explored how our bodies are made, using a life-size torso with removable parts Angela commented: “Thank you to the Springboard Grants Programme for supporting my outreach work with primary school children. The monies awarded by the grant will allow me to buy essential tools for the children which will have a great impact on their learning while visiting the school and teaching them about science. Thank you!”
GRANT FUND RECIPIENTS (2012/13)
Gez Wilson, Gallery and Theatre Manager, Faculty of Arts: To enable the university to host an event for students, local artists and makers, providing an opportunity to showcase and sell their work whilst also promoting the university to the community. Dr Peter Bush, Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences: To improve student access to the school’s apiary, through the purchase of a hive webcam to provide live images of bees on public and lecture display screens and buying more bees/ beekeeping clothing for apiary visits. Sean Matthew Page, Sport Coaching student: To set up a Futsal Development Centre based in Eastbourne. To offer the opportunity for primary school children in the area to attend coaching sessions for three hours a week. The setup, coaching and coach recruitment will form Sean’s third year placement, as well as providing up to five coaching placements for year 2 students. Jerick Rodriguez, Aeronautical Engineering MEng student: To support final-year project component costs; designing and producing a prototype hybrid airship capable of collecting loads and delivering them in a specifically assigned location whilst maintaining a stable orientation.
BSMS Paediatric Society: To run a national paediatric conference specifically geared towards medical students and students with an interest in paediatric medicine. BURST Radio: To create a series of masterclasses delivered by media industry professionals for media, radio and television production students. Clare Griffiths, Business Development Manager, Student Services: To create The Innovation Challenge for students and alumni to develop their innovation skills and enhance their employability. Dr Lorna Linch, Environment and Technology lecturer: To design and install a geography and geology e-journal specifically for undergraduates to showcase research projects and be involved with day-to-day management of a journal. The Back to Nature Society: To increase awareness of biodiversity on the university's campuses and the local area, using remote camera traps to photograph wildlife and then publish the results. The Verse student newspaper: To relaunch a student-owned newspaper distributed on each campus, communicating news from each campus to the student body. The funding will allow the creation of a start-up edition and will cover print and desktop publishing costs.
INCLUSIVE ART
Natalia Natuka, an Inclusive Arts MA student, was awarded a Springboard grant of £1,000 to organise an inclusive arts exhibition in the Phoenix Gallery in Brighton. The exhibition formed part of Natalia’s inclusive arts research that involved working with nine artists with learning disabilities for 11 weeks on creative collaborative projects. Natalia ensured that the artists involved played an active role in all aspects of the planning and curation of the exhibition; proposing a series of creative workshops in order to facilitate this process. The exhibition allowed the artists and their work to engage with and be seen by their local community in a professional setting, giving their work a proper context and value within the art world. Natalia was also part of a team which was awarded a further Springboard grant of £1,000 to organise a pop-up art project locally, the Adur Wonderland Community Arts Project. This project, based in an empty shop on the high street aimed to build bridges between culture, education and business and generate a greater sense of community in Adur. Natalia explained what the Springboard grant meant to her: “I would like to thank everyone who has donated; without the support that I received I would not have been able to run these projects which have not only benefited me but also the artists and public who have been able to engage with my work.”
TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN 2013 Thank you so much to everyone who we spoke to throughout the spring and summer campaign. We really enjoyed talking with 2,000 university alumni and we were extremely impressed with the help and support we received. Thank you all so much!
WE RAISED £45,000. THIS IS ENOUGH TO SUPPORT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING…
5
10
45
full fee scholarships for students starting in 2013
scholarships to support postgraduate masters students
Springboard grants
travel and research bursaries
employability awards
hardship grants
450 180
90