City scholarship helps students achieve their potential
Lady Diana Cowie with Matthew Feltoe and Glen Potts
DEVELOPMENTRUST Donor Newsletter Summer 2015
glass artist’s
This year’s Sir Tom Cowie Scholarship of
Glen said: “The funding has made a huge
Matthew added: “The funding from the Sir
£10,000 went to two final year students who
impact on my ability to focus on my final year,
Tom Cowie Memorial Scholarship has allowed
had shown tremendous resilience in the face of
without the stress of financial hardship. There
me to devote a lot more time to studying, time
adversity. Glen Potts, 41, and Matthew Feltoe,
were times during the course where I seriously
that would have previously been occupied with
23, were each awarded the sum after they
considered dropping out as the sacrifices I was
part-time work.
demonstrated an excellent academic record
making, particularly towards my family, were
and dedication to their courses.
perhaps too great.
“I am enrolled onto a master’s course in
business break
advanced mechanical engineering which is
Sir Tom Cowie was a long-term supporter
“The Scholarship allowed me to alleviate
due to start in September 2015. This has only
of the University of Sunderland and believed
financial strains that were certainly beginning
been financially possible through the aid of the
passionately in its principles of affording those
to build. I have been able to focus on my studies
scholarship which I am extremely grateful for.”
with talent, regardless of background, the
to achieve my targets. I am so happy that I have
opportunity to access excellent higher education
managed the course and now plan to build a
and achieve their potential.
brighter, positive future for my family.”
HOPe winch society reunion The University’s Hope Winch Society held their annual reunion dinner in April and as usual hosted an auction to support the Hope Winch Benevolence Fund. The Society and Fund are named after Hope Constance Monica Winch, who was appointed in 1921 as the first head of Pharmacy at the then Sunderland Technical College and was instrumental in its development. Donations to the fund support pharmacy students who are experiencing financial hardship during their studies at Sunderland. The Committee would like to express their gratitude to all donors on the evening and to those who continue to support the Fund by regular giving. For more information on the Hope Winch Benevolence Fund please contact the Development Office at: development.office@sunderland.ac.uk
Keep in touch For more information on University of Sunderland scholarship programmes go to: www.sunderland.ac.uk/developmenttrust 0191 515 2692 development.office@sunderland.ac.uk
The University of Sunderland Development Trust Development and Alumni Office 5th Floor Edinburgh Building City Campus, Sunderland SR1 3SD
Jessica Irena Smith, a professional cast and kiln-formed glass artist, was awarded £2,302 from the Futures Fund to cover the high cost of materials and equipment that she required for her glassmaking while studying at the University of Sunderland, based at the National Glass Centre. Asked about the difference the Futures Fund award had made Jessica commented: “Starting out in any business is hard, but the materials and equipment used in glass are expensive. Being a student it was not something I could have afforded on my own, so the support I received from Futures Fund gave me a head start.” Her distinctive work is inspired by animals and nature and since graduating with her MA in 2009 she has been successfully working as a selfemployed glass artist, represented by galleries throughout the UK and undertaking client
commissions. For Jessica the Futures Fund Award was not just financially valuable, being the first grant she had applied for it gave her the valuable experience and credibility among funding bodies required in the creative industries sector: “It was the first grant I applied for, so it helped me learn about the process of applying for funding. I have subsequently received grants from the Arts Council North East England and Business Link. “Without the Futures Fund I may not have had the success I did in applying or these further grants, as it demonstrated an established track record of a successful application to another reputable body.” Jessica has taken part in a variety of exhibitions and showcases and been shortlisted for a number of competitions and awards. These have included the prestigious British Glass Biennale in 2012 and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s ‘Wildlife Artist of the Year’ in 2011, 2013 and 2014.
Message from the
Student’s life changing African experience
Vice-chancellor “The support given to our students and recent graduates, beyond the academic offer we provide, is so important to their career aspirations. The added value that the Futures Fund can give to students and graduates is evidenced quite clearly in our summer donor newsletter. “That added value, in large measure, is down to the many supporters we have that give generously to the Futures Fund. Your commitment to ensuring our students have the best opportunities to succeed in what is now an extremely competitive jobs market is inspiring to us here at the University. We are extremely grateful for that support. “Student experiences that you have read about in the newsletter, such as Jessica, Jennifer, Catherine and Joe, are unlikely to have taken place had it not been for the support of donors. “Thanks you indeed for your continued support.”
Jennifer Donnison set off for a three-week voluntary mission in August 2014 to a township preschool outside Capetown in South Africa, her life-changing journey made possible thanks to £500 from the Futures Fund. “I’m studying Primary Education at the University and this project was shown to us during a lecture in our second year and I thought it sounded like a fantastic experience.” Jennifer couldn’t afford to travel to South Africa, but in her third year found out about support
available for students looking to help others while improving their professional development. “In three weeks I learned so much from the staff and children at the school, which is run by four ladies who live in the township. None have teaching qualifications and two of them juggle teaching with cleaning jobs elsewhere, sometimes leaving only two women to run the school, which educates 60 children in two classes.” Jennifer worked in a class of 30 five and six year olds, teaching shapes and colours, the alphabet, writing and counting through games and handson activities. “The teacher helped translate and it was a fun and effective way for the children to learn. The teacher told me she will continue to take on my suggestions and move away from learning by rote. “The children also taught me a lot. They are extremely happy and really appreciate learning new things. They taught me songs, dances and games from their culture too.
“The experience that the University’s Futures Fund made possible was life-changing for me and will be invaluable to employers. I’m so grateful to have been able to volunteer in a South African school; it’s an experience I won’t forget.”
Reporting back on the start of an exciting career
Kind Regards Shirley Atkinson, Vice-Chancellor
Beadnell Trust keeps Formula Student
Drawing from thE experience of a LIFETIME
on track
Support for Mechanical Engineering students competing in the annual Formula Student competition will continue thanks to support from the family of late motor-racing enthusiast, entrepreneur and philanthropist William ‘Bill’ Beadnell. Since the William Beadnell foundation was established by Bill’s wife Marina, the foundation have donated £10,000 to the University of Sunderland’s Development Trust. Their donation will be used to create the William Beadnell Prize, to be awarded to the best performing Mechanical Engineering student involved with this year’s Formula Student project. The University’s Formula Student team competes in a global competition at Silverstone annually and works as a group to develop a competitive racing car each year. Previous donations from the William
Beadnell Foundation have funded specialist equipment that the Formula Student team needed. Bill was a lifelong friend of the University after studying Mechanical Engineering at what was then Sunderland Technical College. Passionate about motor-racing, Bill amassed a collection of high performance cars and as a young man raced the circuits, spending endless days and evenings developing high performance vehicles for competition. Bill’s wife Marina commented: “Bill was an inspirational man with a great zeal for life. I wanted to carry on the great philanthropic work he had started at the University of Sunderland, so I established the William Beadnell Foundation. I work closely with the University’s Development Trust team who
manage the distribution of the William Beadnell Prize on our behalf.” Marina continued: “Bill was deeply proud of his links to the University and wanted to support the impact it has on the region and its students. His love of cars and motorcar racing seemed a great fit with the University’s ‘Formula Student’ motorsport team.”
Marina Beadnell with Shaun Scrimger, St James Place Wealth Management Group
Two graduates from the University of Sunderland are animated about the Futures Fund after it helped take them on a fairytale trip to Pixar Studios in America. Catherine Salkeld and Joe Sutherland were awarded professional development scholarships from the Futures Fund to help give them valuable insight and experience at Pixar. Catherine Salkeld is now a Trainee Storyboard Artist at animation studio Blue Zoo in London, working on children’s television programmes including Miffy and Friends and Tree Fu Tom. She credits the Futures Fund for making the trip possible, which gave her the drive and determination to succeed in her chosen career path. “This was a unique chance to engage with the professional and educational community
abroad. With the help of the Futures Fund we were able to finance this trip and broaden the development of our skills and increase connections within the animation industry. “Due to the help of the Fund we were able to then self-finance a trip to Los Angeles and visit two studios we had been in contact with previously. This made our trip even more of a valuable experience and would not have been feasible without the financial support. “The knowledge and advice I took away with me will stay with me for a lifetime.” Joe added: “These were amazing opportunities which gave us real insight into a working studio in America. From the experiences, we gained insightful knowledge, international recognition, strong contacts and future career possibilities.”
A young journalist is happy to broadcast his thanks to the University of Sunderland’s Futures Fund after it helped him press on with his career and start writing his own story. Josh Hollis studied News Journalism and during his degree requested money from the Futures Fund to take advantage of a highly competitive three week work placement scheme with Sky News in London. Josh is now working for the BBC in London and is thankful to the Fund for enabling him to learn invaluable skills that have set him on his way. He said: “The Futures Fund enabled me to take advantage of this great opportunity to work at the very top of the news industry, pick up incredibly valuable skills from working with Sky News’ digital and iPad teams, and produce my own published content. “It allowed me to get an incredible experience that I was then able to use in my University portfolio and modules, which definitely contributed to the First Class degree I received on graduation. “I became the first trainee to be placed within the BBC’s Visual Journalism department, and have been told that it was my experience at Sky News that really helped me stand out and increase my chances of employment.”