Two Bournemouth University students will receive support from AFC Bournemouth during their degree, after being awarded a studentship to support their studies.
Riley McLoughlin and Seth Wright will each receive a non-repayable £1,500 grant for the second and third years of their degree (total of £3,000 over two years), and career and professional development from the Club, including opportunities for work shadowing, informal mentorship and involvement in AFC Bournemouth events and activities across the next two years.
The studentships are being offered as a part of the official partnership between BU and AFC Bournemouth and are specifically designed to remove barriers to opportunity for students; BU are the official higher education partner of the Cherries, with the BU logo appearing on the front of the women’s and girls’ kit.
Seth Wright, studying Sports Management student at Bournemouth University, said: “I found out about the studentship through my lecturer who told us to apply for it, so I did and went through the interview system and luckily got it! I’m hoping it will provide valuable work experience, I can go and tell all my friends that I’m linked to AFC Bournemouth now, I’m so glad for the opportunity!”
Riley McLoughlin, studying Sport & Exercise Science student at Bournemouth University, said: “It is such a surreal experience and to visit the stadium and see behind the scenes and know that we’re going to be involved with the Club. It is going to open doors and round my experience out as a student and give me a better chance of a job when I finish my degree. It is also going to open my eyes to all the different departments and roles within football and the work that they do, because that is what I want to go into after my degree.”
Jonathan Goode, Head of Fundraising & Alumni Relations at Bournemouth University, also commented: "A huge congratulations to Riley and Seth for securing the new studentships. We received a large number of applications for the two awards, which reflects the value of the studentship offer - not just in terms of funding but also in opportunities to build skills and industry contacts. We are grateful to the team at AFC Bournemouth for supporting our students in this way, and are excited to follow Riley and Seth's progress over the next two years."
James Derella, AFC Bournemouth’s Vice President of Global Partnerships Activation, discussed his delight at the studentship: “It’s great that the Club are able to provide these opportunities and give individuals who are passionate about their industry first-hand experience. We’re really looking forward to welcoming Seth and Riley over the next two seasons and support them alongside their studies. I’d like to extend my thanks to BU for helping to bring such a fantastic initiative to life.”
Riley and Seth will now work closely with the Club across the next two years while they study, with opportunities to ground their education through practical examples at the Club.
For more information about the partnership between Bournemouth University and AFC Bournemouth, visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/afc-bournemouth.
