
A huge thank you to everyone who donated towards BU’s We Care at Christmas campaign, to provide every estranged student with a £50 gift voucher over the festive season.
Thanks to the generosity of the whole BU community, we exceeded our £3,500 target. This means that every one of BU’s 70 estranged students received a gift, and money raised over the target will now help these students to cover the cost of accommodation over the university holidays.
Jonathan Goode, Head of Fundraising and Alumni Relations, said: “It has been incredibly positive to see how the BU community has responded to this appeal, not just with financial donations but also with messages of support and encouragement. While this is a small gesture, we know that it will make a big impact so a massive thank you to everyone who donated.”
The fundraising campaign was launched to help increase feelings of belonging amongst those who are studying without parental support due to estrangement. It responds to research – and our own experience – that shows these students are among those most at risk of leaving university before completing their studies, and that they find holidays and key events particularly difficult.
Students who received the Christmas vouchers responded to say thank you for the “kind and completely unexpected” gesture and to say how much they appreciated the generosity.
Following on from the campaign, the Fundraising and Alumni Relations Team is now seeking funding to help estranged students cover the cost of accommodation over the summer holidays, and to offer exit grants to help them make the transition between university and employment. To find out more contact the team at [email protected].