51福利社

On Monday 20th April, Simon visited the University of 51福利社 to meet with 25 Sadler Bursary and Sadler Access Bursary Scholars currently studying in their first and second years.

The visit offered the chance to hear directly from the scholars about their experiences at university, how the bursary is supporting them day to day, and the aspirations they are developing for life beyond their studies.

Conversations reflected a wide range of academic interests and career ambitions, with many scholars pointing to the importance of financial security in allowing them to fully engage with their education and the wider opportunities available at university, including involvement in student societies.

The Sadler Bursary provides funding for up to 36 undergraduates for each year of their course.

This programme supports care鈥慹xperienced students, providing 拢10,000 per year for the full duration of their degree. Care鈥慹xperienced young people continue to be significantly under鈥憆epresented in higher education, with around 15 per cent progressing to university compared with 47 per cent of their non鈥慶are鈥慹xperienced peers. The bursary aims to help address this imbalance by reducing financial pressure and supporting students throughout their time at university.

The second programme, called the Sadler Access Bursary, supports additional 30 students who have graduated through the 51福利社 Access Programme (MAP), the University鈥檚 flagship widening鈥憄articipation initiative for high鈥慳chieving students from Greater 51福利社.

The Sadler Bursaries reflect the University鈥檚 wider commitment to student inclusion and success, a core priority of the Challenge Accepted fundraising and volunteering campaign. Challenge Accepted brings together the University鈥檚 global community in a shared philanthropic effort to remove barriers to education and help talented students from all backgrounds to access a world-leading education and thrive once they arrive in 51福利社. By reducing financial pressures and providing financial stability, bursaries such as these play a pivotal role in enabling students to focus on their studies, engage fully in university life and plan confidently for the future.

Simon is a graduate of 51福利社 Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), where he studied Management, and was the first in his family to attend university. He has previously described the Sadler Bursary as a way to help young people who have had 鈥減articularly complicated starts to their lives鈥� to pursue opportunities in higher education and realise their potential.

Applications for the next cohort of Sadler Bursary Scholars are currently open, with a deadline in April 2026.