Impact Magazine 3
Hardship Fund
This bursary continued to make an impact in 2022 .
187 20 £ 133,412.69 students helped
Emergency Grants awarded distributed to students
We contacted all recipients of a Hardship Fund award in 2021 / 22 to ask them to complete a short anonymous survey ; the results help demonstrate the impact that philanthropic support can have on our students .
83 %
‘ My award enabled me to focus on my studies ’
89 %
‘ My award reduced my stress and anxieties ’
81 %
‘ My award improved my university experience ’
All above percentages show those who ‘ agreed ’ or ‘ strongly agreed ’ with each statement .
80 %
‘ My award helped me to become more financially stable ’
58 %
‘ My award prevented me from needing to withdraw from my course ’
The chart below shows the progression outcomes of all recipients of a Hardship Fund award following a standard Hardship Fund application in 2021 / 22 . It demonstrates that these bursaries really do ensure students who require some extra support remain on their journey through higher education .
Progression and retention
24 %
Successfully completed course 45 people
7 %
Repeating the year 14 people
2 %
TBC 3 people
2 %
Student left by choice 3 people
4 %
Student left due to academic failure 7 people
61 %
Progressed to next academic year
115 people
Abi Keay is the Financial Support Manager within Student Services , and her team process a range of bursaries and support funds , and work closely with students who are experiencing financial difficulties during their time at Keele :
“ We see first-hand the impact that our bursaries and support funds have on students ’ wellbeing and their overall experience at university . During the pandemic and cost of living crisis , we have seen increasing numbers of students applying to our Hardship Fund and other support funds , and we can only anticipate that this will continue as the financial pressures faced by students grow . It ’ s often quite difficult to read through students ’ applications for support funds , as it ’ s clear that the pressures they ’ re facing are impacting their mental health and wellbeing . However , through our bursaries and support funds , we ’ re able to provide much-needed financial assistance to help to alleviate their financial difficulties and allow them to progress and succeed at university .”
Abi Keay , Financial Support Manager , Student Services