Partnership working makes all the difference
The power of partnership working should
never be underestimated , particularly during times of crisis . QMU values the strong and trusting relationships it has with its supporters , and we were delighted that one of our most impactful donors , Santander Universities , immediately stepped up and repurposed £ 35,000 funding to support our students who were experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic .
The organisation also provided £ 50,000 to both QMU and Edinburgh Napier University to supply thank you gifts to 1,400 students who helped the NHS in the fight against COVID-19 .
QMU ’ s Nursing and Allied Health Professional students were able to apply to receive a luxury hamper full of delicious Scottish produce . The hampers were created by David McVey , a graduate of QMU ’ s MSc Gastronomy and owner of Edinburgh ’ s Artisan Larder Scotland .
David said : “ We have loved making up the hampers and hearing back from students who have enjoyed the selection of gifts including a range of Scottish cheeses , Edinburgh Honey , Tobermory trout and locally produced tea , coffee , biscuits , and preserves . We wanted to make them feel extraordinary and we are thankful that this support package has contributed to our business and allowed us to do something special for others who are playing a critical part in the country ’ s recovery .”
Coming from a family of nurses , David ’ s mother and sister have both worked on the frontline during the pandemic . He confirmed : “ I am grateful to all the nurses and healthcare professionals who are at risk everyday so that we can be safe . I hope our hampers provided a little respite .”
This initiative was part of a much larger Santander COVID-19 emergency support package at QMU , totalling over £ 75,000 . The additional funding was used to support student start-up businesses and other students who were facing financial hardship due to the pandemic .”
QMU is indebted to Santander for all it has done to support our students during these unprecedented times . ❒
Tutoring initiative helps pupils catch up with learning lost during lockdown
Over lockdown , education authorities became aware that
many school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds had fallen behind in their learning .
There are many reasons why a young person may have struggled to keep up with schooling , but mental health problems , poverty and caring responsibilities could be some of the reasons why their families were also unable to cope .
The MCR Pathways Lockdown Survey 1 of disadvantaged and care-experienced young people found that 68 % of those surveyed had done no school work during lockdown . Without urgent intervention , it was feared that pupils in East Lothian may never catch up – putting them at significant disadvantage in both the short and long term .
In response to this crisis , QMU joined forces with the STV Children ’ s Appeal , East Lothian Council and a local family charity , to launch the East Lothian Tutoring Initiative . The project is supporting S4 – S6 pupils in all six secondary schools across the county .
Callum Maguire , Head of Widening Participation and Outreach at QMU , is passionate about closing the attainment gap and supporting young people to achieve their potential no matter what their background . He said : “ We are delighted that the STV Children ’ s Appeal and a local family charity is financing our delivery of online tutoring which will provide one-to-one support for senior years ’ school pupils .”
The initiative has also created jobs ; young graduates , who may have struggled to secure employment due to the pandemic , have been employed as tutors to support the school pupils in key areas of their learning .
Thomas Kelly , Head of Development and Alumni Relations at QMU , said : “ The East Lothian Tutoring Initiative is showcasing an area of work which has never been done before on this scale , and we are excited to see the immediate impact on individuals , as well as the longer term learning outcomes .
“ Without the incredible support from our two major donors we would be unable to tackle the inequalities facing some of our younger population , and provide them with the fighting chance that they deserve .” ❒
QMYOU / Responding to the Pandemic 9