Students from care backgrounds often face greater financial and emotional pressures without the family support networks that other students have. These students often work longer hours to support their living expenses, giving them less time to study and do well, and this adversely affects their mental health and wellbeing. 

We are supporting the University of Westminster with Sir Simon Milton Care Leaver Bursaries. The Bursary is awarded to five Westminster-based Care Leavers.  The purpose of the bursaries is to support these students in their final year and to transition into employment.

 

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“I would like to thank the Board of Trustees at Sir Simon Milton Foundation sincerely for this generous and transformational donation. This will truly go a long way in helping 15 of our most vulnerable students, with students adversely affected by the effects of the cost-of-living crisis amongst the general population and facing a more uncertain job market than ever before.”

Jules Attanayake, Trusts and Foundations Officer in the Development Team at Westminster

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CASE STUDY: AMY

“I am so grateful for the Sir Simon Milton Foundation bursary! Although I have been living independently for two years now - and benefited hugely from the independence and my own study space, I have struggled with the adjustment of paying bills, and for travel and equipment needed for my studies and future career. This bursary is helping me mainly with bills, rent and travel expenses to and from campus. It will also ease the pressure on me whilst I look for full time employment after university”.
 

CASE STUDY: ANEEZA 

“The bursary is proving hugely helpful to me, as a single mother and running my own household. I have a lot of financial responsibilities on me. I just paid my rent today which was a big hit to my pocket. It is my daughter’s birthday on Monday and it’s upsetting not to be able to do more to celebrate her special day. However - I know that by using the bursary to pay bills and cut down on paid work- I’ll be able to achieve a better degree which will help us both in the long run”.

 

CASE STUDY: MIRAJUDDIN

“I have a lot of expenses that I incur on a daily basis, such as travel expenses which costs me over £100 a month, purchasing expensive books for my studies, spending money daily on food, clothes and paying for a mobile bill, etc. As we all know, the financial living crisis has made everything almost twice as expensive as it is used to be before. I often restricted myself during university days on certain things that are necessary for me to have. The bursary is lifting a tonne of weight off my shoulders. Thank you – once again”.

CASE STUDY: POLA 

"In the past I was able to spare enough time to have a part time job and happily earn enough to keep my spendings below the limit, but due to the demanding attention needed for my final year of my course, I had to stop working and give my full attention to my studies. This bursary has been a huge support in keeping my head above water whilst not working and studying for my finals – it is giving me the last push I need to get through my studies and achieve a better outcome; therefore accelerating my employment process after I finish my studies”.

CASE STUDY: SOFIA 

"I’m so thankful to the Sir Simon Milton Foundation! I struggled to attend university and work simultaneously, as well as being a single mum to two wonderful little girls. My grades and attendance dropped significantly, so I quit my job as my studies are more important. However, this, unfortunately, meant that I am struggling financially constantly, especially in the current cost of living crisis that is going on at the moment. This bursary is making a massive difference to me by significantly relieving some of the financial stress and anxiety off of my shoulders, which is allowing me to focus more on my studies."