Success Stories

Through the benefit of the legacy we received from Brian and Marie Shuker we have been able to support 34 young people with their university careers in the last three years.  These young people are undertaking courses as diverse as Philosophy and Computer Games Development.

Fund helps Angela fulfil her father’s wish

When she was born, Angela Bunce’s parents had high aspirations for her and hoped she would go to university.  Tragically, Angela’s father was taken ill and passed away when she was just eight years old, leaving her mother to bring Angela up on her own.

Angela did not give up on her father’s aspirations for her, and when she was a teenager she decided she would like to be a midwife.  When she researched the profession she found the only route into midwifery was with a degree, but with her mother struggling to support her and her younger siblings, Angela knew her mother would not be able to afford to offer her any financial support with university.

Angela explains: “I come from a low income family, which means I don’t get any financial support from my mum, who already struggles to support the family on the money she earns from her 21 hours of night shifts and what’s left of my dad’s pension."  

Angela_Bunce_Website 

Click here to see how One Degree More helped Angela 

"So when someone from The Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon came to a school assembly and explained that they could offer grants to support young people through university if they had home circumstances that might prevent them from being able to go otherwise, I decided to apply."

“When I opened the letter and found out I’d been awarded a grant I cried with happiness at the fact someone thought I was worthy and good enough to go to university. My basic course hours are 37.5 hours per week; the hours most people work in a full time job.  On top of that I have to find time to study.  My university also states that students on my course should not have a part time job because of the hours you need to put into the course and the midwifery shift work that we carry out as part of our course. The support from The Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon enables me to pay for things like my midwifery texts books and uniform for the community work which makes up part of my course.  There really aren’t enough words to describe how grateful and appreciative I am.  The fund has made a huge difference to me; it’s changing my life and shaping my future.”

Angela is studying Midwifery at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, and receives financial support from The Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon’s One Degree More campaign.


ONE DEGREE MORE supports young people whose home circumstances prevent them from going to university.  The campaign aims to raise £5 million, which will enable The Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon to support 30 young people in the area to realise their dream of going to university each year.

 

    Surviving Winter Update

    This campaign is now closed.
    Read more »

    Salisbury Diamond Jubilee Fund Grants available

    THE MAYOR’S APPEAL IS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS WOULD £1,000 HELP YOUR GROUP?
    Read more »

    Survivng Winter Update

    The lastest news on our Survivng Winter Campaign
    Read more »