Issuu

Your Your

2021

Donations making a difference 2021

A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER

Covid-19

Student Student hardship hardship appeal appeal

donation Record breaking Alumni donation

giving backback Alumni giving

A new way

Virtual volunteering

Your Gift 2021

Thank you for supporting our students After a challenging year for everyone, this issue of Your Gift is a reminder of the positives, of the highlights, and of the exceptional sense of community here at the University of Sheffield. You - donors, volunteers, fundraisers and alumni - have come together to support our students when they needed it most. You have shown belief in our University and a commitment to helping us address the global problems we are working to solve.

Thanks to your generosity, students facing unexpected financial difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic have received the help they need. You have given your time so generously this year, guiding and advising students as they take their first steps on the career ladder in a challenging employment market. You have enabled the University to continue to deliver impactful research and offer students from all backgrounds the opportunity of a Sheffield education. This issue of Your Gift highlights just some of the projects and initiatives that would not have been possible without you.

You’ve made a huge difference this year, says Professor Koen Lamberts I hope you will take great pleasure in reading about the impact that your support has made. Professor Koen Lamberts President and Vice-Chancellor

You should be so proud Over the past 18 months, so much has been against them. But your belief in a fairer and more inclusive University of Sheffield has given students hope. As President of our Students’ Union, and on behalf of every student you’ve helped, I want to thank you for the kindness you’ve shown. Students’ Union President Evie Croxford has seen first hand how your donations have helped students through this toughest of years.

Thanks to donors like you, hundreds of students are currently studying at Sheffield with a life-changing scholarship. And since the pandemic began, every single student eligible for a grant from the Student

Hardship Fund has been awarded the support they need. These programmes offer a lifeline to low-income students. And without the support of generous donors like you, so many talented students would miss out on the education they deserve. I hope you’ll celebrate what a difference we can make when we work together. With huge thanks from Sheffield, Evie Croxford Students’ Union President 2021

Unless specified otherwise, the figures included throughout Your Gift relate to the financial year 2020/21.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Hardship Fund appeal 5x

Covid-19 impacted my studies and my mental health

more applications for financial aid

£270k raised

400

students supported

Applications for emergency financial support have increased exponentially this year. Thanks to alumni donations, students in need have received the help they require.

As the country went into lockdown in March 2020, thousands of students were left struggling. The Covid-19 pandemic affected Sheffield’s student community in many unexpected ways. Some were unable to work as a result of contracting the virus or having to self-isolate; shops, bars and restaurants closed their doors meaning others lost the part-time jobs that helped to fund their studies; many had to finance travelling back to the UK from studying or internships abroad at short notice; and those hoping to return home - particularly international students - had to stay in Sheffield and cover extra rent. Applications to our Student Hardship Fund rose by 500% from the previous year. The University did all it could, committing to help as many students as possible.

It’s not over yet

Funds and resources were diverted to have the biggest impact. Wellbeing services prioritised those who needed mental health support. And we worked closely with our Students’ Union to ensure student voices were heard. But we needed to do more. So in May 2020, we launched the Student Hardship appeal a new cause for our alumni community and one that generated a fantastic response. To date, donations have added more than £270,000 to the hardship fund. Your generosity has helped ensure that every eligible student facing unexpected financial emergencies as a result of the pandemic has received the help they needed.

Give today to help students experiencing unexpected financial difficulties - sheffield.ac.uk/giving/hardship

“The lockdown restrictions meant that the hours at my part-time job weren’t as flexible and were seriously cut down. Eventually, I had to stop working because my shifts started to clash with my course timetable. Without this income, it was really difficult to get by. Having financial difficulties impacted my studies and my mental health. I was constantly worrying about how I was going to travel from my course’s work placement, or how to pay the increasing bills because I was studying from my student house. I honestly considered not going back to university because the financial stress was just too much. I felt hopeless. I couldn’t see a resolution to the situation. Since I’ve had the grant, I’ve felt a lot more focused on my studies. I feel relieved that I can get to the end of my degree without having to constantly stress about finances. Your donations helped me when I had no-one else to turn to. I can’t thank you enough.” Elisha Balfour, Speech and Language Therapy student

Your Gift 2021

Santander Universities donations reach magic million Since 2010, Santander has been supporting the University of Sheffield, changing the lives of thousands of students for the better. Thanks to a new three-year agreement, the bank’s total donations to the University are set to exceed an astonishing £1,000,000. The agreement will be used to fund a wide variety of opportunities including scholarships, enterprise support, business start-ups, internships, as well as overseas work, study and volunteer opportunities to boost career prospects.

Emerging entrepreneur brings business idea to life Natalia Welch is just one of many students who have benefitted from Santander’s help. Natalia - who set up her first business selling sweets from her home in Columbia when she was just eight years old - received a scholarship from Santander to study at the University of Sheffield. Here Natalia met fellow Colombian, Daniela Orrego. Having already started her first business, Pura Panela - selling unrefined sugar cane from Colombia - with the help of the Santander internship scheme, Natalia jumped at the chance to collaborate with her friend Daniela and bring a new product to market - Loro Crisps. Made of plantain, not potato, they are Colombia’s most popular type of crisp. The pair were able to set the foundations for their new venture after receiving the Enterprise Summer Grant funded by Santander Universities. Their early success has seen them launch Loro Crisps in three different countries and secure deals with major supermarkets. They’ve also represented Sheffield at the Santander Universities Emerging Entrepreneurs Programme 2020 and received a nomination for the University’s best start-up in the Santander-X competition.

Enterprising Natalia Welch has been supported by Santander Universities to venture into the world of business.

STUDENT SUPPORT

A more inclusive Medical School For the second year running, 15 new students are fulfilling their ambition to study medicine at the University of Sheffield with the support of donors like you. They are part of a progressive programme being run by the Medical School which fast-tracks science graduates from financially disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds straight into their second year. Thanks to donor backing, each student has also been awarded a bursary. This financial support is vital in opening doors for those who might otherwise find it difficult to access or continue in higher education.

Medical students in need of financial support are receiving the help they need.

Programme Lead, Dr Shah Nawaz, said: “Widening access to our courses reflects the national requirement for increased numbers of doctors and fits with the University’s civic mission. We are committed to investing back into Sheffield by educating new generations of doctors who will care for our communities in the years to come.”

Closing the state school gap Currently, young people from the most disadvantaged areas of the country are six times less likely to attend a top university than those from the most advantaged areas. To redress this balance, we’ve hosted virtual summer schools in the past two years with one key aim: to encourage bright pupils from state schools in under-represented areas to apply to leading universities like ours. Run in collaboration with The Elephant Group, a charity committed to improving fair access to top universities, the events were made possible thanks to donations totalling £50,000 from a generous alumnus. Year 12 and 13 pupils from state schools across the UK took part in a number of virtual workshops to both inform and inspire them. The sessions proved vital for those

with no experience of, or personal connection to, university education. Following the summer schools, 88% of attendees said they now feel confident preparing a successful university application and 25% indicated they are now planning to apply to study at Sheffield.

With the help of an alumni donor, our summer schools are supporting academically able students’ aspirations, attainment and applications into top universities.

Your Gift 2021

Scholarship stories Three students, all from different walks of life with one thing in common: they’ve each been supported to fulfil their potential with the help of a scholarship funded by your donations.

Realising dreams “The scholarship means everything to me. I would never have been able to afford to pursue my dream of postgraduate research without it. I cannot convey just how important it is. I feel incredibly privileged.”

Equality of opportunity

Jeffrey Wager, MSc Acquired Communication Disorders student

The gift of hope “Those who donate to the University to help people like me are heroes. Receiving the scholarship makes me feel like there is a reward for hard work and diligence. I’m forever grateful. Its impact cannot be overemphasised. I don’t have to worry about paying my fees, my rent, or eating. More than all that, it’s given me hope.”

“Being financially secure has lifted a very heavy weight off my shoulders. It drives me to always do my best. The first-class grades I’ve achieved so far are proof of this. By supporting scholarships, you’re giving more young people like me an equal footing in life. Thank you.”

Chiamaka Chima, MSc International Relations student

Alice Nisbet, third year Microbiology and Biochemistry student

STUDENT SUPPORT

Record donation bringing about change “The University of Sheffield is developing a national and global reputation in gene therapy and we are delighted to be contributing to its continued work through this gift.” Andrew Law, Chairman and CEO, Caxton Associates

The landmark gift will improve access to higher education for students from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds.

£2.85m

supporting disadvantaged students into higher education

£5.85m largest ever single individual donation

Alumnus Andrew Law (BA Economics 1987) has chosen to give back to his university by donating £5.85 million; the largest ever single individual donation in Sheffield’s 116-year history. Made by the Law Family Charitable Foundation, the gift will be used to widen access to education and fund medical research. Over the next five years, the Law Family Ambition Programme will empower disadvantaged students from low participation backgrounds to access higher education and thrive once they

£3m

funding gene therapy research

get to university. Through scholarships, academic and career mentoring, employability workshops with businesses and more, the programme will help them develop the skills, confidence and social abilities to progress into successful careers after graduation. The landmark donation will also support the University’s long-standing commitment to pioneering medical research into gene therapy; accelerating clinical trials for rare diseases and the development of advanced therapies.

Alumnus Andrew Law’s gift of £5.85m is the largest ever received from an individual to the University.

For more information on the Law Family Charitable Foundation please visit lawfamilycharitablefoundation.org

Your Gift 2021

Paying it forward Dr Yee Yee Low and her husband Dr Philip Churn met here at Sheffield. They’re now loyal donors to the University and regularly volunteer their time, taking part in a number of student mentoring schemes. Since graduating, they’ve worked in engineering and teaching roles across the world. They recently told us why it’s important for them to give back to Sheffield. It was during her application to the Asian Women of Achievement Awards (an award she won in 2014) that engineer Dr Yee Yee Low realised how much her alma mater meant to her. “Looking back, I thought ‘The University of Sheffield has given me so much, and now I have a career which gives me good outcomes and good money, why don’t I help somebody else who may be in the same situation I was in?’”

“Someone helped me with my scholarship and I have a career now that I wouldn’t have had without it. If I can help someone else have this, then why not.” Dr Yee Yee Low Coming to Sheffield from Malaysia, Yee Yee studied Chemical Engineering and Fuel Technology (1998) for her undergraduate degree. She later went on to complete a PhD in Chemical Process Engineering (2002) with support from a Sheffield scholarship. During this time, she became a tutor at Ranmoor House halls of residence - a sprawling complex that once housed around 800 students. It was here that she met her husband, Dr Philip Churn (PhD Electrical and Electronics Engineering 2004), then a student warden.

£10

a month would give a low-income student the chance to join a club or society

Both Yee Yee and Philip have gone on to have distinguished international careers in their chosen fields, working in engineering roles and teaching positions across the world. They credit Sheffield with allowing them to do this. Now, they’re eager to give back and help others. As Philip said, “Sheffield was one of the best times of my life, so how can I help others have the same experience? By giving a little bit of my money but also by giving my time. I think if you’ve been given an opportunity in life, is it not incumbent on us to do likewise and help others?” Yee Yee agrees, “Both of us have gained a lot from Sheffield, so we want to pay back and pay forward.”

£50

a month would significantly support ground-breaking medical research

She has a message for other graduates too, “If everyone was just able to give £5 per month, collectively that’s a huge amount.” The pair are proud to hear about what their donations go towards, as Philip explains, “I like that we can support students in difficult situations, enabling them to achieve their goal and change their whole life and career. The fact we can help them do that is just amazing.” Yee Yee added, “We also enjoy seeing the money being used towards research grants or paying for equipment that allows research to happen - we know this is important. It may not always be glamorous but it is someone’s pursuit of knowledge and I think that’s great.”

£100

a month would provide a full undergraduate scholarship for one student for a whole year

STUDENT SUPPORT

Leaders in Law

We’re passionate about enabling students to fulfil their potential regardless of their background. And now, those wanting to pursue a career in law are being given the support they need to do just that thanks to one generous donation. The Susan Crosbie Leaders in Law programme will help ambitious students from widening participation backgrounds at every stage of their academic journey. From high school through to graduation and beyond, they’ll receive financial support, professional mentoring from alumni and opportunities to make contacts at leading law firms, giving these students access to networks they wouldn’t have otherwise.

Grateful for the help they received whilst studying here, Yee Yee and Philip now make a regular gift to the University and volunteer their time to help current students.

The £500,000 gift was made in memory of alumna Susan Crosbie (LLB Law 1987). Her brother Mark (BA Economics and Accounting and Financial Management 1981) tells us more, “Sue was incredibly passionate about removing barriers to education. She was so proud to be a Sheffield graduate and she’d be thrilled that this gift will do so much for so many students who started out just like her.”

Your Gift 2021

Your Gifts

Gifts to the University

From alumni giving a regular amount each month to one-off donations from charitable trusts and foundations, every single gift you make is put to good use across the breadth of the University. Here’s a snapshot of just some of the donations you’ve made recently - and how they’re being used.

£12.9m 100% of every pound received goes directly to University causes

1,691

Who’s giving?

138

regular donors gave

Philanthropic trusts and foundations gave

£2.6m 40

community fundraisers raised

£334k 9

supporting

£125k 6

supporting

key projects

supporting

key projects

Where there’s a Will there’s a way

legacy gifts were received totalling

donors made gifts to the University in memory of loved ones

£392k

866

people have currently pledged to leave a gift in their Will to Sheffield - thank you!

Did you know?

Oldest donor

100

Youngest donor

Longest standing donor

18+ years

Countries donated from

83% of donors are alumni

SCHOLARSHIPS

Departments with the most alumni donors 2nd

City and region

3rd

Student success

£1.2m

Law

hours this year helping to rebuild the city post-Covid with local charities, projects and schools

School of Education

20,500

The Medical School

Student volunteering doubled to

Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

4th

5th

Geography

1st

Chemistry

Making a difference

The gift of time

funded

270 UG + 51 PG scholarships

for students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds

1,034 46 7,000 56 11.5hrs

countries helped an incredible

Research

£3.9m supported

95 41%

alumni competed

bronze medals won

departments volunteering an average of

research projects

helped fund medical research

students in

They were each supported by our Elite Sports Performance Scheme during their studies

each

Figures from CASE-Ross 2020/21 unless otherwise specified

alumni from

Your Gift 2021

A step closer in the fight against Parkinson’s Pioneering research at the University of Sheffield is transforming understanding of Parkinson’s disease. Your donations, totalling over £500,000 to date, are making a huge difference. Thanks to you, our understanding of this incurable brain disease is being accelerated - taking us one step closer to making that crucial breakthrough sooner. For over 50 years, one-size-fits-all treatments have simply masked the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Currently, there’s no cure and no way to stop it from getting any worse. With your help, we are working to change that.

By tackling the root causes of the disease and developing personalised treatments, the University of Sheffield is finding a new way forward for patients with Parkinson’s – a disease that affects over 10 million people across the world.

A week of fundraising Between 3-7 May, more than 100 fundraisers took part in Sheffield’s first ever virtual fundraising week to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research. Thanks to the efforts and donations of our international Sheffield community, £56,000 was raised. Fundraisers ran, walked, cycled or swam to raise money for the cause. Viewers from across the globe also tuned into our live-streamed fundraise-athon which saw interviews with our researchers and alumni, and featured a live bake-along with Great British Bake Off winner and member of staff, Dr Rahul Mandal.

100+

fundraisers

Community response Dr George Pickering (PhD Metallurgy 1965) passed away in April 2020 after battling with Parkison’s Disease for 10 years. His family have raised over £1,000 to support Parkinson’s research at Sheffield in his honour. After seeing their Grandpa struggle with Parkinson’s, Emilia Chapper (8) and her brother Rafi (11) raised over £500 to help find a cure for the disease by hosting a garden fair smashing their original target of £100. Well done Emilia and Rafi!

A live bake-along helped raise funds for Parkinson’s research as part of The Big Week.

1,383 donations

£56k

As a tribute to her father, Professor Vanessa Toulmin - the University’s Director of City & Culture, Partnerships & Regional Engagement - raised over £1,000 by cycling 54km from home throughout The Big Week, even completing some of her challenge during team meetings! Andy Fazakerley has written Can’t Control My Soul, a powerful song about Parkinson’s to reflect on his own suffering with the disease. He’s raised over £1,400 for our appeal in the process. Listen to the song at youtu.be/poOxyOLdNlk

raised

Back the breakthrough

Donate now at sheffield.ac.uk/ giving/donate/parkinsons

RESEARCH

Supporting early career researchers today to make a breakthrough tomorrow

“My ambition is to help further understanding of this devastating disorder and contribute to the discovery of treatments.” Your help in funding the next generation of experts today is crucial in the long-term fight against Parkinson’s.

Thanks to donors like you, there’s a new PhD student working at the University’s world-leading research centre, the Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN). Toby Burgess is part of the next generation of scientists dedicated to finding a life-changing breakthrough in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. We caught up with Toby to find out more about his work. Why is research into Parkinson’s important? Parkinson’s is one of the most complex and debilitating forms of degeneration, affecting people physically and mentally, stripping them of their memories, personality and motor skills. It causes a huge burden on our healthcare system and as prevalence increases at an alarming rate, research into medical treatments is critical.

What is the focus of your research? Grouping Parkinson’s patients based upon the underlying causes of their disease. Once groups are established and validated, we’ll test promising drugs that target the abnormalities present in each group. The project is exceptionally exciting and the results will hopefully lead to more tailored treatments for patients.

Toby Burgess (far right), donor-funded PhD student

patients. These groups display various abnormalities in one or both systems. We have started to assess the defects within each group to validate our classification and identify an underlying cause. Do you have a message for the donors who helped to fund your PhD?

Thank you! Research is incredibly expensive and would not be possible without your donations. These opportunities are so Can you share any updates with donors about what you’ve been working important for both researchers and patients, they allow institutions to explore on recently? more avenues of research and buy state of Since starting my PhD, I’ve completed the art equipment, which greatly improves the initial assessment of our patients’ our chances of finding crucial treatments to energy and waste systems. The results incurable diseases. were very interesting, and we have subsequently identified four groups within our cohort, classifying over a third of our

Your Gift 2021

A sustainable Desert Garden Thanks to your amazing support, the University’s Desert Garden appeal raised almost £270,000 in donations. In a year like no other, your generosity has made this vital project sustainable, bringing hope and optimism to more people whose lives have been displaced by war. Set up by scientists from the University of Sheffield, the Desert Garden project has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees living in the Zaatari refugee camp and its sister camp Azraq. With your help – together with innovative Sheffield science – they are now able to grow their own crops in the arid conditions using recycled mattress foam, not soil. This method uses 80% less water than traditional soil-based plant production. And it’s transforming lives – enabling families to grow fresh produce, gain new skills and find a renewed sense of purpose in the harshest of circumstances. Learn more at sheffield.ac.uk/desert-garden

Syrian refugees in Jordan are growing crops in arid desert conditions thanks to your donations and innovative Sheffield science.

See inside new medical imaging centre It’s been almost three years since 11,000 of you raised £2 million to help fund Yorkshire’s only PET-MRI scanner. In that time, building work has been completed, the scanner has been installed and important medical research has begun to take place. Now, you can take a look inside for yourself. Located at the heart of the University’s medical campus, donors and patients can take a virtual tour of the ground-breaking £10 million facility. PET-MRI is the most advanced form of medical imaging available today. The research taking place at the centre is set to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as dementia, multiple sclerosis, cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Sheffield’s PET-MRI facility is opening its virtual doors, as it helps transform research into devastating diseases.

Take the virtual tour at https://bit.ly/3EcpYZD

VOLUNTEERING

Virtual volunteering connecting students with alumni In an increasingly competitive employment market, set amongst the backdrop of a global pandemic, current students and new graduates are facing a range of unprecedented challenges. Many haven’t had the chance to gain valuable work experience; traditional networking opportunities have been extremely limited; and they’ve missed out on undertaking internships that can often lead to graduate roles. It’s factors like these that make support from alumni volunteers like you so valuable to students. Over the past 18 months, alumni across the globe have stepped up in new and innovative ways to help

ensure students’ career prospects aren’t damaged by the pandemic. Overleaf you’ll find just a few examples of how alumni support has benefitted students recently and how you can get involved in future.

“ Giving your time, energy and advice to support students at any time is incredibly valuable. Throughout the last turbulent year, it’s been more important than ever.” Lizzie Ruse, Alumni Volunteering Manager

Applications for emergency financial support have increased exponentially this year. Thanks to alumni donations, students in need have received the help they need.

Volunteering went virtual this year, providing both alumni and students with new and innovative ways to connect with each other.

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Your Gift 2021

The Boardroom Born out of the changing needs of students during the pandemic, this series of exclusive online masterclasses delivered by senior level Sheffield alumni supports ambitious finalists. Participating students had the chance to improve their graduate profile, increase leadership skills and build networks to set them up for success as they begin applying for graduate roles. Expert alumni hosts have included Executive Vice Chair at Mastercard Anne Cairns (BSc Pure Maths & Statistics 1972), inventor of the Tesco Clubcard Clive Humby (BSc Maths & Computer Science 1975), Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft Jenny Lay-Flurrie (BMus Music 1997) and hedge fund manager Andrew Law (BA Economics 1987). The impact on participating students like Wannia Jamil (MEng Chemical Engineering 2020), has been huge, as she explains:

“The Boardroom sessions helped me to build my confidence as a woman and stay motivated to want to work within the BIG 4, allowing me to ultimately gain graduate offers from these companies. It gave an insight on the business world and entrepreneurship and allowed me to value the opportunities that are out there.”

Alumni volunteers helped Wannia Jamil secure a coveted graduate role.

Northern City Connections

Coach Cafe

Northern City Connections gives students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds the opportunity to visit successful alumni in organisations across the north to build their networks and enhance their career prospects.

Also new this year, Coach Cafe pairs mid-level alumni with recent graduates looking to gain advice, build networks internationally and discuss their career goals.

With Covid restrictions in place, in-person visits weren’t possible this year. However, alumni found new ways to volunteer their time by offering interactive workshops online instead. Chloe Crisp, a participating second year Philosophy, Religion and Ethics student said,

“The biggest impact for me is that I am more confident in both my communication skills and my future career; using my degree to apply it to a variety of careers which I wouldn’t have otherwise considered.”

Recent graduate Megan Jones (BA Modern Languages 2017) was particularly grateful for having this virtual support. She said,

“As a participant, to say it was useful is an understatement! It was fantastic to talk to some of the alumni coaches - especially seeing as I’m located on the other side of the world (in Japan) and wouldn’t have had the opportunity otherwise.” The alumni volunteers found the experience rewarding too, with one coach commenting that their favourite part of the day was,

“having the chance to meet and hear the experience and views of another coach during the networking.”

VOLUNTEERING

017 17

Connecting with alumni - both in person and online - is so valuable for students as they plan for their future careers.

Current opportunities for alumni There’s never been a better time to inspire, guide and advise the next generation. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an expert in your field, here are just some of the volunteering opportunities coming up that you can get involved in. All disciplines Mentoring - Share your e expertise with students interested in a similar career to yours in online mentoring sessions. raduate case study - Tell the G story of your career journey to inform and inspire prospective and current students. oach Cafe - Share career C advice with students from your faculty in our new online networking programme.

Discipline-specific opportunities S ocial Sciences - London City Connections returns in March 2022 and we’re looking for senior-level alumni to get involved in this exciting day of in-person company visits, talks and networking. E ngineering - Take part in the Global Engineering Challenge and Engineering You’re Hired project weeks in January and February 2022 to help students tackle real life engineering problems.

L aw - If you’re a lawyer, solicitor or barrister working in Sheffield or the wider north, get involved in The Firm, our brand new initiative to support Law students.

Become a volunteer For more information, including how to sign up for the opportunities detailed here, visit sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/volunteering

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Your Gift 2021

What will your legacy be? When you think about the legacy you’ll leave behind, what does it involve: Helping the next generation? Advancing medical research? Creating a fairer society? By leaving a gift in your Will to the University of Sheffield, you can do all of these things. That’s what alumna Pat Rossington and former Professor, Sir Paul Bramley did. And their gifts are having an impact right now.

Million pound gift showing power of education One grateful alumna has given back to her alma mater in the most incredible way - by leaving a landmark gift in her Will. At almost £1 million, it’s the largest legacy gift bequeathed in the University’s recent history. Pat Rossington (BA General 1950, Dip Ed 1953) forged a passion for learning here at Sheffield that followed her throughout her

life and in her career as a deputy head teacher in London. Now, Pat’s donation to the University is testament to her longheld belief in the power of education.

Grateful for her Sheffield education, Pat Rossington’s legacy gift is the largest ever received by the University.

MA English Literature student Natalie Hurt was recently awarded a Rossington Scholarship. Natalie is just one of many whose lives have been touched by Pat’s generosity. “I don’t want to be cliché and say ‘things like this just don’t happen to people like me’ but that’s how I feel,” said Natalie. The scholarship is about more than just financial support, it’s giving Natalie the confidence and hope to pursue her goals.

The donation is making a difference in three key areas:

Improving access to higher education Rossington Scholarships provide financial support for talented undergraduate and postgraduate students from lower-income and disadvantaged backgrounds. Supporting disabled students The Rossington Disabled Student Fund provides students with access to vital assessments, equipment and support as soon as they need it via the University’s Disability and Dyslexia Support Service. Funding medical research The gift helped fund the groundbreaking PET-MRI facility (see p.14) in Sheffield that is advancing research into incurable diseases.

“I understand that I receive financial help because I really need it. But I also think it’s important to remind myself that I’m achieving these things in spite of my background, and not because of it.” Natalie Hurt, English Literature student Natalie has been able to continue her studies thanks to the gift Pat Rossington left in her Will.

LEGACIES

019 19

Professor’s final wishes honoured Dentistry and medical students facing financial difficulties will receive the help they need thanks to Sir Paul’s bequest. It’s not just alumni who feel a strong connection to Sheffield; many former staff do too. Professor Sir Paul Bramley (Hon MD 1994) was one of them. As Dean of the School of Clinical Dentistry and Professor of Dental Surgery throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he inspired many. And the gift he chose to leave to the University in his Will is continuing his legacy of support that he maintained throughout his lifetime. Sir Paul Bramley’s prestigious career in dentistry was honed here at the University of Sheffield. He chose to leave a gift of £2,000 in his Will to help students in financial need.

Leaving a gift in your Will If you would like more information about leaving a gift in your Will, please contact David Meadows. David is the University’s Philanthropy Manager for Legacies and Individual Giving and a Sheffield graduate himself. He will be happy to discuss your wishes and answer any questions you may have. Call: +44 (0)114 222 1073 Email: d.meadows@sheffield.ac.uk

It’s been more than thirty years since Sir Paul retired and ten years since he informed us that he’d pledged to leave a gift in his Will. Now, in this most extraordinary of years after his passing, that £2,000 has been put straight to good use. As per his wishes, the donation is helping dentistry and medical students who are struggling financially. With increasing numbers applying to the University’s Hardship Fund since the start of the pandemic (see p.3), his foresight and generosity is proving a timely lifeline for those in need.

020

Your Gift 2021

Make a difference today Donate sheffield.ac.uk/donate Give your time sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/volunteer Make a regular gift sheffield.ac.uk/giving/regular-giving Fundraise sheffield.ac.uk/fundraise Leave a gift in your Will sheffield.ac.uk/legacies Talk to us

Wherever you are in the world and whatever way you want to make a contribution to the University of Sheffield, we’re here to help. Take a look at our contacts page to find the best person for you to speak to:

sheffield.ac.uk/giving/contact Campaigns and Alumni Relations The University of Sheffield 40 Victoria Street Sheffield S10 2TN

giving@sheffield.ac.uk +44 (0) 114 222 5598 sheffield.ac.uk/giving

@SheffieldAlumni University of Sheffield Alumni @SheffieldAlumni University of Sheffield Alumni

Exempt charity X1089