Hardship scholarships for talented students

Northumbria University, Newcastle, has established a partnership with the Jim Jackson Educational and Enabling Foundation to establish new hardship scholarships for talented students from traditionally under-represented groups who want to study at the University.

Approximately 40% of Northumbria’s students are from under-represented groups, and 65% are from North East England, where school attainment and progression into higher education are the lowest nationally. Through its philanthropic partnerships, the University offers scholarships and hardship support to students from a range of backgrounds, and in so doing, provides a pathway of supported progression from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

Hardship scholarships are especially important for students from under-represented groups to ensure financial barriers, such as reduced government funding, fear of debt and low family income, are not the deciding factors when choosing and progressing in higher education.

The Jim Jackson Foundation was established in memory of Jim, who grew up in disadvantaged circumstances, and overcame adversity with the support of mentors who recognised his ability and potential. He had a successful career in business, encouraging and mentoring young people, urging them to move ahead, overcoming their lack of educational qualifications through personal development and hard work. He believed in making a difference to young people’s lives and championed, in particular, people who did not have professional qualifications but were keen to work hard to progress. Jim died in 2021 and in his memory, Jim’s wife and business partner Jill established the Foundation to carry on his passion for advancing people who have faced disadvantage but have the potential to succeed.

Due to a shared ambition to enable disadvantaged people to access higher education and achieve their career ambitions in business, Northumbria University and the Jim Jackson Foundation are working together to support students on any academic business-related programme in the Newcastle Business School who can demonstrate that they are struggling with their studies for personal reasons without financial support.

Jill Hill, Founder and Chair of the Jim Jackson Foundation said: “The Jim Jackson Educational and Enabling Foundation is very pleased to partner with Northumbria University to provide support to young people wishing to acquire business qualifications so that they are able to access a career in business.  The aspirations and objectives of Northumbria are closely aligned to those of the Foundation and the Trustees feel sure that the support provided to individuals will be matched by support from Northumbria to enable successful outcomes for those individuals.  We eagerly look forward to celebrating those outcomes and to a long and productive relationship with Northumbria.”

Eight students in the 2024-25 academic year will each receive £2,500, to facilitate their studies and enhance their learning experience, enabling them to access laptops, books, specialist learning equipment, disability support, travel costs, volunteering and mentoring.

Professor Graham Wynn, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at Northumbria, added: "We are very grateful to the Jim Jackson Foundation for their generous support of our students. At Northumbria University, we are committed to unlocking potential and changing lives through education. We are proud that approximately 40% of our students come from areas where participation in higher education has traditionally been low. We believe that higher education is a transformative force, and we are dedicated to ensuring that all our students have the opportunity to succeed without financial barriers. With the support of the Jim Jackson Foundation, our students can focus on their studies and pursue their ambitions, empowering them to achieve their full potential." 

Scholarships like these are being funded with money raised by the University’s fundraising campaign, Higher Education Without Barriers, which provides a range of financial support, mental health and wellbeing services, and community-based projects, to make participation and progression in higher education more achievable for talented students, regardless of their social or economic circumstances. With the support of Northumbria alumni, businesses and charitable partners, the fund has raised over £3.5m and supported more than 3,000 students since it launched in January 2022.

To find out how you or your organisation can get involved, contact Sue Vout, Trust and Foundation Manager, at sue.vout@northumbria.ac.uk.