Queen Mary launches Emergency COVID-19 Fund to support students
Queen Mary University of London have launched a new Emergency Covid-19 Fund to support students who have been affected by the ongoing global pandemic.
Supporting students together
Amidst a second national lockdown in the UK, Queen Mary’s Development and Alumni Engagement Team have launched the Queen Mary Emergency COVID-19 Fund, to ensure that regardless of what is going on around them, students have the support that they need to not only continue their studies but to thrive.
The establishment of the Fund comes in recognition of how COVID- 19 has continued to have a dramatic impact on everyone’s lives, especially students. Many students have lost part-time jobs, are unable to travel and lack resources needed to support them to study during this crisis. The Queen Mary Emergency COVID-19 Fund aims to support students financially as well as emotionally during the global crisis. This Fund is in addition to The University Financial Assistance Fund that the University runs for students who are experiencing financial hardship.
Head of Alumni Engagement, Gemma Marenghi said: “We’re working hard to support our students in every way possible during this anxious time, but with a high volume of student requests, support from the Queen Mary community would help us make sure that no student gets left behind. I strongly believe that the generosity and kindness of our alumni, friends and staff will help our students through this difficult period. Thank you.”
Shamima Akter, President of the Student Union said: “Setting up the Queen Mary Emergency COVID-19 Fund is an important step in acknowledging the hardships students are facing while providing practical support to help alleviate financial pressures. This is why it’s really important that we, as a Queen Mary community, come together to support our students and let them know that they are not alone.”
Who is eligible?
The funds raised are available for any Queen Mary students, across all three faculties, who are at a disadvantage or in hardship due to the pandemic. The Queen Mary Emergency COVID-19 Fund will specifically support students’ education and wellbeing during this difficult period. The funds will enable students to focus on their studies while at home during the pandemic.
Donations received from the COVID-19 fund will go towards hardship grants, laptops, rent, course resources, living costs as well as a range of wellbeing initiatives.
Dominic More, a MBBS Medical student at Queen Mary, said: “Because of the lockdown, I was without a job as all pubs had closed and I began to struggle to pay rent. When I found out that I’d been awarded a bursary, funded by alumni like you, I was speechless. I was not in a good place, so I’m very grateful for the financial assistance. The bursary enabled me to pay rent for the next few months.”
If you would like to contribute towards to the Queen Mary University COVID-19 Emergency Fund please visit our donation page here.
More information
- Learn more about the Emergency COVID-19 Fund
- Find out how to make a donation
- Learn more about our Hardship funds