Thanks to the incredible support of donors and volunteers, the 10,000 Lives appeal goes from strength to strength, with a total of 1,062 lives changed so far.
The appeal is creating life-changing opportunities for 10,000 young people; raising aspirations in 11-18 year olds, developing confident and employable students, and supporting young alumni as they start post-University life. Alumni and friends like you have given time and money to support scholarships, bursaries, internships, and work helping local school pupils access higher education.
Click on the videos and images below for more highlights from the appeal. Watch a vlog of teenagers experiencing University life for the first time, take a peek behind the scenes at the filming of the appeal video, meet some of the students to have their lives changed and more…
To find out more about how you can support the appeal by making a donation or volunteering your time, contact Becky Mitchell.
Vlog: Our week at summer school
Follow Poppy, Niamh, and Zipporah on the Academic Enrichment Programme summer school.
Meet Abigail: Your 1,000th life changed
Abigail is the 1,000th student to have her life changed through the support of donors. 'I'm in my first year studying Law and the scholarships I receive have allowed me to fully experience university life,' she says. 'I think it's very poignant that donations to 10,000 Lives have come from alumni to enable today's students to have the same opportunities.'
Ben's inspirational internship
Ben Squire completed an internship at Birmingham Town Hall Symphony Hall. He says: 'I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who made the internship possible; it's been such an awesome experience and I've absolutely loved working in Town Hall Symphony Hall.
'It's now definitely something that I would love to do in the future and I'm going to be so sad to leave!
'It's really helped me feel more certain about having confidence in the career path I'm pursuing and helped life after university look really positive.'
Behind the scenes at the launch video
What happened when nearly 100 volunteers gathered to film the appeal launch video? Find out here!
Madison Brownley: Paying it forward
Madison says: 'The financial support has given me the freedom to get the most out of University and aided me in achieving my goals. It was a privilege to receive this award and it has motivated me to continue to push myself academically whilst also enjoying my University life.
'I would like to offer continued thanks for the generosity shown by all the donors and volunteers in supporting this appeal. It really has changed my life, and I hope that one day I will have the chance to be involved in the appeal as a volunteer and help others, as you have helped me.'
Emily Pittaway: Feeling a part of University life
'I would not have been able to afford to live comfortably and do things that my friends are able to do while studying without this support. I would have had to get a full time job and not been able to focus on my studies.
'Your support has enabled me to have the best years of my life without financial worry, and enabled me to get the best grade I can to change my future.'
Benjamin Ugochukwu Okoro: An 'academic life vest'
'The Global Challenges Scholarship (2017) changed my life by giving me an opportunity to provide solutions to current water challenges faced by most households in developing countries.
'With the facilities and support available at the University, I am very certain that my ideas and solution for these communities will become a reality.
'With the graceful assistance received from the University alumni, I was able to realise my dream of studying in one of the world’s best university; this will prepare and furnish me with platform to provide solutions to real life human problems.
'I shall always be grateful to you for giving me this "academic life vest" that has changed my life forever.'
Karn Vohra: Fulfilling a dream to help others
'I am a recipient of the Global Challenges PhD Scholarship, which has given me the opportunity to pursue research in the field of Environmental Health Sciences.
'Were it not for the scholarship, it would have been impossible for me as an international student to dream of studying in one of the best universities in the UK.
'I am instilled with enthusiasm to carry out ground breaking research for the welfare of global human population and our environment.
I wholeheartedly thank the donors and volunteers who have supported this appeal.'
Read more about Karn's research in our Global Challenges article.