It was a joy to host our annual Scholarships Celebration last month in the Reception Room of the Wills Memorial Building, bringing together 74 scholars and 30 members of staff for an evening of recognition, connection, and inspiration. (more…)
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A heartfelt thank you from our student telephone fundraising team
Did you receive a call from an enthusiastic Bristol student over the past few months? A team of 35 students from diverse disciplines spoke with over 1,500 alumni during this academic year. As a community, you have raised an incredible £170,000 for student support initiatives at Bristol – widening access to higher education and ensuring all students thrive, no matter their background. (more…)
Meet our 2025 London Marathon runners raising money for Healthy Minds
In April 2025, alumni and University staff members will take on the 2025 London Marathon to support the University’s Healthy Minds Programme.
The Healthy Minds Programme empowers students to take positive steps towards enhancing their mental and physical wellbeing through a diverse, socially engaging range of physical activities. So far, it has helped over 600 students improve their overall wellbeing.
Each runner has set a goal of raising at least £2,000 to support Healthy Minds, and you can show your support through their JustGiving pages, linked below.
Meet this year’s runners…
Bristol alumni celebrated in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours list
Each year, the King’s Birthday Honours list recognises the outstanding achievements and dedicated services of individuals committed to our society. This year, we are delighted to announce that 18 remarkable Bristol alumni and staff have been recognised for their contributions to health, community, education, the arts, and more.
We take great pride in celebrating their accomplishments and the incredible impact they have made. (more…)
Reflections from our #TeamUoB 2024 London Marathon Runners
A massive congratulations to our six #TeamUoB runners who ran the London Marathon in April, raising an incredible £14,313 in support of the Healthy Minds programme!
Healthy Minds supports students dealing with mental health challenges by offering personalised physical activity plans and access to sports facilities. Students are paired with a mentor from the University fitness team with advanced mental health training to guide and support them throughout their participation in the programme.
Thanks to the money raised by our 2024 London Marathon runners, even more students will be able to feel the benefits of physical activity on their wellbeing.
Andrew Ford, member of the Healthy Minds team at the University’s Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health said: ‘I wanted to send a huge congratulations to all the runners who participated in the London Marathon. Hearing about your stories and experiences from the day has been truly inspiring and your generosity in supporting our program is remarkable, and it means that even more students facing wellbeing concerns will receive the support they need.’
Read on to hear our runner’s reflections from race day. (more…)
Bristol alumni recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list 2024
Every year, the New Year Honours list recognises the achievements and services of extraordinary people who have made a commitment to our society. This year is no exception, and 27 of our remarkable Bristol alumni have been recognised for their services to health, community, education, the arts and more. We are extremely proud to showcase their achievements and incredible impact.
‘You first need to understand what your fellow human beings are up against and try to empathise’ Latif Ismail on global development
We were fortunate to speak with one of this year’s esteemed honorary graduates, Latif Ismail (MSc 2014, Hon LLD 2023), CEO of Transparency Solutions and Co-Director of Somali First. Somali First is a joint initiative of Transparency Solutions and the University of Bristol, launched in 2014 to promote Somali-led development through impartial facilitation, research and education.
Latif is also Managing Director of Horn Risk Management, Co-Investigator & Hub Leader of Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures. (more…)
Scholarships nurture talent: Matthew’s story
The Futures Scholarship programme awards talented students with up to £4,500 and enables them to access guidance and careers support from a dedicated coordinator. The scholarships are funded by Bristol’s alumni and friends and the support they provide gives students the security to focus on their studies and pursue their interests with enthusiasm. Read on to hear from economics and mathematics student Matthew, who is among the first cohort of 33 Futures Scholars graduating this year.
In my final year at the University, I secured a graduate position with Lane Clark & Peacock LLP (LCP), as a pensions actuarial analyst. My position involves a blend of analysing the financial costs of risk in pension schemes and liaising with clients. In this role I’ll be able to use soft skills whilst also having the opportunity to solve complex problems, which is why I was overjoyed with the offer.
Laura, the Futures Scholarship Coordinator, encouraged me to apply for opportunities within the University very early on which helped me develop all the skills I needed to succeed. In my first year, I was selected as the vice-president of Riverside Junior Common Room at the Students’ Union, representing over 600 students. In my second year, I became treasurer for the Economics, Finance and Management Society. Then, in my final year I became the secretary of the Bristol University Actuarial Society and the head of finance for Epigram, the University of Bristol’s student newspaper.
Scholarships empower: Keeley’s story
In 2022, 33 Futures Scholars will graduate from the University of Bristol, many of whom have already secured their graduate jobs, internships and opportunities abroad. The Futures Scholarship programme is funded through the generosity of the University’s alumni and friends. It awards talented students with up to £4,500 and enables them to access guidance and career support from a dedicated coordinator. Graduating psychology student Keeley tells us how she has developed her career path with the help of the scholarship.
I am not from a wealthy background. In my area few people go on to higher education and I am the first person to go to university in my family.
The Futures Scholarship is exciting because you receive funds along with guidance and employability support. If I had just been given money, I may not have known how to spend it in the best way. But having the support of the Futures Scholarship Coordinator meant that I got so much more out of this scholarship. It set me up for making long-term plans and helped me to really think about what I can achieve.
Alexandra Hearth (BA 2014): Succeeding in the digital world
Bristol alumna, Alexandra Hearth (BA 2014) is a young powerhouse bursting with ambition, discipline and creativity. She is an extremely successful digital marketing specialist, having worked with top brands including Uber, British Airways and Audi. Alongside her current role at Nike, she manages her own online magazine called Cleaopatras which explores navigating success as a woman, and runs a podcast series called Hot Girls featuring MOBO award winning guests and music industry elite. To top it all off, this year, Alexandra has signed her first record deal as a music producer.
We interviewed her to learn more about her career journey, the secrets to her success and communicating in the digital world. (more…)