2022 Alumni Award winner for Global Impact: Dr Sarah Fane OBE (MB ChB 1989, Hon 2022)

Posted on by Asli

Dr Sarah Fane OBE (MB ChB 1989, Hon 2022) has dedicated her life to improving the health and wellbeing of children and women across the world. In 2002, she founded the charity Afghan Connection (AC) which supported some 500,000 children through health, education, and sport programmes. Under her leadership, the charity immunised over 72,000 women and children, built or renovated 130 schools and trained more than 1,000 teachers.

In April 2020, with the projects sustainable and the Taliban threatening to charge taxes to NGOs, Dr Sarah Fane decided to bring the charity to a close. She is now the Director of the MCC Foundation, the charitable arm of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord’s and continues to support children all over the world through the power of cricket. She told us about her memories of working in Afghanistan, what inspired her to study medicine and how it feels to win the Alumni Award for Global Impact. (more…)

Applications open for student telephone fundraising team!

Posted on by hanako.peace

at

We are currently recruiting for student callers to work on our Spring 2023 Telephone Fundraising campaign. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a friendly team in which you can build your skills, make a difference, and gain fundraising experience. Applications can be submitted through our online form.

If you’re an enthusiastic, reliable, team player who is comfortable speaking over the phone then we’d love to hear from you!

As a telephone fundraiser you will call Bristol graduates to discuss what’s new at the University, what they’ve been up to since leaving Bristol, answer any questions they may have, and ask for a charitable donation. It’s an important and rewarding job. In 2021/22 our team of student callers raised more than £160,000 for Student Scholarships. Click here to read more about the amazing things you’ll be helping to support through telephone fundraising.

Working hours and pay 

We are proud to be a Living Wage accredited employer, and you will be paid £11.21 per hour plus 12.07% holiday pay. All students are paid in arrears for the previous month’s work on the 26th of each month, or on the previous working day if this falls on a weekend or bank holiday.

The Spring Telephone Fundraising campaign will run from Saturday 4 February to Sunday 26 February 2023. We ask our callers to work for the full duration of the campaign, completing an average of 12 hours each week.

To take part you must attend compulsory in-person training sessions from 9am – 4pm on Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February.

(more…)

‘I was so happy when I found out I had been awarded the scholarship’: Lauren Hutfield on her Black Bristol Scholarship

Posted on by Ellie


Lauren Hutfield (BSc 2021) is studying for an MSc in Development and Security and is in receipt of a Black Bristol Scholarship. Here, she explains how the scholarship has impacted her and her plans for the future. 

At the end of my undergraduate degree here in Bristol, I didn’t feel like my friends who said: “I’m done with uni!”. I wanted to go on and do more – I still felt like I had that in me. But you can’t get the same kind of loan for tuition fees for your master’s as you can for undergraduate studies, so finding funding was crucial. I was the first of my siblings to go to university and my family have been really supportive in encouraging me in what I want to do, but without the scholarship it would have been really hard.

I was so happy when I found out I had been awarded the scholarship. I knew that it would be competitive to get, so I was really surprised, and relieved as well, because it took the pressure off. I didn’t have any worries about trying to find part-time work and I could just focus on the master’s, which is a lot more challenging than my undergraduate course. My results this year have definitely reflected this, because I’ve been able to put in the time I needed to do the work.

(more…)

Alumni Interview: Asha Mohammed (MBChB 2019), Junior Doctor

Posted on by Asli

Junior doctor and activist, Asha Mohammed (MBChB 2019) graduated from the University in 2019. She’s since been given a Wonderful Woman Award and named as a Future Leader in recognition of her commitment to tackling gender based violence. We spoke to her about life as a doctor, her efforts to combat gender-based violence and her belief in in youth activism.

Why did you study medicine and how has your course shaped who you are?

I studied medicine because it is a versatile profession that is challenging, requires lifelong learning and good interpersonal skills. You’re always interacting with patients and colleagues from different teams and every day feels different. I like to think my passion was sparked from my interest in human biology and my desire to do a job that was fulfilling and one which would make a positive impact on society.

I love the mental challenges of the job and the breadth and depth of the subject. I am excited by the prospect that my learning and performance has a direct impact on the patients that I treat. I love the closeness that I get with not only my patients but also their families, and the impact that I can have on their lives.

(more…)

Meet our #TeamUoB London Marathon Runners (Part 2)

Posted on by hanako.peace

This October, an incredible group of ten Bristol alumni and students are taking on the 2022 London Marathon in support of the University’s Healthy Minds programme. 

This programme helps students who are experiencing mental health difficulties by providing them with a bespoke physical activity plan and access to sports facilities. Students are paired up with a mentor – a member of the University fitness team with advanced mental health training – who coaches them throughout their time on the programme. 

Introducing this year’s runners… 

(more…)

Meet Our #TeamUoB London Marathon Runners (Part 1)

Posted on by hanako.peace

This October, an incredible group of ten Bristol alumni and students are taking on the 2022 London Marathon in support of our Healthy Minds programme. 

This programme helps students who are experiencing mental health difficulties by providing them with a bespoke physical activity plan and access to sports facilities. Students are paired up with a mentor – a member of the University fitness team with advanced mental health training – who coaches them throughout their time on the programme. 

Introducing this year’s runners… 

(more…)

Legacy Pledger Alastair Hodge believes in giving back

Posted on by Clare

Barrister Alastair Hodge (LLB 1996) is determined that those following in his footsteps will benefit from everything his Bristol education afforded him, by pledging a gift in his Will to the University.

Graduating with a degree in law & german, Alastair went on to take the Bar Vocational Course, followed by his one-year pupillage, and today is a successful barrister working in London. Alastair regularly returns to Bristol to speak to current law students and offer career advice, something he says he benefited from when he was a student. “If I derive a benefit from something I always try to give back,” says Alastair. “I love to see the enthusiasm of students when I come back to give talks, all those interested and expectant faces in the audience.” (more…)

2022 Alumni Award winner of the Vice-Chancellor’s Award: Sophie Pender (BA 2017)

Posted on by Grace

Sophie Pender smiles facing the camera

While studying at the University of Bristol, Sophie Pender (BA 2017) founded the 93% Club to support university students who went to state school. With over 45 clubs across the country, the 93% Club is now a nationwide charity and the UK’s largest community of state-educated students. Sophie is also a lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills and a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient.

As winner of this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Award, Sophie speaks candidly about her time at university, why the 93% Club is so important and how telling her story has helped turn things around. (more…)

Nominate a Bristol Volunteer for the Alumni Association Community Award

Posted on by Ellie

Nominations for the Alumni Association Community Award are now open. The Alumni Association Community Award is awarded to volunteers who have worked hard to build and strengthen the University’s alumni community. This could be through organising alumni networks, coordinating events or actively participating in the Association.

The Alumni Association is the official body of the University’s alumni community – anyone that has studied at the University automatically becomes a member. The Alumni Association Committee represents the Association and it is now looking to recognise individuals who have championed the Alumni Association through their service.

Nominations will be open until Friday 2 September. You can nominate yourself, or a fellow member of the Alumni Association by completing the Alumni Association Community Award Nomination Form. If you would like to nominate more than one volunteer, please fill in a separate form for each nomination.

(more…)

Celebrating the success of Bristol Mentors

Posted on by sophie.davison

An enormous thank you to alumni and students who have participated in the Bristol Mentors programme this year. We were delighted to have many of you get together for our Bristol Mentors Thank You event last month, to celebrate the contributions of our alumni volunteers and the students who have been paired in the last academic year.

Bristol Mentors is an alumni volunteering programme where students from underrepresented groups are matched with a Bristol graduate who acts as their mentor. Mentors work with mentees to help them with their career development and provide support which can enhance their university experience. (more…)