donor newsLoughborough University Development Trust

Thank youOver the last ten years, the Loughborough University Development Trust has received over £1.5m in philanthropic support to its Annual Fund. During that time hundreds of grants have been made to a wide range of projects, all of which have been designed to enhance the Loughborough educational experience. Thousands of students have benefitted from the Trust’s work.

This has only been possible through the overwhelming generosity of alumni. Some have supported the Trust from the early days, and week by week the number of supporters is growing. Ongoing support from all our new and current donors continues to improve the experience of our students.

I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of the University and the beneficiaries of the Trust to thank you for your generous contributions to another excellent year.

Professor Shirley Pearce Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Trustees

New heightsGrants from the University and the Trust have helped the students’ Hot Air Balloon Club to purchase a new “envelope”. The Trust is delighted to have contributed towards the first ever Loughborough- branded balloon.

Endowment FundThe Endowment Fund was established a decade ago to support the work of the Trust.

The interest earned by the Fund’s investments is used each year to support a variety of projects: currently 32 Departmental Prizes and three Postgraduate Faculty Prizes.

Lasting gift This year, the Trust has benefitted greatly from legacy gifts. The Trustees are very grateful to everyone who has chosen to remember the Trust in their will and make a lasting contribution to the University.

Loughborough cares Since 2007, the Annual Fund has supported Loughborough students joining the University from care. For many it is a daunting experience – they are no longer supported by care provisions and are completely on their own. The Overcoming by Degrees Fund, set up in conjunction with the Frank Buttle Trust, helps these young people to overcome the very significant obstacles they face.

The Loughborough University Development Trust is delighted to award both postgraduate and undergraduate care-leaver bursaries spanning a variety of disciplines. The bursaries make a real difference to care-leavers’ lives:

“The bursary has been very beneficial. The support provided to me over the last two years has meant that I could spend more time on my academic work without worrying too much about money.”

Generous alumni have donated over £42,000 to the Fund, enabling the Trust to support a three-year full-time PhD Research Studentship, based at the Centre for Child and Family Research. The study will explore how the experiences of care-leavers in higher education have changed since the introduction of new policies intended to widen participation and initiatives specifically aimed at improving outcomes for looked-after children.

Making your gifts work harderIn 2008, the UK Government Launched its three year Matched Funding Scheme to encourage charitable giving to universities.

For every £1 that we receive, the Matched Funding Scheme adds another 33 per cent which, in addition to the existing gift aid scheme, means that a gift of £1 can actually be worth £1.69.

We are delighted to report that during the first year of the Scheme, the University has received more than £765,000 additional funding. During the last 12 months, more than £25,000 has been donated to the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) by alumni, friends, and charitable trusts. This generosity has contributed towards 40 Distance Learning Scholarships, helping students from across the world to study with WEDC. Thanks to the Government Matched Funding Scheme, an additional 13 Scholarships have just been awarded.

“I am currently employed as a System Planning Engineer in Jamaica. As a developing country, Jamaica faces socio-economic challenges which hinder the provision of sanitation for all people. My job requires a sound knowledge in water, sanitation and hygiene. The WEDC scholarship is a great opportunity for me.”

La’Toya Jackson-Morgan is thrilled to be one of the lucky 13

Loughborough Students Sports Foundation (LSSF) Loughborough Students’ Sports Foundation supports talented student athletes to succeed in both their sporting and academic development. We aim to provide our sports scholars with first-class coaching, sports science and sports medicine support as well as access to extensive indoor and outdoor training and competition facilities.

Current scholars Elaine O’Neil (4x100m), Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (100m), and Lloyd Gumbs (400m hurdles) all won gold at the European U23 Championships in July 2009. Meanwhile, Liam Tancock won silver (50m backstroke) and bronze (100m backstroke) medals at the European Swimming Championships. We are also delighted that Rich Smith was part of the winning England Hockey team in the Eurohockey Indoor Nations Trophy in January 2010.

Thanks to the support of all our alumni and friends over 400 awards have been given, making Loughborough’s LSSF the largest and most highly regarded in the UK.

Annual Telephone CampaignOver the past decade, the Trust has been in touch with a significant number of alumni through the Annual Telephone Campaign. Each year, a team of over 30 current students contact more than 5,000 former students. As well as winning support for a range of University activities, each call builds upon and strengthens relationships with the alumni community. Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s campaign which raised well over £100,000 for the Engineering Scholarship Fund, a Creative Scholarship Fund, Loughborough Students’ Sports Foundation, and to the Loughborough Fund.

The Loughborough FundThis Fund is the mainstay of our annual appeals. Donations to the Loughborough Fund enable the Trustees to provide support where it is needed most. The Fund’s chief aim is to enhance the Loughborough educational experience for students.

This year, thanks to the generous support of alumni and friends of the University, the Trustees were able to disburse over £80,000 of support across campus.

Grants were made in three main areas: student hardship; student-related initiatives; and scholarships, bursaries and prizes.

Thanks to all those who supported the Trust – with your on-going help we can make 2011 even betterThe Loughborough University Development Trust is a registered charity and exists to support the University and its students. It seeks to guarantee access to the educational opportunities at the University and to maintain the distinctive “Loughborough Educational Experience” for current and future students.

If you would like to know more about the Trust, or any of the projects it has supported, please contact:

Development and Alumni Relations Office, Rutland Building, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU Tel: 01509 223444 Email: alumni@lboro.ac.uk

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