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Former Reading graduates help fund the next generation of students – University of Reading

The University of Reading's Annual Fund has raised and distributed £185,000 this year to help support students, the university and its activities in 2008/9.

The generosity of former students of the University of Reading is at the heart of the Annual Fund programme, which supports current students through bursaries and hardship funds, as well as providing funding for a range of innovative teaching projects and extra curricula projects that would otherwise not get funded. It follows the philanthropic tradition on which the University was founded and it allows the University to ensure that students that come to Reading can do so based on academic ability rather than the ability to pay.

Projects funded this year include:-

• High-tech meteorological equipment to help geography students study urban climate change around Reading.

• Science outreach web pages for GCSE science students – including high quality animations of science phenomena such as radio waves, enabling students to visualise and better understand them.

• Pro bono work by the School of Law, including training for Streetlaw, a debating competition held at the Madjeski Academy; the establishment of an Employment Law Clinic and training student volunteers for community mediation.

• Sports scholarships, student volunteering programmes and considerable support for student hardship funds and bursaries.

Since 2004, students studying at the University of Reading have been calling former students, some of whom graduated from Reading as long ago as the 1940s, as part of the Annual Fund campaign. Alumni hear about the work happening at the university and what current students are achieving. As a result, these former students have chosen to support the Annual Fund to the tune of £1 million over that period.

Andy Wood, Director of Development & Alumni Relations, said: "We are fortunate to have such loyal alumni at Reading. They obviously valued their time here and the quality of the experience and qualifications gained and want to help the next generation.

"The power of the Annual Fund lies in everyone doing what they can. Almost 40% of former students we contacted have pledged a gift, which is testament to the strong bonds that our students build with their university. Many of them can see that by making a one-off or regular pledge, they are making a real difference to the experience of today's students, helping fund initiatives that add value to their degrees, or in some cases, providing the funding just to ensure they can continue their courses."

Over 200 current students join the annual phone campaign. Laura Garman has just graduated in English Literature and has been a regular member of the Annual Fund team. "On the whole, the response of former students to being called is very positive. Unlike 'cold-calling', most people that we contact are delighted to hear from us. I have found that alumni are just as keen to ask about my experiences at Reading, as they are to talk about their own. It is a pleasure to hear former students reminisce on their time at Reading, as they recall the good, difficult, but above all, fun times they had at University. Furthermore, participating in the Annual Fund has improved my confidence when it comes to building a rapport with a variety of people that I have never spoken to previously and has opened my eyes to the necessity of University funding through its graduates."

Student groups or academic departments can apply for funding, up to a maximum of £10,000, from the Annual Fund. The next round of calls to former graduates takes place in the autumn.

ENDS

Further information from Alex Brannen, Senior Press Officer, on 0118 378 7388.

Notes to editors:

The Annual Fund has generated almost £13 million to the University's fundraising activities since the creation of the Development & Alumni Relations Office in 2003.