Applications now open: University of Reading Annual Fund

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Photographic equipment was purchased for the Caving Club

The University of Reading Annual Fund has been running since 2004 and has received pledges totally £3.2 million from almost 6,000 alumni. This money has been raised to enhance the student experience through three specific routes; through providing financial support, promoting innovative teaching and learning or strengthening extra curricular activities.

The process is now open for applications for the 2013-14 academic year. Projects should fall within one of the three categories listed above, and applications should show how they will benefit as many students as possible, providing a direct and positive impact on their experience at Reading. Applications can be made for up to £10,000 providing they fulfil the criteria specified.

For the 2012-13 academic year more than 30 projects were funded through the annual fund. Examples include:

Student finance

Each year the Annual Fund supports programmes like the Postgraduate Hardship Fund and Donor Study and Travel fund, providing bursaries and scholarships to students across the University.

Innovative teaching and learning

Funding was given to purchase equipment to help improve the hands-on learning experience in Environmental Science modules, and to set up online screencasts for Study Advice and Maths Support to enable access to study support for students unable to attend face-to-face teaching sessions.

Extra-curricular activities

Funding was given for a ‘Student Eats' project to allow our students to take part in a nationwide scheme to develop spaces on campus to grow their own food. We now have a vegetable garden near Bridges and Wessex Hall sites, and the Reading University British Sub Aqua Club were given funding to enable them to renovate a dive boat and provide training to students to enable continued maintenance.

If you wish to make an application for 2013-14, please visit the Annual Fund website for further details and to submit an online application. The closing date for applications is Friday 31 May 2013.

Alternatively, if you have any other queries, please contact Emma Lambden, Campaign Manager at e.l.lambden@reading.ac.uk