The RGU Foundation, the fundraising arm of Robert Gordon University (RGU), has announced the first awards made from its Annual Fund.
The RGU Foundation Annual Fund secures philanthropic gifts from alumni, friends and staff to enhance the university and its student experience.
Funds are raised through face-to-face solicitations, direct mail, e-solicitations and telephone campaigns, which are conducted by current students.
Stephanie Miller, RGU Foundation development officer, says: “The aim of the RGU Foundation Annual Fund is to inspire donations that will make an immediate impact on the student experience at RGU.
“It funds projects that will benefit current and future generations of students, helps make RGU an even better place to study, and helps students help others.
“We are very grateful to all of our donors who have made these awards possible.”
The first award will support a Wider Access Discretionary Fund to provide critical financial support for vulnerable applicants and students experiencing financial disadvantage.
The Wider Access Discretionary Fund will support individuals to cope with typically small and one-off financial outlays related to course costs or independent living that other bursaries or funding sources would not provide for. This might include transport, meals, books or equipment.
An award will also assist with the completion of a research project currently being undertaken by Dr Francis Quinn, lecturer in psychology at RGU’s Faculty of Health and Social Care, which is looking at the social experience of exercise in public places and whether these affect if and how people exercise.
Also receiving support this year is RGU: Nightline, a confidential listening service for students run by students. The award will allow this student volunteer group to undertake further skills training in suicidal callers, sexual assault and rape callers, volunteer management, volunteer welfare and retention.
Student architecture society, 57Ëš10, has also been awarded funding to host a lecture series. 57Ëš10, has been running for 27 years and invites guest lecturers to the School of Architecture and Built Environment to talk about the ideas and projects explored by their practices.
The society prides itself in being student led; providing lectures on topics out-with the formal discourse of the school that will inspire fellow students.
Alumni donations will also help support The Student Mobility to India Project, which will see 12 students from a range of subject areas travel to India in September 2016 to deliver a community-based physical activity health and wellbeing project over a four week period.
Using their subject knowledge and expertise, as well as their experiences from involvement in the Aberdeen Youth Games programme, the students will work in multidisciplinary teams to apply these within an Indian culture.
For more information on the RGU Foundation, visit www.rgu.ac.uk/supporting-rgu