Our alumni pledged an incredible £105,000 to this year’s telephone appeal, every penny of which went directly to the Sussex Fund, which exists to provide opportunities for students who need them the most.

In fact, thanks to the outstanding goodwill of our alumni and friends community, the Sussex Fund was able to disburse over £290,000 this academic year.

Even the most talented students can suffer from barriers to education, but your philanthropic support means we can continue to attract exceptional students, regardless of their financial resources, and provide opportunities to nurture diversity, widen participation and support inclusivity.

Specific areas of Sussex Fund support are student hardship, mental health and wellbeing initiatives, the Junior Research Associate Bursary scheme at Sussex, travel bursaries, and sporting activities.

Additionally, and in line with our commitment to widening access to education, the Sussex Fund will underpin Article 26 scholarships for those with refugee status, as well as provide resources for care leavers. 

Being able to offer this remarkable level of support to such a wide range of deserving causes is testament to the kindness and generosity of you, our alumni and friends, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to every one of you.

Our annual telephone appeal generates much more than financial contributions to the Sussex Fund, however. It also creates an opportunity for our alumni to connect with current students and make a meaningful difference to their lives through the simple act of sharing their experiences.

Susana is one of the students that worked on our most recent appeal. She explains:

“Working on the campaign was an amazing experience. I was able to talk to alumni and find out about how their Sussex degrees helped them in their careers. I especially enjoyed talking to those alumni who are working in fields that interest me; they gave me good advice and I learned a lot from them. What is more, as a member of the team of callers, I was able to make friends and meet students that I might not have bumped into otherwise.

“Perhaps what was most rewarding was the knowledge that our efforts were raising money for students in need and helping them to continue their studies. I thank our alumni for their support in helping make Sussex the supportive and inclusive University that it is.”

Donations of all sizes are very much appreciated and collectively can be transformational. The Sussex Fund is grateful for your gifts, not just during our telephone appeal, but all year round.

Please visit our secure online giving page to make a donation and show your support for Sussex students. Thank you.