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In April the Sussex Fund made an additional £50,000 payment to the Sussex Hardship Fund, to help bolster the funds available for students in need this financial year. With the economic downturn and higher rents, these funds are supporting students who might otherwise drop out of the University.

What is the Sussex Fund?
The Sussex Fund, supported by donations from alumni, friends and Sussex staff, is a flexible fund that aims to enhance the student experience for all students and provide additional support for the most vulnerable. The fund provides scholarships and grants and finances projects that promote equal access to personal, professional and academic growth. You can read more about what the fund achieves in the latest impact report.

How does hardship funding work?
The additional funds have been made available for students via the Hardship Fund, which helps students who find themselves in financial difficulty, particularly those who have caring responsibilities, are estranged from their families or are from a lower-income background, to focus on their studies rather than worrying about money.

Hardship awards have been the largest area of support from the Sussex Fund since the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is thanks to generosity of our community of supporters that we are able to help more students during this difficult financial period. In the 2022-23 academic year we were able to double our Student Hardship Fund, helping 824 students who found themselves experiencing genuine and unavoidable financial difficulties. Sussex Fund contributions to the Hardship Fund for this academic year now total £250,000 due to the recent additional payment.

One student who received a hardship award said: “As I move forward with gratitude in my heart, I am committed to paying this kindness forward, ensuring that your support continues to make a positive ripple in the lives of those in need. Thank you for being my lifeline and restoring hope in times of adversity.” You can read more about the impact of hardship funding in this recent alumni news article.

Who gives to the Sussex Fund?
The Sussex Fund is the main fund for the Regular Giving Programme and is supported by alumni, friends and staff who make both single and recurring gifts. Major donors (inclusive of Trust and Foundations and corporations) and legacy donors often opt to support the Sussex Fund because of its flexibility to meet the ever-changing needs of students as they arise.

Staff can donate to the Sussex Fund, or to any other registered UK charity, in a tax effective way using our new Payroll Giving scheme.

How else does Sussex support students in financial need?
Hardship funding is just one of the ways that Sussex supports our students in financial need; we also provide additional payments for recipients of the Sussex Bursary (those with a household income below £25,000); healthy hot meals for only £2; and access to financial advice and services through a partnership with personal finance tool ‘BlackBullion.’

If you would like any more information about the Sussex Fund and how it contributes to hardship funding, please contact Jack Merrington in Development and Alumni Relations, at jack.merrington@sussex.ac.uk.

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