Alumni news
Philanthropy at Sussex: Creating Voice
By: Emma Wigmore
Last updated: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Creating Voice workshops
It is always special to be notified that an alumnus has remembered Sussex in their will, and carrying out their wishes through a project that benefits our students feels enormously rewarding.
We were privileged to receive a legacy gift from alumnus Micheal Turner, an amateur dramatics enthusiast who came to Sussex as a mature student and studied Education from 1987 to 1992.
The Student Experience team were the beneficiaries of this generous gift, which helped fund a project called Creating Voice. The aim of the project was to create a sense of belonging for first year students who can find the transition to university life challenging, particularly if they are from underrepresented groups, such as estranged students. The project took the form of a four-week series of workshops for students that incorporated a range of creative practices.
The aim of the workshops was to bring out the students’ voices, thoughts, opinions, and feelings in an entirely different and interactive format. Participants were able to explore specific topics such as ‘home’ and ‘identity’ through the medium of photography, creative writing, soundscapes, as well as music playlists and performance.
Hearing from those who took part reinforces the value of this work:
"It has been so vital and healing to have a space to reflect and unpack the exhaustion, heaviness, joy and everything else that comes with the first year of university... We all expressed how important this time has been and how needed this is.”
Another participant said:
"It was a really relaxing and inspiring process, and I enjoyed how it forced me to make time for myself to reflect on my university experience and feelings."
The Creating Voice sessions culminated in the ‘This is Home’ exhibition, which featured in the Brighton Fringe Festival in May 2024.
Legacy gifts have the power to be genuinely transformative for students at Sussex. Not only can they fund projects like Creating Voice, they can also support scholarships, advance groundbreaking research, enhance community services, and promote social equity. By making a legacy gift to Sussex, you can create positive change and shape a brighter, more equitable future for individuals and communities.
If you would like more information, please contact giving@sussex.ac.uk.