Santander Universities have extended their generous financial support with an extra £25,000 following their original donation of over £30,000 to ensure students at the University have access to laptops during the coronavirus pandemic to study at home.
Due to the success of the University’s and the University of Westminster Students’ Union’s ‘Stay Connected Scheme’ and the continuing needs of students, the University and the Union has received further funding from Santander Universities UK. This money will be used for purchasing additional laptops for students with the Students’ Union and the University cooperating in identifying those in need and arranging for the delivery of the laptops.
The financial support comes at a crucial time when students have transitioned to studying remotely, allowing those who do not have laptops to purchase them and avoid falling behind in their studies or deferring their studies by a year.
Talking about the support, Matt Hutnell, Director, Santander Universities, said: “Santander is committed to supporting higher education as well as local communities across the UK so we’re pleased that our funding is able to be redirected to where it is most needed at this critical time. Universities are doing some fantastic work to contribute to the UK’s effort to combat the outbreak of COVID-19, so we’re delighted to collaborate with our university partners in a way which increases their response effort and look forward to continuing to work with them on supporting both students and the broader higher education community with further initiatives over the coming months.”
Westminster’s Head of Development Jordan Scammell added: “Thanks to the generous additional funding received from Santander, we will be able to provide more of our continuing students with the resources they desperately need to complete their final term this year, and return for the new term in the Autumn with the confidence they need to continue with their studies and succeed.”
To learn about the University’s COVID-19 appeal, which is supporting vulnerable students impacted by the crisis, please click here.
