The Unite Foundation

The Unite Foundation is a UK registered charitable trust founded by student accommodation provider Unite Students in 2012.[1]

Unite Foundation
Founded2012
FounderUnite Students
FocusSocial Mobility
Location
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Jenny Shaw
(Chair)
Websiteunitefoundation.co.uk

The charity provides free university accommodation and a cost-of-living scholarship to young people who have earned a university place but who, for financial reasons, are unlikely to be able to take it up.

Particular emphasis is placed on assisting young people who have been through the UK Care System. It currently offers scholarships to 90 students studying in the 2014/15 academic year. In October 2014 the Unite Foundation announced it had secured an £8.5 million, five-year funding pledge from Unite Students which it claims “will mean about 300 more” scholars.[2]

Operation

The Unite Foundation works in partnership with seven universities across England and Scotland.[3] The universities themselves operate the admission process, while the Foundation sets the admission criteria and reviews acceptances.

All Unite Foundation Scholars are offered free accommodation in Unite Students properties for the duration of their studies. In addition, each receives an annual cost-of-living scholarship of £3,000, rising to £4,000 in London[4]

Personnel

As of October 2014 the Chair is Jenny Shaw, who is also Head of Higher Education Engagement and Student Services at Unite Students.[5] The six-strong Board of Trustees is made up of four senior Unite Students staff and two external post-holders. The Unite Foundation's patron is designer Wayne Hemingway MBE[6]

Partner Universities

The following universities offer Unite Foundation Scholarships:

London Metropolitan University

References
  1. Unite Group press release, 9 February 2012
  2. "Bigger Boost For Disadvantaged Students", University Business, 29 October 2014
  3. "New Scholarship Will Help More Students To Come To DMU", De Montfort University press release, 8 May 2014
  4. Unite Foundation website, 22 December 2014
  5. Unite Foundation website, 22 December 2014
  6. "Fashion Boost for Unite Foundation", University Business, 26 September 2014
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