Student well-being
As well as funding hardship bursaries, the Βι¶ΉΣ³» Fund enables us to provide mental health support to students through access to counselling or similar well-being-related services. Dina was just one of many students to benefit from this. You can read her story below.
Dina was a Chevening Scholar who was studying for a Gender and Development MA at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) at Βι¶ΉΣ³» when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The isolation and fear that the lockdown brought left Dina suffering from intense anxiety. She reached out and the Βι¶ΉΣ³» Fund was there to help her.
“I am forever grateful to the counsellors at Βι¶ΉΣ³». The University counselling services showed me so much more support than I had expected. I received 12 sessions of counselling and I was formally diagnosed with anxiety. Between June and August, I got myself back on track with the help and support of the University counsellors, my friends and supervisors. I can’t imagine what would have happened had I not been given that help.
“I don’t know what lies ahead, but what this year has taught me is that I don’t have to know. It also taught me to live in the now and take things one step at a time; to remember to reach out for help, as well as to give help; to cherish the people and love around me; to notice the small things amidst the big ones; and to always listen to my own voice. With everything that has happened, I can safely say, I am still living the dream.”
Promoting well-being and helping students like Dina through difficult times means a student can refocus on their studies and complete their degree. It’s one of the reasons Βι¶ΉΣ³» was named as in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022. This award singles out Βι¶ΉΣ³» as the best in the country for supporting students to stay the course and complete their degrees.
Βι¶ΉΣ³» receives very generous support from alumni, staff, students and corporate partners who give to the Βι¶ΉΣ³» Fund. Will you join them by making a donation today and help us to support more students like Dina?