Article by Anna Pollard

Steve Walker, Chairman of Walker Construction, and Caroline Walker visited the Canterbury Campus today to present a cheque to Samantha Scott, Philanthropy Manager and one of our talented Sanctuary Scholars, whose identity needs to remain anonymous.

The University of Kent is working to be a safe and welcoming place for refugees and asylum seekers. The gift from The Walker Construction Trust will help ensure we can provide our Sanctuary Scholars with the equipment and furnishing items they need when they arrive at university, often alone and without basic belongings.

Our Sanctuary Scholarships provide a fee waiver and limited maintenance grant to up to five students each year, aimed at helping those seeking asylum in the UK to progress with their higher education. The Sanctuary Fund aims to help provide a level of maintenance closer to that received by most other students through Student Finance, to ensure Sanctuary Scholars can live well while they study.

The University of Kent’s Sanctuary Scholarships form part of a wider programme of work towards becoming a University of Sanctuary. Through academic research, public engagement and collaborations with partners, we use our platform to advocate for safety and empowerment for people seeking sanctuary.

One of our Sanctuary Scholars said, “I had lost hope. My Sanctuary Scholarship has given me hope. Now I can see a future where I can use my education and experience to help make the world a better place for everyone. The University of Kent has given me a home where I can feel safe. This support from The Walker Construction Trust will help students like me, who have been forced to leave behind their studies, homes, families and friends. We are so thankful for this generosity.”

Steve Walker added, “We have been completely blown away by meeting some of the Sanctuary Scholars studying at the University of Kent. Their stories of strength and perseverance, despite horrors and challenges that we can’t even imagine, are astounding. I am honoured, on behalf of The Walker Construction Trust, to contribute to the Sanctuary Scholars being able to complete their studies. Their plans for the future are remarkable and I have no doubt their mark on our community and our world will be very positive.”

On behalf of the University of Kent and our Sanctuary Scholars, we thank The Walker Construction Trust for their generosity.