Testimonials
A few words from students and staff leading previous Keele Key Funded projects...
Men's & Women's Rugby Club
"Our project is centred around making rugby more accessible and promoting sport as a way of maintaining good physical and mental health. By having new, high quality equipment we can offer our members a higher quality experience and improve our skills and performance as a team. In addition, having equipment unique to our clubs will enable us to encourage more people to play rugby, as we reduce anxieties members may have around sharing equipment and the transmission of Covid-19. Overall, we want to encourage as many people as possible to participate in rugby, by providing a high standard of equipment for our members and therefore maximising the mental and physical benefits that playing sport provides."
Alex Curtis, Women’s Rugby Club
Wheelchair accessible sports
"Thank you so much to everyone involved with donating to the Keele Key Fund. My project in getting sports at Keele more accessible has just been granted £2,268 for the purchase of 3 sports wheelchairs in various sizes, which will suddenly make 7 AU clubs and the dance societies here at Keele accessible to those who have difficulties in standing or have mobility issues. It will also help to combat the loneliness and isolation felt by disabled students who often don't feel they are able to get involved in such activities. Myself and other disabled students here at Keele can't wait for them to arrive and for us to be able to use them in COVID safe sports spaces."
Christine Carter, Keele SU Disabled Students' Officer
Keele SU
"We're over the moon to receive this money from Key Fund! Arts & Crafts have been so important during the pandemic and we believe they're also the perfect way to help welcome students back to Keele and reacquaint them with campus. #RockAroundKeele will be a way of sharing joy and creativity whilst reconnecting with the Keele community and enjoying the beauty of our surroundings. We can't wait to start planning".
Charlotte Burke, Keele SU Activities Coordinator
Keele University Women's Hockey Club
"We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Keele alumni, which has helped us purchase new equipment. We were able to buy new hockey balls and sticks, allowing for greater accessibility within the club. The fact that we are able to offer this as a club puts us in a fortunate position and promotes our club ethos of inclusivity. We hope that this will encourage those that are new to hockey to give it a go, so that we can grow and develop further."
Supporting English language learning and teaching for asylum seekers
"We are extremely grateful as the funding will allow us to purchase two interactive tablets and a laptop to enhance the teaching and learning experience in the classroom, both for our teacher trainees and Asha students. Keele donors are more than welcome to visit Asha at Hanley to observe the classes and discuss the project with the trainees and Asha students and to see the impact English Language teaching has on their lives."
Russell Clark, English Language Programme Director
Keele Acapella Society - Carolling music books
"Keele Acapella want to say a huge thank you to all the Keele Key Fund supporters! It is because of your generosity that we are able to invest in the resources to enjoy and share Christmas music, not only this year, but for many years to come. We are hoping to, in the future, collaborate with other music societies from the Keele community to bond and build relationships while producing a wider range of performances."
English Universities Hockey
"I would like to take this opportunity to let you know how sincerely honoured I feel to have been selected as one of the recipients of the Key Fund bursary. Thank you for your incredible generosity which has allowed me to represent Keele and England as part of the English Universities hockey program for the fourth year running. I am absolutely delighted.
"As I complete my medical education at Keele, I am so grateful for your support – it has gone above and beyond every expectation and has allowed me to pursue both my passions whilst at University."
Jenna Volpert, Talented Athlete
Keele Students' Union - Vote Leaves
"The idea behind “Vote Leaves” was that KeeleSU would plant a tree on campus for every student that voted in the officer elections. We were lucky enough to receive a grant from the Keele Key Fund thanks to generous alumni donors. Staff at the SU had great fun coming up with a ‘treemendous’ and pun-tastic campaign to engage students and staff across the university!
"A whopping 2270 students voted in the election; an increase compared to the previous year!’’
Keele SU Student Voice Team
KPA - Sound system
"As a result of the generosity of the Keele Key Fund, we have been able to purchase a brand-new sound system at the KPA Clubhouse, enabling us to hold a whole host of entertaining events for our customers and postgraduate students. This project has enabled the KPA to maintain its fantastic reputation amongst our postgraduate students, staff and alumni.’’
Julia Lawton, KPA Clubhouse Bar and Entertainments Manager
Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week
"Keele University is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning community where all students are able to make positive life choices, and this includes choices about alcohol and drugs. This campaign aims to educate students on the harms of excessive consumption and drug use, as well as raise awareness of the support that is available to students that have been affected by substance misuse issues. A huge thank you to the alumni donors for their generous support of this initiative.’’