The Alma Mater Fund – a SPUC Scotland initiative providing grants to pregnant university students who find themselves in difficulty – has expanded massively in the last few months.
The initiative – which not only offers financial support but also signposts students to further help that they’re entitled to – has seen significant growth in just the last six months.
In the autumn, the Fund expanded from Scotland into Northern Ireland, with hopes of covering the whole of the UK. In just this university term, the number of young women reaching out to the initiative has doubled, as has the number of grants provided. Increasingly, university support staff are the ones to refer students to the Alma Mater Fund.
Fund “gave me strength”
Kira, a recent recipient of the Alma Mater Fund, said: “The Alma Mater Fund has been such a great support with my pregnancy and has provided me with this fund so quickly to ease my financial pressure. I would definitely recommend that any mothers who are struggling contact Alma Mater, even if it is just for advice on how to cope with the pressure of studies.”
Another recipient, Alexa, said: “The Alma Mater Fund was extremely helpful, and the support offered really motivated me to go through with my university career. It is hard enough to balance full-time employment and studies on a regular basis, and while pregnant it might feel like the world is crushing you and you might want to give up. Finding out there is support out there for mothers that want to finish their academic journey gave me the strength needed to plan my path.”
Margaret Akers, the facilitator of the Alma Mater Fund, commented: “It is such a joy to see how this initiative has grown in recent months. We always knew there was a need for this support. Women who become pregnant while at university are often under significant pressure to drop out of their studies or end their pregnancy. We are glad to offer an alternative, and support women in pursuing their academic goals as they raise their children.
“It seems as though we have hit our stride and are reaching the people who need us.”
Contact the Alma Mater Fund today to learn how to apply:
Call, Text or WhatsApp: 07849 088 244
Email: info@almamaterfund.org.uk
Find us on Instagram and Facebook @almamaterfund