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Triple figures for University’s YuStart projects

Posted on 19 May 2017

The University of York’s crowdfunding initiative, YuStart, is celebrating a major milestone with the successful launch of project number 101.

The latest project supports asylum-seeking scholarships and is called One Education.

The scholarships offer asylum-seeking students the chance to study at York, in a safe and secure place. The project aims to raise £10,660 to fund a year’s living costs for one student, with the University waiving its fees in addition.   

The project continues York’s proud legacy as a place of safety for those in need of sanctuary.

Each year, graduating students at York campaign to raise funds for a cause that affects their campus. This year they voted to support Equal Access Scholarships.

Three years after its launch in 2014, the UK’s first bespoke university crowdfunding platform has supported over 100 projects.  To date, 95 per cent of projects using the site have reached their goal and have raised nearly £140,000 in the process.

Projects as varied as the purchase of sports kit, staging performances, transforming facilities and helping to facilitate volunteering in other countries have raised sums of between £200 to £10,000.  

Susie Braithwaite, Head of Participation Giving Programmes at York, said: “The YuStart projects give students at the University access to funding for their innovative projects and equip them with key transferable skills that will help them after graduating.”

To date, the University of York Boat Club have raised over £20,000 from four projects on the site.

Senior men’s captain, Chris Cummings, said:  “Helping with a YuStart project has developed key skills like teamwork and determination, and will definitely be a useful experience going into the workplace.”

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