University Bursary - Kathryn Gadd

Kathryn Gadd received a bursary from us in 2023 to study a Higher National Diploma in Film and TV at New College Swindon.

“I chose to study at New College so I could stay around for my family, help around the home, and keep my job. I studied the BTEC/A-Level version of the course, so I wanted to continue and get my university degree. My ultimate goal is to be a
director or a producer.

“The grant has made a complete
difference to me; I wouldn’t have been able to attend higher education otherwise. Knowing that I could have that support at the start made me motivated to actually go
in and try.

“It has helped massively, I don’t have a car, I don’t have a driver’s licence, a moped, anything! So, I have to rely on buses which can get really expensive. Although I did receive some money from student loans to cover course fees, my job didn’t pay enough for me to consistently be able to travel to and from the college and get to the different places that I needed to.

“The college provides some equipment, but there were other things I required for a shoot, such as props that I was able to fund using the bursary. It also helped with the extra-curricular activities, for example days out to visit film studios, I wouldn’t have been able to pay for those if I didn’t have the grant.

“I would say to those thinking of applying to go for it. It can really make a huge difference to whatever mental strain you are under, and if you’re from a very low-income household like I am, then you don’t have to worry about stressing out your family financially, if your job doesn’t pay enough.

“People worry about going into higher education because they don’t want to be in debt or work multiple jobs on top of studying. It can be really difficult if you’re already under that stress from being low income anyway, so a programme like this that takes less time to apply for and worry about is really good for people that already have a lot on their plates.

“Schemes like this are so important for people who don’t think they have a lot of hope to go forward and make a career; they give them the hope that they can do what it is that they really want to do.”