Empowering Student Potential: A Celebration Event

Last month, the Empowering Student Potential event celebrated the achievements of students supported by the Student Potential fund and thanked the donors who make these opportunities possible. 

“Your support can not only change a student’s university experience, but it can change someone’s life, the path and course of where their life goes.” Alana Frawley, LLB (Hons) Law with Business 

Panel Members: 

• Naomi Spence, BSc (Hons) Marketing Management: Recipient of a Student Employability Award and Wellbeing Champion. 
• Alan Larkin, Alum and Founder and Director at Family Law Partners: Family Law Partners fund scholarships with mentoring and work experience.  
• Alana Frawley LLB Law with Business: Recipient of the Family Law Partners Progression Scholarship. 
• Charlie Martin BSc (Hons) Product Design, 2024: Recipient of the Professor Fred Maillardet Breakthrough Award.  
• Jordane Gregoire BA (Hons) Sport Journalism: Jordane, Recipient of a Progression Scholarship. 
• Marnie Middlemiss, Director of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement.  

Impact beyond financial support

Expertly chaired by Naomi, our panel shared insights into their experiences of receiving and providing scholarships and awards. They spoke about what it means to be a Brighton student, and how important scholarships and awards have been in helping them progress and succeed, as well as enabling them to participate in student societies and more. They also touched on how these initiatives help businesses to invest in their talent pipeline. Naomi shared how her employability award and wellbeing training continue to support her in her student representative roles and how she is empowered to support other students. 

Over the last 4 years the Student Potential Fund has provided opportunities for students to access wellbeing training, employability and entrepreneurial support, as well as scholarships recognising student potential and success. Members of our alumni community not only support students financially, but they also give time and opportunities to students through placements, career talks, and mentoring.  

Building employability skills and experience

Alan summed up the value of investing in talent, and the impact doing so has had on him and his business: “It’s not just about the money; it’s about investing the time and creating opportunities for young people via placements and mentoring. It’s so crucial because it’s about believing in yourself and not feeling like an imposter.”

Charlie supported this feeling, during his studies he completed a placement with local lifestyle product design company Paladone, who he has secured a permanent job with after graduating this summer.

“When I came back from placement, I came back with all these new skills I’d learnt whilst on the job full time and I was really able to smash my final year!” reflected Charlie. 

He also spoke about how unexpected it was to be nominated for the Breakthrough Award that he won, and how it gave him confidence going into his placement and beyond.

He observed: “For the most part though, it’s not really about the money, it’s more the confidence and feeling I got from it.”  

Freedom to participate in societies

Jordane also reflected on how funding helped him access societies and networking opportunities, and how this enhanced his personal and professional growth, at a time when he had moved away from family to a new country for the first time. 

The recurring theme throughout the discussion was how receiving funding not only alleviated financial pressure but also boosted students’ confidence and self-belief. It was incredibly moving to hear about this often-overlooked benefit to receiving support. 

Alana shared that “Winning the funding, it wasn’t just about the money for me. An unexpected positive was the confidence boost it gave me. It gave me the confidence to apply for placements and I felt like I was actually capable of getting those things.” 

It also boosted Alana’s confidence to join and lead the Polo Society, which subsequently won the Sports Team of the Year award. 

This event was a testament to the values of kindness, inspiration, community, and inclusiveness – principles that are intrinsic to our university.  

Thank you to everyone who joined the event and continues to empower student success! Know that you’re helping to create the next generation of change-makers and leaders. 

To support students like Naomi, Alana, Charlie, and Jordane, you can donate to the Student Potential Fund today.