BELFAST CHARITABLE SOCIETY SUPPORTS QUEEN’S STUDENTS  

25 March 2019

Thanks to the Belfast Charitable Society and the Barbour Fund a number of students from the North Belfast area will be able to benefit from financial support to help them with the cost of the second year of their studies at Queen’s through a new bursary in the name of the Barbour Fund.

This has been made possible through the University’s Pathway Opportunity Programme and the partnership created by the Belfast Charitable Society and the Hilden District Nursing Society.

Both societies have a long and successful history of caring for older people, working to improve the lives of those who are less fortunate and, in some instances, providing and facilitating education and training for that purpose.  And once the Barbour Fund committed to funding, the Society agreed to add to the funding as well.

David Watters, Chairman of the Belfast Charitable Society commented: “Finance can be a major barrier to education for many. It can be an ongoing headache that can be the deciding factor for a young person in whether they should to go to university and whether it’s worth staying there.

“We are very fortunate in that we have the Barbour Fund, which was set up to help the people that need it most. 2019, for the Society, has been dedicated as the year of philanthropy and throughout it we hope to give to many organisations and individuals who are in need.

“The Queen’s University Widening Participation Programme is one such vehicle and we are only too delighted to be able to help ensure that those ‘most able but less likely’ get the chance to continue to higher education.”

The Pathway Opportunity Programme is one of a series of Widening Participation measures undertaken at Queen’s to ensure that those ‘most able but less likely’ get the chance to continue to higher education. £1,000 bursaries are given to students.

Speaking in receipt of the funding, Queen’s Outreach and Learning Development Manager Paula Moran said: “Thank you so much to the Belfast Charitable Society and the Barbour Fund for helping us to provide opportunities for our young men and women who may otherwise miss out due to the lack of funding. 

“Widening Participation is of course very important to the University but it’s even more important to the students who get the opportunity to study in higher education thanks to this Programme and the philanthropic gifts which fund it.”

The Barbour Family and the Belfast Charitable Society continue their dedicated work in tackling inequality, creating employment and helping those in need.

David Watters continued: “Given our links to the North Belfast and Lisburn areas we’ve asked Queen’s to award some of the monies to students from these areas. It is important to recognise that education plays a big part in the ability to change people’s lives.

“This small gift will go some way in ensuring that those who do not have the financial wherewithal will be able to continue in their higher education.”

If you would like to talk to someone about supporting Widening Participation at Queen's please contact Naomi King, Development Manager in the Development and Alumni Relations Office, telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 3101. 

For more information on the Barbour Fund bursary please contact Jemma at Naked PR, telephone: +44 (0)28 9091 8454.

General enquiries about this story can also be directed to Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office, Queen's University Belfast or telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.

Caption (L-R): David Watters, Chairman of Belfast Charitable Society with Queen’s Outreach and Learning Development Manager Paula Moran and Alan Moneypenny, Board Member of the Belfast Charitable Society.

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