Your support is a real Plus 

Fourth year student Emma White shares how the support of Leeds’s Plus Programme has inspired her to raise funds for others. 

Emma’s Leeds story started well before she took up her place in 2018: “When I was researching universities, I discovered that because of my circumstances, I was eligible for the Access to Leeds Programme.”  

Access to Leeds recognises how personal circumstances can impact students’ confidence and attainment. It helps those who may have had their education disrupted, come from a low-income household, or an area or school where few go on to university. “This is where my Leeds journey began,” says Emma. “I was offered lower entry grades and given study skills support. It really cemented my belief that Leeds was the place for me.”  

The support continued once Emma began her course in Biotechnology with Enterprise: “When I arrived I was offered a place on the Plus Programme which helps students like me adjust to university life.” Part-funded by Leeds alumni and friends, the Plus Programme provides a community of support, which offers members like Emma a range of opportunities and tailored events. “One of the first things I attended was a Plus Programme welcome event which helped me make friends and gave me tips on how to settle in at Leeds.”  

Through small grants, the programme’s Opportunities Fund acknowledges that limited finances can prevent students from less advantaged backgrounds from taking opportunities to advance their academic and professional skills. “I received an Opportunities Fund grant to buy some business clothes for my placement year,” says Emma. “It helped me feel like I could make a good impression and fit in.  

“I also joined the Black Student Peer Mentoring Programme, initially as a mentee and later as a mentor. We worked with a professional coach to develop leadership skills and I found it really rewarding to help students like me navigate what can be a difficult transition into university life – especially for my mentee who started during COVID-19 lockdowns.” 

And it was through the Plus Programme newsletters that Emma also found out about the job on our student fundraising call team. 

She explains how it has been particularly special to speak with the University’s donors and thank them for the support she has received: “My favourite conversations are where we've really delved into some of the challenges I’ve faced at University. It’s good to talk both to people who have experienced similar difficulties to me and those who might be unaware of the hardship that some students face. It reinforces my belief that donors’ support is so important, as it helps students like me.