The Diversity Milkround Fund was set up to contribute to the best diversity events at UK universities, and more than 1,500 has already been donated to events around the country.
Surrey University received 450 for its Know Yourself Mental Health Awareness Week, 400 went to Cambridge University Studentís Union to help fund a LGBT Awareness Week and 350 was donated to Bristol University for its Global Fiesta. Sheffield University has received more than 350 for its International Week, and there are many more events lined up in the coming months.
Diversity Milkround, part of the graduate recruitment family Milkround Online, intends to help ensure that diversity and equality are celebrated at universities throughout the UK. It is paying five percent of all its advertising income into the fund and inviting universities to apply for a donation of up to 500 for promotional events, or awareness- and fund-raising activities, conferences or talks. It is also offering graphic design assistance for event materials from the Milkround design department.
Event organisers are hailing the scheme a success. Colin Ferguson, CUSU LGBT President, said: ìCUSU LBGT was delighted to receive sponsorship for our Awareness Week event from Diversity Milkround. The sponsorship enabled us to raise the profile of the event and helped to make it the success that it was.î
University of Surrey Welfare Support Co-ordinator, Kathy Jones, added: ìItís been invaluable to us to receive the funding from the Diversity Milkround for our Know Yourself campaign. This enabled us to get the promotion materials we needed to raise the profile of mental health in the student population. Also the funding boosted our opportunity for long-term investment in the Know Yourself idea, both financially and in terms of human resources.î
Richard Freeborn, Diversity Milkround manager, said: ìThe Diversity Milkround Fund was set up to help ensure diversity is celebrated rather than tolerated or, worse, ignored. We want to give funding for the best ideas we receive - the most ambitious, the most exciting and the best at raising awareness or generating funds for diversity issues. Iím delighted it has got off to such a wonderful start with so many varied events and look forward to giving assistance to many more in the coming months and, hopefully, years.î
Universities planning an event that would qualify for funding from the Diversity Milkround Fund should visit www.diversitymilkround.com or call 020 3003 4000 for more details and to apply.
New project to champion diversity to university students
Diversity Milkround is celebrating the successful launch of its student sponsorship fund
