Igniting Brighter Futures

Our columnist Jamie is a first-year psychology student on the Ignite Programme, sharing their lived experience of how the programme has impacted their life at university. Ignite aims to create a fairer future for students from less advantaged backgrounds. It offers a blend of financial, academic, career and personal opportunities to help students reach their full potential, and is generously funded by our alumni and supporter community.

“I’m now in the second semester of my first year and I’m really grateful for the support system I’ve found through Ignite and my lectures. Despite some ongoing struggles with my mental health, the friends I’ve made through the programme and my course have helped make things a lot easier to handle. It feels like the people around me really get it and are always there to offer help when I need it most. Ignite brings people together, offering a sense of community, which I cherish.

One of the best parts of Ignite has been all the mentoring opportunities it offers. I recently had the opportunity to participate in a statistics mentor session. The mentor clarified some tricky concepts and made sure I understood how to approach the subject on my own. Access to mentoring is helpful in building my confidence in my studies.

The social events the Ignite team organises are honestly some of the highlights of my university experience. My friend on the programme recently attended a bowling trip, and she said it wasn’t just fun; it also gave her a real sense of community and belonging. Even just witnessing her good experiences makes me feel like I am part of something bigger, a safe space where I can relax and connect with others outside of the lectures.

The Ignite drop-in sessions have been a great way to make sure I’m staying on track with my studies. These sessions help me feel like I’m not navigating university alone, whether it’s academic advice, study tips, or budgeting tips. It’s reassuring to know there’s always support available, no matter what challenges pop up.

A huge perk of Ignite is the guaranteed internship opportunities, and I’m excited to say that I’ve started working in economics research! It involves gathering and organising data, which is super interesting and invaluable for my degree. Having this internship on my CV will be such an advantage, and I feel like I’m getting real-world experience that complements my studies. I always felt disadvantaged, like I was less important than my peers due to my upbringing, but Ignite prioritises people like me, so for once, I feel seen and supported. It is such a relief.

Overall, Ignite offers a perfect blend of activities and education. The people who work on the programme are not just making university fun – they’re genuinely invested in helping you succeed. Every session feels like it’s designed to make you feel seen and supported, whether it’s a fun social event or an informative workshop. It’s a huge help to have such a solid support system.

It’s crazy to think about how much more settled I feel now that it’s been a little while since starting university. I no longer feel the constant anxiety about money that used to hang over me, and now the simple act of buying groceries doesn’t stress me out like it used to. It’s such a good feeling to finally not worry about where the money for my next meal will come from. I’m so grateful to each and every donor.”

If you could help more students like Jamie through university, please consider donating to the Ignite Programme here.