The Westfield Stratford City Student Fund - set up in partnership with The Learning Revolution Trust and Birkbeck University - is designed to help Newham residents from disadvantaged backgrounds enrolled at Newham College with small grants.

Launched in April 2021, this financial support has enabled students from homes with less than £25,000 in household income to pay for travel, books and appropriate attire for interviews. In its first year, the programme helped 40 students gain a qualification, with a third of them going on to apply for university or apprenticeships, or find secured employment.

"The limited income I had was a real struggle and I suffered anxiety as a result. I am an asylum seeker and want to improve my situation through studying, and have a better life. The bursary will help me achieve this.”

-Corina, bursary recipient