Thanking the City of London for supporting Equity Awards students
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Students supported by the Equity Award scheme visited Guildhall to thank the City of London Corporation Combined Education Charity for its £320,000 grant to the programme for Black and Minority Ethnic scholars at Goldsmiths.
Caroline Haines, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Education Board, with Goldsmiths' Matt, Joquan, Dr Marl’Ene Edwin, Melina, and Alison Woolley. Image credit: Kseniia Sheveleva
Undergraduates Melina Paesler, Matthew Taryee-Laryea, and Joquan Johnson joined Dr Marl’Ene Edwin, Academic Lead for the Equity Awards and Alison Woolley, Director of Development and Alumni, on a visit to the City of London Corporation’s Education Board.
In May 2023, the Education Board agreed £320,000 in funding to support 35 Equity Awards for three years from this academic year.
Melina, a third-year BA Fine Art student, said: “The funds have been instrumental in sustaining my studio-based practice of drawing, painting and sculpture. But in addition to the funds, and more importantly, is the mentorship, the guidance, and the friends that I've made in this programme”.
Joquan, a second-year BMus Music student, said: "The scholarship allowed me to get my new laptop…so now I'm on the same level as everyone else on my course".
Recognising the wider support provided by the Equity Awards, Matthew, a third-year Social Science, Community Development and Youth Work student, said: "Presentations are something which I would shy away from in the past but being part of this programme has allowed me to improve on my skills”.
The Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Education Board, Caroline Haines, said: “We are committed to preparing young people to flourish in a rapidly changing world by providing access to exceptional education, cultural and creative learning and the skills which link to the world of work.
"Our funding demonstrates the City Corporation’s commitment to higher education and our support for lifelong learning, especially to people who would not otherwise get the opportunity to study at undergraduate level. We are therefore delighted to offer this funding to Goldsmiths.”
After the Goldsmiths group’s presentation on 17 October they were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Grade I-listed building with a 2,000-year history led by Goldsmiths graduate Torri Stewart who works the City Corporation as Lead Strategy and Impact Manager.
Torri shared his journey towards working at the City Corporation, his plans to make change from within as he works on the Corporation's new Education Strategy, and what it is like working at an organisation with such a long history and significant prestige.