Eve Brook Scholarship Fund celebrates 25 years
Published: 28th Feb 2023
The Eve Brook Scholarship Fund is 25 years old in 2023. Find out what incredible work it has achieved in the past quarter of a century,
The Eve Brook Scholarship Fund, established in 1998 to enable young people who are, or have been, in the care of, Birmingham Children's Trust, to access and succeed in higher education, is celebrating 25 years of fantastic achievements.
The Fund is an independent charity that works closely with Birmingham Children’s Trust. The Fund was founded by Eve Brook, a former Birmingham City Councillor and Chair of Social Services, in 1998 shortly before her death from cancer. Eve was passionate about improving the chances of young people in care and celebrating their achievements.
- During the past 25 years the Fund has spent £425,945 supporting 283 young people into and through higher education, in a wide range of courses.
- Subjects studied by recent beneficiaries range from drama, creative writing and animation to engineering, biomedical science, forensic psychology and law. Currently, the Fund spends over 95% of what it spends on helping young people.
The Fund provides bursaries to meet ongoing expenses; one-off grants for special equipment and materials; free places on short courses; and a £3,000 postgraduate bursary.
Some of the beneficiaries have explained what the Eve Brook Scholarship Fund has meant to them:
Charlene Clempson BA (Derby University) MA (Central St Martin's College of Art) said: "Higher education can be impossible when there are 'no parents in the house'. The Scholarship Fund provided that metaphorical blanket while enabling me to complete my Masters at Central St Martins. I would not have been able to do what I've done without the EBSF."
"Financially it was great, but emotionally it was great as well. I kept on getting called back to meetings, and being asked 'how's it going?' And you don't get that in your life sometimes, that emotional support to do well."
Ruth Flynn LLB (Birmingham City University), said: "I graduated in January as a fashion designer. I don't think I'd be here if I didn't have important people in my life like the Eve Brook Scholarship Fund".
Kerry Littleford BA MA (Sheffield University), said: "Without your help none of this would have been possible. What you do for young people such as myself is outstanding and without such support many young people who have been in care would no doubt struggle to have the same opportunities. I would like to send you a large thank you for all that you have done to help me and those like me."
Luke Fielding BA MA (Birmingham City University), said: “I owe so much to the fund and I am so thankful. Without it, I wouldn't be doing the job I am doing now. Waking up every morning and not having to worry about a roof over my head is a feeling I have never properly felt before. Not to mention going to work and actually enjoying my job. Thank you for this; there is no way this would have been possible without the support from Eve Brook. The funding for the course has completely changed my life”.
Anniversary films
Watch a special 25th Anniversary film that celebrates the achievements of the Eve Brook Scholarship Fund:
You can also watch four shortened versions of this film, each covering a different theme:
- APPLY - Are you a Birmingham care-leaver and do you want to go to university? The Eve Brook Scholarship Fund provides help to enable care-leavers to realise their dreams.
- ENCOURAGE - Do you know a Birmingham care-leaver who wants to go to University? The Eve Brook Scholarship Fund can provide the help they need.
- DONATE - Over 25 years, the Eve Brook Scholarship Fund has given nearly half a million pounds to help over 280 Birmingham care-leavers to go to university. Its income come from donations from people who care about enabling young people to realise their dreams.Can you help?
- ANIMATION - 2023 sees the the 25th anniversary of the Eve Brook Scholarship Fund, which enables Birmingham care-leavers to go to University. Baroness Helena Kennedy QC explains what the Fund has achieved.
The objectives of the Eve Brook Scholarship Fund are:
- to provide financial help to young people, aged 16-25, who have grown up in residential or foster care with Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Children's Trust, to access and succeed in higher education,
- to provide continuing support for those who benefit from the Fund,
- to campaign for and promote the interests of young people coming out of care and celebrate their achievements, and
- to work in partnership with other stakeholders, including former beneficiaries, to achieve these objectives.
Find out more
To find out more visit the Fund website.