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JVenn News Update

Posted 7th October 2015
by John

Welcome to the first JVenn News Update since the Foundation was granted Charity Status in February – it’s been a busy time.

In the first few months we rapidly set up the process to receive applications for the four available 2015 bursaries for students who have in their lives not shared the advantages the majority enjoy. In the end we received about fifty applications mainly from Wilberforce and Wyke 6th Form Colleges with a few from Hull College and the Archbishop Sentamu Academy. If we had the resources to provide fifty bursaries life would have been easy. In the end we interviewed a short-list of seven excellent candidates and in July agreed the successful recipients of the bursaries: Alex Abdo, Lauren Armstrong, Gemma Nesvik and Raenor Phelps. The selection process was really difficult and our hearts went out to the three unsuccessful students who managed to reach the short-list. If anyone knows a better way of organising this we’d love to hear from you: info@jvennfoundation.org

Over the forthcoming months we will be posting blogs from the students receiving bursaries which I’m hoping will give those going to university or college over the next few years, real insights into student life.

Award Ceremony
In August I had the wonderful pleasure of presenting the students with certificates at the offices of Gosschalks in Queens Gardens arranged through the HEYSmile Foundation which does so much good work helping local charities. This was a chance to meet with relatives and teachers and explain a bit about the JVenn Foundation’s plans.

Special thanks are due to HEYSmile who arranged the refreshments and to Sabrina Jones and Esme Birch who provided the all –too-popular cupcakes.

2016 Bursary Applications
We’re already thinking about the 2016 bursary applications. We are currently arranging meetings at schools and colleges for the week beginning 4th January where we can let students know about the bursaries and how to make the best of their applications. That will be a chance to meet the successful 2015 applicants. We are aiming to open up for applications in March.

Funding Projects
That’s not all. JVenn wants to fund other educational projects in Hull schools. We are currently working with the Hull Women’s Centre to arrange a series of talks for Year 6 girls at Bransholme schools on self-esteem. The plan is for these to start in January. We are also talking to a school in East Hull about contributing to the funding of a literacy project.

Fund Raising
After many months we now have our HMRC registration and are working with our IT professionals – Umber Creative – to set up a straightforward process where donors can help our work go further and perhaps increase the number of bursaries we can provide each year. None of the trustees or volunteers have much experience of working in the charity sector so one of our learning needs over the next year is how better to raise funds.

Trustees and Volunteers
Finally, none of this work would have been possible without the help of the trustees Kirstine Brantuo and Jay Trivedy and the unfailing support of Sabrina Jones.

John Cliff
Chair of JVenn Foundation

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