果冻影院

What is your role and what does it involve?听

I鈥檓 a Senior Student Funding Officer, and work primarily on the management of US Loans disbursements and the Financial Assistance Fund. The Financial Assistance Fund provides students with emergency funding and aid if they are encountering financial hardship or have suffered through unexpected circumstances, which leaves them unable to afford things such as rent and living expenses. If a student is suffering financially, we are there to provide support and potential funds to alleviate their situation.听听

How long have you been at 果冻影院 and what was your previous role?听

I started in January 2018, and before that I was the Student Funding Manager at St Mary鈥檚 University.听听

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?听

I鈥檓 proud of the work we do with the Financial Assistance Fund. Our aim is to make sure that no-one has to withdraw from their studies because of unexpected financial hardship. We鈥檝e helped students find accommodation, afford food, and continue on their courses without the burden of financial worry.听听

During 2019-20 we saw a 237% increase in applications due to the pandemic. Flights were cancelled, a lot of funding cut off, and many students were stranded without any means to get home. Dedicating our work to assessing and awarding funding applications, we were a much-needed safety net for over a thousand students.听听

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list?听

I鈥檓 currently preparing the next disbursement of US loan funds, which means disbursing over $5m.听听

What is your favourite album, film, and novel?听

Album 鈥� Unplugged in New York 产测听狈颈谤惫补苍补听

Film 鈥� The Godfather听

Novel 鈥� The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro听

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?听

A man is driving down a country road when he spots a farmer standing in the middle of a field. Curious, he pulls the car over and walks out to the farmer.听

鈥淓xcuse me, but why are you standing there doing nothing?鈥澨�

The farmer says, 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to win a Nobel Prize.鈥澨�

鈥淗辞飞?鈥澨�

鈥淚 heard they give it to people who are out standing in their fields.鈥澨�

Who would be your dream dinner guests?听

William Goldman and Paul Newman.

What advice would you give your younger self?听

The world belongs to proactive people.听

What would it surprise people to know about you?听

I have a master鈥檚 degree in Creative Writing and am currently writing a novel.听

What is your favourite place?听

Sitting in a cinema, just as the film starts.听听