Charity golf day boosts University’s Horizon Fund

14 July 2023

More than £3,000 has been raised at a charity golf day to support students with a passion for sport, writes Sharanya Ranganatha

Three men with golf culbs on the golf course — **Photo by Jason Dudley**

The money raised will make such a huge difference to so many students. It not only ensures that our students can enjoy a great student experience but helps them become more employable too.

Samantha Evans, Senior Development and Alumni Relations Officer

The Staffordshire University Charity Golf Open 2023, held at Onneley Golf Club, raised a total of £3131.50 for the University’s Horizon Fund which helps students access a range of life changing opportunities.

64 people from a range of organisations and business including Bentley Motors and Matrix Fitness UK took part in the annual event. Staff and alumni from Staffordshire University, Keele University and Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College were also involved. Key University Partner, Enterprise generously donated £500 to uplift fundraising for the event.

The Staffordshire University Charity Golf Open, is an annual event which has been running since 2017 - organised and hosted collaboratively by Staffordshire University Sport and Alumni Relations teams.

Samantha Evans, Senior Development and Alumni Relations Officer said, “The money raised will make such a huge difference to so many students. It not only ensures that our students can enjoy a great student experience but helps them become more employable too.

“A few pounds can go a long way, which is absolutely amazing, and the money raised is guaranteed to make a student’s dream come true”, said Samantha, who helps to administer the Horizon Fund which is this year celebrating its 10^th anniversary.

To encourage non-players to engage with the event, the itinerary included a raffle and a blind auction. Local businesses Goin’ Golf, Terraces, Yellow Duck Plumbing and Fused Sport, collectively sponsored awards and trophies for the top performers of the day.

The event also received support from various sports professionals, including the England Volleyball team. Cameron Rhodes, a member of the squad, said, “Of course, I was supported a lot as a junior coming through, and I’m doing my best to try to give it back, now that I’m in the real world and have a job”.

Since 2013, the Horizon Fund has been helping students to achieve their potential in a variety of ways, from overcoming financial hardship to taking on new opportunities. More than 2,000 students have received bursaries, scholarships or opportunity awards ranging in value from £20 to £2,000.