"I have been astounded by the positivity of Birkbeck's alumni"
As we near the end of the second week of our telephone fundraising campaign, we hear from our callers about how they're enjoying connecting with Birkbeck's valued community of alumni, supporters and friends.
As we near the end of the second week of our telephone fundraising campaign, our callers are enjoying reconnecting with Birkbeck’s valued community of alumni, supporters and friends.
Fifteen callers, made up of Birkbeck students and recent graduates, are spending three weeks sharing experiences with alumni, keeping them up-to-date about university developments and encouraging them to give to the Birkbeck Fund.
Fundraising for the Birkbeck Fund will ensure we can support our students from all walks of life by helping them to successfully start and complete their studies.
Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck, met the callers last week and described the gifts received so far from alumni as “the difference between a student completing their degree and not”.
She said: “It makes a difference to the quality of degree they get. It means they have to take on less external work, they can focus on their studies and not be worried about their financial security.”
Matt Innes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Birkbeck, said: “We have got students speaking with authenticity about their own experiences and the barriers they have had to overcome, reaching out to our alumni about how to make sure that future generations can benefit from Birkbeck.
“To me, that is a really worthwhile venture both in terms of making sure we can continue that financial support into the future but also broadening our community and understanding its impact.”
Our callers have also spoken about how rewarding an experience it has been to connect with alumni.
Antonia Hayter, who is studying BSc Business and Human Resource Management part-time, said: “I have been astounded by the positivity of Birkbeck’s alumni. They have been friendly and generous.
“I have really enjoyed connecting with alumni. I spoke to a lovely lady who did a creative writing course and we spoke about how she’s had her poetry published.
“There have been some good conversations and I feel a real sense of achievement.”
Hannan Khan, who studied BA History and International Relations and graduated in 2020, said: “A lot of the alumni I have spoken to have studied the same subjects as me and, like me, they graduated during the pandemic.
“We have been patting each other on the back for getting through it. There are a lot of unsung heroes on these calls.
“I have been able to use my experiences to connect with people on that level.”
Liz Yuen, who is studying a Cert HE in Counselling and Counselling Skills, said: “I started off a bit uncertain in case I was calling at the wrong time, but it turned out the alumni are full of good will and wishes for us knowing we are current students.
“I am thankful for their kindness, generosity and support.”
Becks White, regular giving officer at Birkbeck, said: “Hearing stories of resilience and transformation from those who have walked the same path is truly inspiring for our current students.
“It has been a privilege to witness the team’s growing confidence and their genuine excitement in offering alumni the chance to give back.
“The generosity of our alumni so far in supporting students’ access to Birkbeck and helping them through tough times has been remarkable.”
Further Information
- Find out more about the ways to give a gift to support Birkbeck students
- Discover how to become a Birkbeck telephone caller