A £1,500 bursary was awarded to 13 of the University’s final-year students who live locally and who, despite facing challenging personal circumstances, have continued to work hard and achieve outstanding academic excellence.

Dr Louise Grant, Interim Executive Dean of Health and Social Sciences at the University of Bedfordshire, said at the presentation of the bursaries: “You have been awarded this bursary because we believe you are capable of achieving great things.

“Steel bursary holders represent the best of what we are all about here at the University of Bedfordshire – supporting potential in our students, especially where there are barriers to success that can be mitigated and overcome.”

The Steel Charitable Trust has been associated with the University for over 20 years. It is the largest donor to the University’s scholarships and bursaries and in recent years has also sponsored the Steel Charitable Trust PhD studentship and the Powdrill Chair.

Many of the students who received awards this year are balancing studying, with raising a family and are struggling to afford the child care cost involved.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Philip Lawford, Chairman of The Steel Charitable Trust, said: “The Trust is very pleased to continue to be associated with the University in support of such bursaries and is delighted that the students continue with their studies and achieve such high standards.”

The Steel Charitable Trust was established in 1976 by Walter and Majorie Steel who had lived in Luton for almost all their lives. As well as the education sector, the Steel Charitable Trust provides grants in the following areas: arts and heritage, environment, health, and social or economic disadvantage.