sustained theatre

Arts bursary to honour memory of Leeds schoolgirl

05 March 2012

An arts bursary to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds has been launched by Leeds Metropolitan University in memory of nine-year-old Yorkshire schoolgirl Shamirah Grant.

The Shamirah Grant Memorial Bursary will see a fund of at least £2000 awarded annually to nominated first year Leeds Metropolitan students, who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and who attended secondary school within the region’s LS7 and LS8 postcode districts.

Shamirah was tragically killed in a road traffic accident near her home in Chapeltown last May. In the months following her death Shamirah’s parents Gary and Jennifer Grant, approached Leeds Metropolitan to see if the University could help to keep their daughter’s memory alive with a bursary scheme in her name.

Gary, who works at Leeds Metropolitan, said he and Jennifer felt privileged that the University was offering the bursary.

“It’s a wonderful gesture and presents a fantastic opportunity for young people from local secondary schools, who come from a disadvantaged background to undertake an arts-related degree,” he said.

Staff in Leeds Metropolitan’s Development and Alumni Relations Team worked closely with Gary and Jennifer to create the scheme which was also generously supported by the University’s alumni.

Through additional fundraising taking place over the summer Leeds Metropolitan is aiming to award up to four grants of £1,000 to first year students studying an arts-related degree course who join the University in September 2012.

Leeds Metropolitan’s Dean of Arts, Environment and Technology School, Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, commented: “We are delighted to be launching the Shamirah Grant Memorial Bursary to both celebrate Shamirah’s memory as well as her enthusiasm and passion for art and also to provide an opportunity for a talented youngster with the same passion to join our University’s degree programme.”

Mohammad will also be taking part in a charity event that will fundraise for the Shamirah Grant Memorial Bursary scheme, amongst other University causes on May 26. The day will see a unique zip wire challenge held at Headingley Carnegie Stadium where participants will have raised sponsorship to hurtle at 30 miles-per-hour from the top of the Pavilion onto the pitch below.

There is limited availability for the fundraiser which is open to the public, so please book now to guarantee your place on the zip wire. Please visit www.leedsmet.ac.uk/about/the-big-zip.htm for further information.

If you would like to make a donation towards the Shamirah Grant Memorial Bursary, please visit:

www.leedsmet.ac.uk/about/giving-to-leeds-metropolitan.htm

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Posted by miselo1@yahoo.co.uk, Thursday 12th April, 2012