Jessica is a 3rd year Business and Management student at Durham University, with big ambitions and a deep connection to the place she now calls home.

Growing up in Spennymoor, just outside Durham, Jessica had dreamed of studying at the Durham since she was a child. Watching students walk through the city, she knew that one day, she wanted to be one of them. That dream stayed with her throughout school and drove her to work hard to earn her place.

But getting in was only part of the challenge.

Turning a dream into reality

Jessica comes from a working-class family where, as she puts it, “you work for what you’ve got.” While her parents worked incredibly hard to support the family, there wasn’t extra money to fall back on.

On top of this, Jessica is also a young carer for her brother, balancing her studies with responsibilities at home.

When she received her offer from Durham, excitement quickly turned into worry. Could she really afford to say yes?

Without financial support, Jessica’s university experience would have looked very different: commuting from home, missing out on opportunities, and focusing only on getting her degree rather than fully participating in university life.

The impact of a scholarship

Everything changed when Jessica was awarded a scholarship.

“It was such a relief… I realised I might actually be okay.”

Thanks to donor support, Jessica has been able to fully embrace her time at Durham. From joining societies and attending formals, to simply saying “yes” to opportunities without worrying about the cost, the scholarship has transformed her experience.

It also gave her the confidence to take a major step, moving into college in her third year, something she had never thought possible.

Today, Jessica is not only thriving academically, but has also been elected as a Welfare Officer, supporting other students and advocating for those facing financial pressures.

Looking ahead

Jessica plans to continue her studies with a Master’s in Marketing and hopes to build a career that helps others like her.

She is particularly passionate about widening access to higher education, ensuring that students from working-class backgrounds feel that places like Durham are for them too.

A message to supporters

Jessica is clear about the impact of donor generosity:

With your support, more students like Jessica can say yes to Durham and discover just how far they can go.