The Power of a Scholarship: How alumni support is transforming lives at Sheffield

For many, the path to university is a well-trodden one, with a clear trajectory from school to higher education. But for Daniel Lee Fielding, a first-year history student at the University of Sheffield, the journey has been anything but conventional.

The youngest of six siblings and with family caring responsibilities, Daniel’s educational experience was vastly different from his peers.

“My dad was in the army and my mum worked as a hairdresser but they had to give up work when my sister was born because she needed full time care. My mum then had her own health complications which meant I didn’t go to secondary school. To study for my GCSEs, I went to an educational centre twice a week to see a personal tutor. I was in a class with students who had been expelled from mainstream school, even though I was there because I was technically homeschooled. We had to be searched every time we went into the building, it was a challenging environment.”

Lacking the structured environment of a school, further education didn’t seem like a possibility. He entered the workforce aged 16 and worked as a chef, in factories and most recently at a petrol station. But it was in these roles a long-held interest in history began to solidify into a desire for something more.

“I found myself not really satisfied,” Daniel reflects. “I’ve always been interested in history and had dreamed of going to university. In my spare time I like to visit museums or read history books. My dad’s always been a massive history fan, so we always bonded over that.”

Pursuing further education wasn’t easy. Daniel began looking at ways to get into university but most wouldn’t even consider him with only three GCSEs. But Sheffield’s Lifelong Learning course offered an exciting opportunity, with a foundation year designed for those without traditional qualifications.

“Getting onto the course was very nerve-racking,” Daniel recalls. “There were a lot of exams just to get the interview. I had to complete exams in English and Maths to even be considered.”

Daniel was the first in his family to get school qualifications and pursue university, so it was an unfamiliar experience. As he hadn’t studied A levels, Daniel also had to learn new skills such as note-taking, how to write formal essays and academic referencing.  

Adding to these academic hurdles were the financial realities of being a student and juggling the rising cost of living without parental support. Daniel decided the most viable option would be to commute to campus from home. But living an hour away by public transport comes with added travel costs and a sense of detachment from the typical university experience.

This is where the Experience Sheffield Scholarship, funded by the collective generosity of Sheffield alumni, has made an immeasurable difference. 

Awarded during his foundation year, the scholarship has provided Daniel with a crucial financial safety net. He’s been able to learn to drive to reduce the time it takes him to commute and it means he doesn’t have to work full-time just to make ends meet. Alumni are helping Daniel dedicate as much time as possible to his passion: history.

Beyond easing the day-to-day financial pressures, alumni support has opened doors to opportunities Daniel might otherwise have missed. He’s been able to join the History Society and enjoy woodland walks to photograph mushrooms and learn which ones are safe to forage.

But most importantly, the scholarship has given Daniel the freedom to fully immerse himself in his course. He’s even been able to volunteer at a WWII airbase to increase his knowledge further.

“I’m in five days a week, with a practical on Friday for Archaeology. It’s really interesting, looking at bones and seeing how people lived back then. I’d never been in a lab before which was really exciting. I’m learning history from perspectives you don’t normally see and getting access to special archives.”

Being a scholar has also fostered a sense of belonging and connection to the wider university community. Daniel has met donors at events in London and Sheffield, where he had the chance to share his experiences. These opportunities have instilled in him a desire to “get in a position where I could do the same, to give something back.”

Reflecting on the collective support he has received from alumni, Daniel is profoundly grateful.  

“It’s nice to know that there’s such a big community out there who are open to helping people,” he says. “However people give, even if it’s just whatever they can afford, collectively they’re all contributing to the same goal. And that’s to help people like me come back into education. Even a small amount makes such a difference for people like me. I know I’m making my family proud just by being here. I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated and would love to know more about why they donated and where they came from.”

Daniel’s passion for history has him set on a career as a teacher, with his motivations deeply rooted in his own unconventional journey.

“I never went to school, and I’d like to teach people who are in the same circumstances as I was,” he explains. He envisions a future where he can inspire and guide students who may face similar barriers to education.

Daniel’s story is a testament to the power of opportunity and the profound impact that alumni support can have on individual lives. By investing in students like Daniel you, the Sheffield alumni community, are not just funding education; you’re empowering potential, sparking passions and ultimately, shaping a brighter future for us all.