How does the Graduands' Council help?
Current finalists will have benefitted from the fundraising efforts of former Graduands' Councils (GC) themselves during their College career. In their final year, a student's own Graduands' Council cohort will then bring Pembroke's graduand student collective together through participation in a shared goal of a Class Gift (donate now if you can!) for the students that will follow them.
The GC has previously fundraised for: Student Bursaries, Mental Welfare, the Access Fund, College sport, the College Music Fund and even renovating the Junior Parlour! Any area of support for Pembroke students is open for fundraising in a given year.
Mental Welfare donations have supported areas as varied as use of the Headspace app, time with mental health nurses and counsellors, taxis to Addenbrookes, neurodiversity diagnoses such as autism and ADHD, miscellaneous associated medical costs, and in the future, even mindfulness classes.
Many students struggle with their mental health after leaving home, and Cambridge students experience this while attending one of the most globally competitive institutions for tertiary education. With the NHS years-long waiting lists only growing, having support from trained counsellors on hand can make the difference between giving a student enough mental respite and confidence to continue with their studies, or choosing to prematurely conclude their Pembroke journey.
Hardship is a varied area that supports both undergraduates and postgraduates with unexpected one-off essential costs such as accommodation, tuition, or help with their College bill.
Times are tough, and following the pandemic, there has been a significant rise in use of the Hardship Fund, particularly undergraduates, as family members and guardians who expected to provide financial support lose their means of income or have it drastically reduced. The Hardship Fund helps those students struggling to make ends meet, who may not have access to traditional bursaries.
Student Bursaries are a means-tested form of support for undergraduates (including Medical and Veterinary students). Beneficiaries are free to use their funding for whatever they need in their student experience, whether helping them to cover groceries that week, buy essential text books, or a second-hand bike to get to supervisions.
Bursaries can help balance the scales and allow beneficiaries to get involved in College and University life in the same manner as their peers, from helping to pay for a ticket to a subject dinner, or even join Varsity with their friends. All students should be able to embrace this rare time in their lives without feeling financial burdens on top of their studies.