Our partnership with Simon Sadler

Thanks to a generous donation in 2024 from alumnus and Chair of Blackpool FC, Simon Sadler, we're able to offer a maintenance bursary for up to 36 care-experienced or care leaver students over three years.

The Bursary

For 2026 entry, we have 12 bursaries available. The recipients of the award will:

• Receive an annual maintenance bursary of £10,000, which will be paid in two instalments in October and February.

Continued receipt of the scholarship year-on-year is dependent on satisfactory academic progression.

If your course is longer than three years, you can fund additional years of study through Student Finance England or by other means.

Who can apply?

Essential eligibility criteria

You must meet all of the following to apply: 

• be a care leaver or care experienced (as per our definition below);
• have applied to study an undergraduate degree at The University of Manchester starting in September 2026; 
• Have been assessed for fee status as a ‘home’ student;
• be aged 24 years or under on 1 September 2026. 

Priority criteria

We'll use the information in your application form to confirm eligibility for this Bursary. Not all eligible students will be successful in their application.

We'll use additional information to shortlist applicants, including:

• how long you've been in care for;
• at what age you went into care;
• how many school placements you have had;
• if your local authority is in Blackpool or North West England;
• if you've lived in Blackpool or North West England since September 2022.

Application and selection process

The application form will be open from Monday, 2 March until Sunday, 26 April. The application form link will be posted here when live. 

A small selection panel will shortlist applicants, and you’ll receive a decision on your application by Monday, 1 June. 

Submit additional documents

As part of your application, you’ll need to upload the following documents, so we recommend that you get hold of these as soon as possible: 

• A letter from your local authority (or social worker) confirming the following:  
  • The dates you were / have been in care for (start and end dates, where appropriate) 
  • The number of home placements you’ve had  
  • The number of primary school placements you’ve had
  • The number of secondary school placements you’ve had  
• Evidence that you've lived in Blackpool or the North West at any point since 1 September 2022, including bank statements, letters, or school verification.
• Evidence that you are/were under the care of a local authority in Blackpool or the North West. 

Still have a question?

Enquiries should be sent to: sadlerbursary@manchester.ac.uk.