Blackpool FC chairman provides university bursary for care leavers

Sadler, a University of Manchester alumnus, has launched the Sadler Bursary which will provide an annual grant of £10,000 for 36 undergraduate care-experienced students, with particular priority being given to students from the North West of England, including Blackpool.

The bursary will cover the entirety of the recipients’ degrees, providing support with accommodation and specific help for students from low-income households.

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Sadler said: “It is a true privilege to have these new bursaries named after me, which will give a helping hand to young people who have had particularly complicated starts to their lives. I also hope it inspires young people who may not have previously considered attending university to follow their dreams.

“Manchester is one of the top higher education institutions in the country, and studying there was a transformative journey which provided me with a valuable and positive investment in my future. I hope the bursary recipients have the same experience, and that they go on to have long, successful careers in their chosen fields.”

Professor Nancy Rothwell, president and vice-chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “I would personally like to thank Simon for this generous, life-changing programme of support for students leaving care, which will play a pivotal role in our mission to create a more inclusive and accessible academic environment.

“We are committed to ensuring that students from all backgrounds are able to fulfil their potential and succeed here at our University, and this new bursary is another tool in our arsenal to enable that to happen.”

The businessman is from Blackpool himself and purchased a 96% stake in Blackpool FC in 2019. Blackpool contains eight of England’s ten most deprived wards, and its share of children in local authority care is the highest in the country.

Sadler also works as chief investment officer of Segantii Capital Management, which he founded in 2007.

Existing support for care leavers at the university includes paid work as Student Ambassadors and named contacts to help with accessing support services, accommodation, finances and career pathways.