Transform lives. Build futures.
Donate to build a healthier, fairer society.
Join us in making change possible
At the University of East London, we are relentless in our mission to tackle the health and economic inequalities that hold communities back. With innovative thinking, ground-breaking research, and a deep commitment to equity, we’re driving change at the intersection of health and education. Together, we can turn crises into catalysts for progress. With your help, we’ll create opportunities where there were barriers, wellness where there was disparity, and equity where there was inequality. Think it can’t be done? Think again.
We’ve already made a significant impact - but this is just the beginning. With your support, we can amplify our efforts and achieve even greater change. Let’s create a healthier, greener, and fairer future - together. Starting today.
Ways to get involved
Whether you are driven to break educational barriers, advance the transformative work of our cutting-edge neighbourhood health hub, or establish a scholarship that carries your name, your contributions can create lasting change. Every act of generosity unlocks opportunities for talented individuals, empowering them to thrive and building stronger, more vibrant communities in East London and across the globe.
Contribution options
- One-off donations: Make an immediate and meaningful impact with a single gift.
- Monthly donations: Provide consistent, ongoing support to sustain transformative programs and amplify your impact over time.
Your support is more than a gift—it’s an investment in brighter futures and better communities.
Funding priorities
Access to education and employment
Scholarships and bursaries
As part of our Access and Participation Plan, UEL creates transformative opportunities for those who need them most. A core aspect of this approach comes in the form of financial support for our students – such as scholarships and bursaries.
Scholarships
Our scholarships provide a range of funding: from a £2,000 one-off grant up to £28,605 over three years to fully cover a student’s fees. Scholarships come in the form of a cash award or a tuition fee waiver; and are designed to reward academic excellence, enhance diversity, inspire innovation. Our scholarships are usually awarded pre-admission, and prospective students submit applications with awards based on a combination of merit and financial need.
Bursaries
Bursaries help to tackle the financial challenges that can stand in the way of students from disadvantaged backgrounds accessing education and systemic health gains. UEL provides financial assistance (up to a value of £3,000) to students facing a range of challenges and barriers, including those from low-income households, those who have care experience, or struggling with course-related costs. Students can also receive support with expenses for interviews and reducing the financial impact of disabilities on learning.
East London Primary Care Education Centre
The East London Primary Care Education Centre (ELPCEC) is a new three-year place-based initiative designed and led by UEL.
The ELPCEC’s overarching goal is to break down the structural barriers to education, employment, digital inclusion, and good health that are facing children and young people aged 0-25 in Hackney, Newham, and Tower Hamlets. The ELPCEC will be delivered in partnership with local schools, early years settings, further education providers, healthcare professionals, and creative and other industries.
The programme, supporting thousands of children and young people each year, will be the first of its kind to connect these elements by embedding a cross-sector approach across early years settings, local schools, and further education providers. It introduces new delivery mechanisms such as creative labs, digital micro-credentialing, skills bootcamps, apprenticeships, and culturally sensitive health interventions.
The ELPCEC will have the following impact for our local community:
- Strengthened pathways from education into employment, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds; not in education, employment, or training; or facing barriers to learning.
- Improved health literacy and preventative care access, reducing pressures on local NHS services.
- A replicable and scalable model of integrated, place-based early intervention, with robust evaluation.
Community engagement and support
Neighbourhood Health Hub: phase 2
Opened in October 2025 by Health and Social Care Secretary the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, UEL’s new Neighbourhood Health Hub is transforming how communities access care.
Located at the heart of our Stratford Health Campus, the Hub acts as a one-stop shop where local residents can access a range of practical, prevention-focused health and wellbeing services – all under one roof. Our ambition is for the Hub to become a prototype model of a “primary care hospital”: a place that brings together prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation, education, innovation, diagnosis and treatment to improve health outcomes for people across East London, while simultaneously reducing demand on GP and NHS services. The Hub also provides a safe, supervised teaching environment through which UEL students deliver preventative health services under qualified supervision. It improves access for students, staff, and local communities, while strengthening the future health workforce.
In response to the needs of the local community, and in line with UEL’s academic and undergraduate/postgraduate course expertise, we are now looking to expand the Hub by adding the following crucial services and support:
- Counselling and wellbeing sessions, including mindfulness and parenting support
- Pre- and Rehabilitation services delivered through our new rehabilitation centre
- MBST musculoskeletal treatment delivered within a research framework
- Extending our Health MOT offer to include glucose and cholesterol testing
These new services will be in addition to our current provision:
- Health checks and screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart health
- Tailored exercise programmes
- Public health education and awareness workshops (including on cancer and diabetes)
- A musculoskeletal therapy clinic offering injury consultations, rehabilitation, and manual therapy
Since opening and in its previous iteration as a Health Advice Centre, the Hub has provided support to more than 3,200 people – with an economic cost saving of nearly £165,000. Over the next 12 months, we aim to reach up to 5,000 people, and estimate that we could generate economic value of up to £315,000 through preventative treatment and support. Evidence collected by the BMJ/Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health also suggests that “for every £1 invested in public health, the average return is ~£14”. Using this benchmark, the projected £315,000 economic value equates to an estimated total value of ~£4.41m generated (i.e., £315,000 × 14), further strengthening the case for scaling the Hub’s preventative offer.
Sport In Your Futures
Sport In Your Futures (SIYF) is UEL’s unique community programme that connects primary pupils across East London with the power of sport, wellbeing, and education.
Through access to a whole range of quality sports provision, local children aged 7–11 have the chance to experience university life, take part in new activities, and understand how sport can shape their futures both on and off the field of play. The programme’s impact is evidenced by the involvement of two high-profile UEL alumni as Ambassadors: Team GB Multi-medallist, Christine Ohuruogu MBE, and Ex-England Netball star Ziana Butt BEM.
SIYF tackles barriers to participation such as limited access to facilities, low confidence, and lack of representation. For example, our Break the Cycle sessions work with girls in Years 5 and 6, and are designed to explore periods, body confidence, and movement. These sessions combine fitness, creativity, and open discussion to help young girls understand their bodies and stay active with confidence.
Evolving our campus facilities
Facility refit
The global esports market is estimated to be valued at over $2.89 billion in 2025, up from $1.98 billion in 2023. This expansion represents a growing opportunity for education and employment opportunities and is matched by student interest: 55% of UK students aged 13-18 believe gaming is a viable career path. In addition, applications and offers for esport undergraduate courses have been growing consistently year-on-year, and acceptances have seen an average yearly growth of 8.3% since 2020/21.
In response, UEL is in the process of developing a careers in esports course and performance hub. This hub will have the facilities and infrastructure necessary to support the development and delivery of esports study and careers skills and opportunities; provide safe online spaces, informed by our research into online gaming and harm; and run an annual UEL Festival of Esports for community and industry.
Why your support matters
For more than 125 years, UEL has opened doors for students who are determined to create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Many of our students are the first in their families to attend university. Many balance work, care responsibilities, or financial hardship while striving to succeed. Your contribution helps ensure that every talented student has the opportunity to thrive — regardless of background or circumstance.
Our impact – stories of transformation
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Aalia Akram: Vice Chancellor's Scholarship Recipient
Choosing UEL was an easy decision. I did my research and found UEL ranked highly in biomedical science in the UK
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Institute of Science for Early Years (ISEY)
ISEY examines the impact of early life stress on attention, learning, and development, paving the way for better outcomes and brighter futures for children everywhere.
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Siemens Sustainable Energy Engineering Scholarship
Siemens strengthened its long-standing partnership with UEL by funding a £12,000 scholarship for a home-fee student on the MSc Sustainable Energy Engineering programme in 2025/26.
Other ways to get involved
Supporting UEL is about more than giving — it’s about being part of a movement that champions equity, opportunity, and innovation.
You can get involved far beyond your donation:
- Mentor a student
- Offer an internship or placement
- Volunteer at events
- Share your expertise as a speaker
- Become a fundraising ambassador
Together, we can shape a brighter future and build a stronger community.
Other funding opportunities you may be interested in
Future-proof child online safety
Help us close critical legislative gaps by funding evidence-based, future-proof research and policy solutions to safeguard all children online.
Our strategy places child well-being and online safety at the heart of everything we do. The Child Online Harms Policy Think Tank acts as an independent, central hub for research, policy development, and collaboration aimed at safeguarding children in the digital age. Led by Prof Julia Davidson OBE, a globally recognised authority in child online protection, we’re a diverse team of academics, policy advisors, and child protection professionals, each with deep experience in translating research into effective, future-proofed policy. Collectively, we have advised governments, international agencies, law enforcement and industry leaders, ensuring their solutions are both evidence-based and impactful.
Our commitment to you
We are dedicated to ethical fundraising, transparency, and making sure every donation is used exactly as intended.
When you donate to UEL, you can expect:
- Clear communication about how your gift is used
- Regular updates on the impact you're making
- Stewardship that respects your wishes and values
- Responsible and secure handling of all donations
- You are an essential part of our community, and we honour your trust.
To find out more about giving to UEL or to discuss making a gift, please contact our Fundraising Team at fundraising@uel.ac.uk