RCVS President donates Christmas fund to education and careers charity

The RCVS has donated this year’s Christmas charity fund of £4,000 to a national charity that aims to improve equality in education and careers to young people from underrepresented backgrounds.

The Villiers Park Educational Trust has worked with underrepresented young people in areas with historically low access to higher education and careers opportunities for the last century, and was chosen by RCVS President Sue Paterson as this year’s recipient of the Christmas fund.

In her opening speech as RCVS President in July this year, Sue (pictured) made widening access to the veterinary professions one of the key themes of her presidential year, saying she would be talking to young people of all backgrounds and their teachers to make sure they know about the breadth of opportunities available to veterinary science graduates.

Regarding the donation, Sue said: “I’m delighted to be making the donation this year to Villiers Park as their work perfectly aligns with my theme of widening participation and they’re based at Cambridge which is my alma mater.

"I have heard about the excellent work Villiers Park does to transform the lives of underrepresented young people, by broadening their horizons, working to remove barriers, increasing their confidence and encouraging them to think far beyond school to the careers and futures that are right for them.

“In the new year I am looking forward to meeting up with representatives from the charity, finding out more about some of their specific projects and talking to them about how the veterinary sector can do more to reach out to underrepresented communities across the country.”

In response to the donation, Alex Grant, the Assistant Director at Villiers Park who runs the charity’s Hastings & Bexhill and Tyneside hubs as well as its early entry programme, said: "We are absolutely delighted by the generosity of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

"Our early entry programme supports aspiring veterinary students from under-represented backgrounds to apply and thrive on these highly competitive courses. This support will enable us to increase our reach and encourage even more young people to fulfil their aspirations.”

The RCVS Christmas donation is a £4,000 gift made every December to a charity, or charities, of the president’s choice.