Blackpool FC Welcomes Sadler Bursary Scholars from The University of Manchester for Matchday Experience
8th November, Blackpool: Nine University of Manchester students, who are care-experienced recipients of the Sadler Bursary, were welcomed to Bloomfield Road for a unique matchday experience as Blackpool FC played Cardiff City on Saturday 8th November.
The visit was made possible by alumnus and Blackpool FC owner, Simon Sadler, whose £1.5 million philanthropic gift has enabled the University to launch a transformative bursary programme for care-experienced students.
The Sadler Bursary provides an annual grant of £10,000 to up to 36 undergraduate students who have left care. The initiative addresses the significant barriers faced by care leavers in accessing and thriving in higher education. Nationally, only 14% of care leavers progress to university, compared to 47% of students from state-funded schools.
In recognition of these barriers, The University of Manchester offers extensive support for care leavers. Each student has a named contact who helps them settle into university life and provides advice around subjects such as housing and finance. The University also makes 52-week accommodation in halls available, and can act as a guarantor to private landlords.
Financial support, of which the Sadler Bursary is an important part, also covers living costs, access to sports and recreation, and an offer of becoming a paid student ambassador.
The Scholars were invited to Blackpool FC to enjoy full hospitality in the club’s boardroom, meet players and staff, and walk through the players’ tunnel onto the pitch prior to kick-off.
Simon Sadler, Owner of Blackpool FC, commented: “It was deeply moving to welcome the Scholars and to see them enjoying all that our wonderful club has to offer. These young people have overcome more challenges than many and the bursary is about giving them the support and encouragement they may need to pursue their ambitions with confidence.”
Simon added: “I’m very grateful for the time I spent at the University of Manchester—it gave me the grounding, confidence and perspective I needed to shape my own career. I hope that young people from Blackpool and the surrounding areas, especially those from care-affected backgrounds, will see Manchester as a place where they too can thrive. My education there opened doors and created opportunities I’ll always be thankful for, and it’s really important to me that local young people are given the same chance to grow and realise their potential. I encourage them all to consider applying for these.”
Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, commented: “Thanks to Simon’s generosity, the Sadler Bursary is a shining example of how philanthropy can help change lives by making education more accessible and inclusive. This visit to Blackpool FC was a celebration of that spirit and that mission. These students deserve every opportunity to thrive, and we’re proud to be supporting them throughout their journey.”
Daniel, one of the Sadler Scholars, added: “Growing up, my life felt contained in a dark tunnel, boundless and solitary. Now, as I step out of the Bloomfield Road tunnel, the future shines so bright. On this journey I am no longer alone.”
The Sadler Bursary forms part of the University’s broader commitment to supporting care-experienced and estranged students. In addition to financial support, students benefit from tailored guidance, accommodation grants, and opportunities to work as Student Ambassadors.
For further information on support available to care experienced students at The University of Manchester, visit: https://www.studentsupport.manchester.ac.uk/tailored-support/careexperiencedstudents/
