Manchester student fulfils nursing dream thanks to social mobility programme

15 Dec 2016

A student who helped care for her elderly relatives has just graduated from the University, thanks to a scholarship which enabled her to take her dream nursing course

Lucille Noone has been interested in nursing as a career since she was a child, and recognised that adult nursing was the right field for her when she worked at Ormskirk and Southport hospitals as a domestic assistant and a linen assistant at the age of 16.

She dreamed of attending The University of Manchester, but thought chances of getting there were slim due to the cost of accommodation and travel. 

She was able to come here thanks to the Manchester Access Programme (MAP), the University’s flagship social mobility programme, which supports talented pupils aged 16+ who would otherwise be unlikely to attend university due to them living in areas with very low participation in higher education, having low household incomes and/or no family tradition of attending university.

Over a period of 18 months, Lucille participated in a programme of workshops and seminars and received support with her UCAS application. Having achieved her grades at A Level, she was guaranteed a place at the University and received an Undergraduate Access Scholarship funded by the Himor Property Group.

Lucille’s Undergraduate Access Scholarship eased the financial burden of university, enabling her to continue living at home and helping to look after her relatives throughout her course.

“I had my heart set on attending The University of Manchester, but the chances of me actually getting there were slim - I wouldn't have been able to attend due to the cost of accommodation in halls or commuting from home every day,” said Lucille. “The Manchester Access Programme and the scholarship that I received because of it changed all that.”

“I am excited to graduate, follow my passions, and explore the variety of places that nursing can take me.”

She has already started to look for employment, and is looking for roles within neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery or surgical oncology.

Lesley Dowdall, Deputy Director for Development, said: “We are thrilled to see Lucille fulfil her lifelong ambition to become a nurse with the help of her donor. We believe a young person’s background should not be a barrier to them gaining a world-class education, and through the generosity of our donors, we are redressing this imbalance. We wish Lucille and our other scholarship students a long and happy career.”