Thank you to everyone who has already donated to the 50thAnniversary Scholarships Fund! Together, you are helping to change lives and provide access to education for those who otherwise might not have the opportunity.
Since January 2019 an incredible £260,000 has been donated, which will support the equivalent of 14 full-time scholarships for carers and vulnerable people. So far, 6,000 alumni, students and supporters of the OU have donated and will have their name included on gold-coloured OU shields hung on the fantastic Tree of Learning sculpture.
Clare McHugh, also known as MissFire, a talented artist, designer and blacksmith based in the Forest of Dean has been commissioned to bring the sculpture to life. She will create the 18 foot sculpture over the course of 15 weeks ready to install towards the end of the summer. The response has been so amazing MissFire has had to redesign elements of the tree to ensure that we can accommodate all of the shields! You can read more about MissFire on her website.
The sculpture will be unveiled in October 2019 and will be housed in the Betty Boothroyd Library on Milton Keynes campus; it will be a truly magnificent feature – celebrating the first 50 years of the OU whilst looking forward to the future of the University.
Over the next few months we’ll update you as MissFire brings this amazing sculpture to life.
It’s not too late to get involved
If you would like your personalised shield on the tree would be interested in supporting the 50thAnniversary Scholarships Fund, it’s not too late - you can donate here.
MissFire’s workshop and forge in the Forest of Dean