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DOWNING COLLEGE ASSOCIATIONWhat use do students make of the Fund?This year, the Tutorial and Admissions Office asked students to describe thedifference that grants from the Alumni Student Fund had made to them. Thefollowing extracts illustrate the range of reasons of applying for the grants andthe use to which they are put and make heartening reading for all alumni whoso generously buy the Association merchandise which generates the incomewithout which the Fund could not exist.“I have mostly needed help with purchasing the many books for mycourse but was awarded a generous grant last year to help me preparefor my year abroad. I come from a working-class background and Iam unable to ask for financial support from my family as a result oftheir copious financial difficulties……The Downing Association hastherefore been the only option for financial support and their helphas essentially made the completion of my degree possible …….. I havebeen consistently impressed with the help that they have been able tooffer throughout my degree …... (MML undergraduate)”“I do not receive any support for research materials. In this day andage, every scientist conducting research finds themselves in need ofcertain basic tools – be it statistical software, reference textbooks, oreven hardware such as an external memory drive or external monitor.As necessary as these resources are, they can often be quite expensive,and it is difficult on a student’s budget to outfit oneself to anappropriate extent. Thus, the funds that I received from the DowningAssociation made a big difference to me as far as being able topurchase items:….. (Zoology postgraduate)”“I have a chronic illness which sometimes stops me from being able toget to the library. Therefore, this grant made a significant differenceto me as it allowed me to work in my room on the days when Icouldn’t get out. (Law undergraduate)”14