NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde supports GCU’s Anniversary Scholarships

Martin Cawley, Chair of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthcare Charity, GCU Principal Professor Mairi Watson, Professor Tom Steele, Director of Estates and Facilities at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Meghan McEwen, Head of the Healthcare Charity at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthcare Charity has announced its commitment to establish a programme of scholarships at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) supporting people across the region to access education and build careers that benefit the communities they call home.

Backed by £82,500 in funding, the programme will support GCU students whose opportunities have been shaped by inequality - including those who are care experienced or estranged from family - helping to create meaningful pathways into education and employment within the NHS and beyond.

The scholarships form part of the University’s 150th Anniversary Campaign, launched by Sir Alex Ferguson CBE and alumnus and honorary graduate, Dr Murray Rowden, and are open to incoming students across all academic programmes.

Each sector-leading scholarship includes a financial stipend, dedicated mentorship, an internship bursary and a guaranteed travel opportunity, with NHS staff playing an active role in engaging with beneficiaries.

The initiative reflects a shared commitment to widening access, tackling inequality and building a workforce that is rooted in and responsive to the diverse communities it serves. Many of the students supported are expected to go on to work in the very communities they grew up in - bringing insight, trust and understanding that strengthens the care provided across NHS services.

Martin Cawley, Chair of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthcare Charity said: “This programme represents an important step towards building a workforce that truly reflects the communities we serve, while enabling individuals to fulfil their ambitions and make a lasting contribution to society. By investing in individuals who have faced barriers to accessing education and employment, we are helping to open doors, remove obstacles and support more inclusive pathways to success.”

Jill Watt, Director of Advancement and Communications at GCU said: “Talent exists in every community, but opportunity does not always follow. This generous support from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthcare Charity helps us close that gap. It will support students to thrive while also contributing to a workforce shaped by a wider range of lived experiences - something that is essential to delivering truly person-centred care.”