Opportunities Fund

Making ideas a reality

Have you ever had a great idea that never saw the light of day because you didn't have the support or the money to make it work?

Kingston staff and students are brimming with wonderful ideas. So that's why the new Opportunities Fund, founded this year, is giving seed-corn funding to help get the right projects off the ground.

Managed by staff and often led by the students, the projects may:

arise out of student necessity;
be essential to maintain academic momentum;
have positive and lasting impact upon our students' experience at Kingston; or
benefit other, less fortunate people in the wider community.

Just take a look at some of the projects the Opportunities Fund has helped in 2010/11 and the impact that's already been achieved:

The Opportunities Fund has provided money for new parts and enabled the students and our cutting-edge electric motorcycle.

The Electric Superbike

The Kingston Opportunities Fund gave £1,000 to help our engineering racing teams make it to the podium with their incredible electric motorbike.

"Competitive motorcycle racing provides a fun extra-curricular activity for engineering students. More importantly, it gives them a chance to put classroom theory into practice. The Opportunities Fund has provided money for new parts and enabled the students and our cutting-edge electric motorcycle to roar to the next level!"
Paul Brandon, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing.

The Students' Union Volunteering Scheme

The Scheme encourages students to experience volunteer work – both in the university and the local community. It's great for self-confidence and provides students with a whole range of new skills and experiences.

NXT Mindstorm Robots

The provision of eight state-of-the-art Robots that give computing and electronics students a hands-on introduction to their courses. These robots have also proved to be a fabulous addition to the University’s Robot Club.

Wola Nani is a South African NGO which employs women living with HIV/AIDS to make craft products and generate much-needed income.

Future Shape – Kingston students helping the artists of tomorrow

Future Shape is an initiative that pilots educational events and workshops culminating in an exhibition at the Stanley Picker Gallery. Kingston's art and design students were involved with encouraging and guiding pupils from local primary schools in their artistic endeavours.
Find out more

It's your chance to make an idea become a reality

Every single donation we receive will have a really positive impact on the lives of our students and can benefit other, less fortunate people, in the wider community. Your generosity will make a real difference to real people.

Support the Kingston Opportunities Fund here

Students and staff can apply for the Opportunities Fund with the following form:

Application form (Word)

For further advice or information on applications please contact Jason Barlow in the Development Office on 020 8417 3112 or at j.barlow@kingston.ac.uk.

Staff wishing to apply for funding for commercial projects or to develop CPD/short courses, should visit the Enterprise Support Staff Space page.