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Stormzy expands Cambridge scholarships for Black students

The rapper has secured a three year partnership with HSBC to boost the existing funding provided by his charity, #Merky Foundation.

The Stormzy Scholarship began in 2018 and has offered financial support for two UK-based Black students a year. To date, six students have received funding through the program.

Stormzy has previously self-funded their education, aiming to address the cultural and racial inequality of students completing courses at one of the worldโ€™s top universities.

In light of a new partnership with HSBC worth ยฃ2million, the scholarship will be expanded to cover tuition and living costs for thirty black students over the next three years.

Ten Black or mixed-race heritage students will receive ยฃ20,000 each year, an amount that will continue throughout the duration of their undergraduate courses.

Announcing the growth of the program, Stormzy said, โ€˜for 30 more black students to have the opportunity to study at Cambridge – the same year our initial 2018 scholars graduate – feels like an incredible milestone.โ€™

This summer, the first two recipients of the scholarship program graduated with a high 2:1 and 2:1.

The Senior pro-vice-chancellor of Cambridge University highlighted a 50 percent increase in the number of Black students applying and being accepted to study at the institution following the announcement of Stormzyโ€™s scheme four years ago.

In 2019, Cambridge reported that 26.8% of its undergraduate students were from Black, Asian, or minority ethnic groups from the UK. This significant increase is being called the โ€˜Stormzy effectโ€™.

In a statement, Stormzy told the BBC, โ€˜I hope this continues to serve as a small reminder to young Black students that the opportunity to study at one of the best universities in the world is theirs for the taking.โ€™

Itโ€™s incredible to see celebrities use their platform and financial privilege to support causes that they are passionate about โ€“ even more so when it sparks a chain reaction for more social change.

From Marcus Rashfordโ€™s school lunch programs to Stormzyโ€™s scholarships, it looks like some of Britainโ€™s biggest stars are on a mission to challenge inequality within the system โ€“ even if it requires opening their own wallets.

Letโ€™s hope this trend continues to set an example for more in their position, itโ€™s certainly worth it.

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