Thanks to your generous donations, all final year care leaver students were awarded a graduation bursary, so they could attend their graduation without having to worry about the costs associated.

Events management student Esther was one of the students to benefit from the graduation bursary. Esther was 14 when she was taken into care; the stress she was experiencing at home caused her grades to suffer.

However, after bouncing back and studying hard she was accepted onto a course at Sheffield Hallam.

With your help Esther was able to attend her graduation and celebrate her outstanding achievements without having to worry about the financial cost of the day.

Esther said: "I was so happy when I found out that there was help available for care leavers towards their graduation. For me, it will be the culmination of three years of hard work. However, with gowns, photographs, travel and accommodation to think about, it all adds up and adds pressure to what is already quite a stressful time.

"It's been a challenge as I am not a natural academic so I've had to work very hard to get to where I have. Not many care leavers think of university as an option, so I felt like I had a responsibility to succeed to inspire other people who have been in care to do the same.

"Thank you so much to everyone who has helped to make my graduation special.

"Now I'm enrolled on a masters course studying Human Resource Management and after that I want to do a PhD, I've got this far, why should I stop now?!"

Find out more about how you can help close the gaps in education by supporting students like Esther here.