Donations will make a huge difference to students at Exeter, particularly those who have faced hardship during the pandemic or struggled through lockdowns.

Exeter Telethon breaks records with fundraising

The University of Exeter’s spring telethon has raised a record £226,513, an increase of more than £60,000 over the past highest total.

During the telethon a team of 41 student callers spoke to more than 2,000 alumni in the UK and USA about their experiences, and 690 people made a donation.

The money raised helps to provide bursaries and scholarships for students who would otherwise struggle to attend university, and supports student activities such as sports clubs and societies. Donors can also choose to support our health and environmental research funds. In addition, the students working on the telethon benefit from being able to talk to alumni about their careers and Exeter experiences.

Sadaf Sahel, a Biochemistry student who was part of the team said: “Being a telephone fundraiser for the University is more of a rewarding, unique experience than a job. It is so rewarding to share stories and receive first-hand experience about career paths and university life from alumni who themselves have been through the entire journey. Most importantly, I came out of this experience for the second time with a more deepened appreciation for all of these university projects and research that aims to directly improve student life and the lives of the wider community too.”

Hope Francis a Psychology student who also took part said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working on my university's telethon campaign. At first, I was apprehensive about the prospect of interacting with strangers over the phone, but I can honestly say it was one of the most enjoyable jobs I have ever done. It was so nice to have the opportunity to connect with fellow Exeter students and hear about their time at university. Some of the alumni I spoke to also gave me fantastic careers advice and connected with me on LinkedIn which will be helpful when I get around to searching for grad opportunities next year!”

Rose Cohen, Regular Giving Manager at the University of Exeter said: “The generosity that our alumni and supporters have shown in these difficult times has been really overwhelming. This money will make a huge difference to students at Exeter, particularly those who have faced hardship during the pandemic or struggled through lockdowns. We are so thankful to everyone who has made a gift this year.”

Annual telethons allow Exeter to remain connected with alumni, something that is appreciated even more so this year, and provide a unique opportunity to reach a high proportion of the community in a short time. The team look forward to speaking to more graduates next year.

Date: 25 March 2021