Residents, it looks like another win for Footballer Raheem Sterling MBE and… 14 lucky students!

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The Chelsea F.C star has teamed up with The University of Manchester and King's College London to offer scholarships to support Black African and Caribbean heritage applicants from socio-economically underrepresented backgrounds. 

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The Jamaican-born winger moved to Neasden at the age of 5 and is himself no stranger to struggles. When sterling was 2-years old, his father was murdered in Kingston, Jamaica - when he was asked about the meaning of his much-discussed gun tattoo Sterling said:

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"When I was 2 my father died from being gunned down to death I made a promise to myself I would never touch a gun in my life time”.

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Evidently, Sterling has continually chosen to pursue the more positive things in life and has been a beaming role model for many young boys and girls who follow the sport. Sterling has proved yet again why he’s worthy of admiration with the second successful year of his scholarship programme. Sterling’s namesake foundation, The Raheem Sterling Foundation, will continue its mission to help get more black students into and through university. Sterling’s pursuit stems from a range of data that shows the hindrances for black people in the academic arena - for example, less than five per cent of British uni students starting undergraduate degrees at Russell Group universities were black.

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Of the data and his mission to rectify what is shows, Sterling told news outlets:

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“You only have to look at the data to see that very few capable and talented students from minority backgrounds are applying for university…

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A lot of that hesitation stems from the anxiety that the financial strain can place on not only the student but their family.

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There are plenty of young people from challenging backgrounds, from minority communities, that have the talent to really make a difference in this world, but they are hit by obstacle after obstacle.

I wanted the Foundation to take away some of that worry and allow young people to focus on maximising that talent, whether that be at university or other.”

The grant covers tuition fees, accommodation expenses, some essential educational costs as well as offering mentoring, workshops and more. The grants are available for students who have accepted offers at King’s College London or the University of Manchester. 

The deadline to apply is Thursday May 30th. Applicable candidates should apply here: https://t.co/dWTcDH8Lox

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