Bristol Uni student receives £4,500 funding from one of the UK’s oldest friendly societies

First year Lillie Buckley, a 19-year-old University of Bristol student, has received a £4,500 funding boost from the Oddfellows Society to help ease some of the financial burdens of student life.

Lillie, from Nottingham, began studying Veterinary Science in September 2024 and is a member of Nottingham Trent Oddfellows.

The Oddfellows’ First Degree Course Educational Award is a non-repayable bursary which aims to give extra financial aid to students going to university.

As one of three winners of the award, Lillie will receive £900 every year of her 5-year course. 

The Oddfellows Society is one of the UK’s oldest ‘friendly societies’. A non-profit, non-political charitable society, now standing at 365,400 members across 99 branches, it is a community that offers a variety of services aimed at improving the well-being of its members. 

Receiving a total of £4,500, Lillie explained to BristolWorld that this funding will help her cover travel expenses for work placements required for her studies.

It will also enable her to purchase a new laptop, which is essential for completing her uni work.

She said: “When I found out I would be receiving the funding, I was extremely happy and honoured to have been chosen. I want to say a huge thank you to the Oddfellows, as this will help support me throughout my degree and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Lillie shared her aspirations: “In the future I would like to be a small animal vet, however I am keeping an open mind as I love cows!”

The bursary has provided her with invaluable support and opportunities for her future.

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Karen Pye-Smith, Secretary of the Oddfellows’ Nottingham Trent Branch, commented, “We are proud to be able to support Lillie in the next step of her education journey, especially with the current cost of living situation, which can be particularly challenging for students.

“She has a bright future and we couldn’t be more proud of her achievements so far.”

To discover more about the Oddfellows’ Educational Award and how this friendly Society helps its members visit its website here.