A young student from Sutton has been given a significant financial boost to help her through university, thanks to one of the UK's oldest mutual organisations.
Merit-Based Award Eases Financial Pressure
Emma Corbin, an 18-year-old member of the Worcester Oddfellows, has been selected as a recipient of the Society's prestigious First Degree Course Educational Award. The non-repayable bursary totals £2,700, which will be paid in three instalments of £900 for each year of her course.
Emma began studying Geography at Durham University's Hatfield College in the autumn of 2025. She was chosen on merit from a national pool of applicants within the Oddfellows membership. The award is designed specifically to support members heading to university for the first time.
Funding to Support Academic Goals
Emma expressed her gratitude for the award, which will directly contribute to her studies. "The funding will allow me to support my education by letting me buy any relevant books," she said. "It will also mean that I can go on any essential field trips vital to my degree and which contribute to my dissertation."
She added that she felt "extremely grateful and lucky" to be chosen from what she assumed were many strong applications. Emma has not yet decided on a definitive career path but believes her Geography degree will open many doors. "I chose Geography as it was a subject that not only do I find very interesting, but it’s also an increasingly relevant subject, considering topics such as climate change and geopolitics," she explained. She is considering future options in sustainability consultancy or law.
Society Pride and Ongoing Support
Sandra Loynes, Branch Secretary of Worcester Oddfellows, shared the branch's delight at Emma's success. "We’re delighted for Emma, and glad that the Oddfellows is able to help her out in what is an exciting chapter in her life," Loynes stated. "Budgeting alongside studies can be tough, so this award should help to ease that burden a little. We’re already very proud of Emma’s achievements and we wish her every success at university and beyond."
The Worcester Oddfellows is a not-for-profit friendly society that supports approximately 340 local members through social events, care benefits, and volunteering opportunities. The First Degree Course Educational Award is one of several ways the Society assists its membership.
The awards were announced in early January 2026, with the original story published on the 5th of January and updated later the same day.
