Colchester Institute is delighted to announce a new partnership with ROL Cruise, a Colchester-based company celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. ROL Cruise, a world-class company committed to caring about its local community has generously pledged a long-term, monthly donation in support of Colchester Institute Foundation Trust (CIFT). This contribution will enable the charity to continue to bridge the gap between Government funded student bursary schemes and the financial hardship that some students face.
CIFT plays a vital role in helping students who may not qualify for government bursaries, but still require support to remain in education. For some students, CIFT is the difference between leaving college due to financial pressures, or remaining in education to continue their training and achieving qualifications that will set them up for a successful future job or career. The regular donation from ROL Cruise will provide much-needed financial aid to cover essential costs such as work placement clothing, travel, emergency food, accommodation, and other key items not covered by standard bursary schemes.
Alison Andreas, Principal and Chief Executive, said “This generous donation to CIFT will mean that we will be able to support more students and provide better, more sustained support to those we help. Currently, we can sometimes only offer a ‘sticking plaster’ solution to complex and long-term challenges that a student faces. This support will enable us to take a longer-term approach to the assistance we can give.”
Irene Kettle, Chair of CIFT said: “Since the pandemic, the number of students needing our support has escalated. Having ROL Cruise as our first corporate sponsor will make a world of difference to Colchester Institute students who are in need. The help we will be able to offer as the result of ROL Cruise’s sponsorship will change lives and we are so grateful for their support of our community.”
ROL Cruise, which has been a trusted name in the cruise industry for 30 years, is proud to support its local community by investing in the future of young people at Colchester Institute. The partnership aims to offer more sustained support, ensuring that students not only receive immediate help, but also benefit from longer-term assistance as they progress through their studies.
Gemma Cairns, CEO at ROL Cruise said “As a major employer in Colchester and a recognised leader in the cruise travel industry, we are committed to supporting the local economy and maintaining our reputation for excellence. We care about our city; our community and local charities close to our heart. We are delighted and honoured that we can support CIFT as a corporate sponsor and make a meaningful long-term difference in our community.”
An example of the great things achieved by the charity and the valuable donations from businesses like ROL Cruise is a previous student, who was forced to leave home in difficult circumstances and was unable to return to collect any belongings. Colchester Institute managed to help them to secure accommodation, and CIFT was able to provide essentials including clothes, toiletries and bedding. They continued on their course and gained a prestigious qualification that will enable them to start a career.
In addition to the donation, Colchester Institute looks forward to exploring future opportunities with ROL Cruise, including the promotion of relevant job vacancies to students in areas such as business administration, IT, and accounting.
