Australian Paralympic swimming champion Matt Levy is funding a new scholarship to help two disabled students at University of the West of Scotland (UWS) with everyday costs such as food and travel.
The Matt Levy Scholarship will support eligible students across different subjects. Applicants do not need to be athletes or involved in sport.
The five-time Paralympian and three-time Paralympic gold medallist was inspired by his involvement in a Commonwealth Games training camp hosted at the University’s Ayr campus over the summer.
Levy attended the GAPS (Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain) camp as Commonwealth Sport’s Paralympic representative. He saw how UWS supported athletes from Commonwealth countries with limited access to training and resources.
He said: “At the GAPS camp, I saw what becomes possible when people have access to the right environment, support and connections. I wanted to carry that principle beyond sport and into education.
“For a student, help with travel or food can relieve real pressure. It can give them more space to learn, build relationships and take opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach.”
The scholarship will be delivered through the University’s Widening Education and Supporting Talent (WEST) Scholarship Programme. It helps students facing financial difficulties continue their studies and graduate.
Students complete one WEST application form, with UWS considering them for the scholarships they are eligible for.
UWS has added questions asking whether students identify as disabled and require reasonable adjustments. Students do not need to provide proof of their disability to be considered for the scholarship.
Stephanie Pitticas, Vice-Principal (External Engagement) at UWS, said: “The GAPS camp brought people together to help athletes access opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach. Matt’s decision to support disabled students takes that commitment beyond the sporting arena and into university life.
“Financial support can give students more room to focus on their education and make the connections that shape their future. We’re so grateful to Matt for recognising what our students can achieve and choosing to help them pursue their ambitions.
“This is a lasting outcome of the relationships built through the Games. Its benefits can reach beyond UWS as students take their skills and experiences into their workplaces and communities.”
Levy, who has cerebral palsy and is partially sighted, represented Australia at five Paralympic Games, from Athens in 2004 to Tokyo in 2020.
He said: “Talent and ambition exist in every community, but access to opportunity is still unequal. Disabled students should have the chance to pursue their ambitions without financial and practical barriers determining how far they can go.
“Sport gave me a platform. I want to use it to open doors for others. This scholarship is about backing people’s potential – whatever they study and wherever they want their education to take them.”
Alongside financial support, Levy hopes the scholarship can develop opportunities for mentoring, with recipients eventually using their experiences to support future students.
He said: “Some of the most valuable things I gained from university were the people I met, the ideas we shared and the confidence those connections gave me.
“My hope is that this scholarship becomes a starting point: helping students complete their education, recognise what they can contribute and, in time, open doors for someone else.”
Claire Darragh, Individual Giving Manager at UWS, said: “Matt’s support creates a scholarship specifically for disabled students within WEST, helping with costs that can make continuing at university difficult. Using one application form keeps the process simple and helps us match students with the support available to them.
“When students have the opportunity to complete their education, the benefits reach beyond the individual. They take their knowledge, skills and experiences into their workplaces and communities, opening up possibilities for themselves and others.”
Photo: Matt Levy’s involvement in the GAPS training camp inspired him to fund a scholarship for disabled students at UWS.
Photo Credit: University of the West of Scotland
Photo: Paralympic swimming champion Matt Levy, who is funding support for two disabled students at UWS.
Photo Credit: University of the West of Scotland
Photo: Matt Levy represented Australia at five Paralympic Games, winning three gold medals.
Photo Credit: University of the West of Scotland