BRADFORD-based Sovereign Health Care has made a donation to the University of Bradford to help struggling students from the area. 

The not-for-profit health care cash plan company, which has long supported the University, has given £30,000 to support six scholarships for students from the Bradford District. 

The gift to the University’s Bradford Futures Fund will provide six students facing socio-economic disadvantage with £1,500 for every year of their degree course, up to a maximum of four years.  

Concerns have been raised in recent years that poorer students in Bradford are less likely to go to university.

Neil McCallum, Chief Executive at Sovereign Health Care, which relocated earlier this year, said: "Sovereign’s ethos is all about supporting wellbeing within our local communities.

"Enabling social mobility is a huge element of this and so it’s rewarding to know that we’re helping young people achieve their potential irrespective of their financial circumstances."

More than 50 per cent of students at the University of Bradford come from low-income backgrounds and 43 per cent come from Bradford postcodes.  Bradford is also said to offer great value for money for graduates.

Pro-Vice Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Professor Udy Archibong, said: "At Bradford, the principle of equality of opportunity is at the heart of everything we do. 

"We are absolutely dedicated to improving the life chances of our students, something which has put us at the top of the Social Mobility Index in England for the third year running. 

"This generous gift from Sovereign Health Care will mean we can offer more support to students most in need, at a time when the rising cost of living has brought increased financial pressure."