Stormzy makes £500,000 donation to fund scholarships for disadvantaged students

17 August 2020, 10:04 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Stormzy)

Stormzy has donated a huge sum of £500,000 to help fund scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The rapper's £500,000 donation to the Black Heart Foundation is the first major donation he's made since pledging to give £10million over 10 years to black British causes fighting racial inequality back in June.

Stormzy's Merky Foundation made the donation, which will provide around 50 students with cash grants for any educational activity, not just those at university.

The Guardian notes that previous applicants have used the grant money to cover travelling costs to schools far away, to train to be an airline pilot, and to focus on studies instead of trying to maintain a part-time job.

Ric Lewis, the founder of the Black Heart Foundation, says of the donation, "Their contribution is an amazing testament to their vision and commitment to higher and further education for ambitious, hardworking young people from the most under-resourced and under-represented communities in our society. With their support we will reach another 50 young people, taking the total number of scholars we can help to 250."

Back in July, Stormzy surprised a Croydon teenager by redecorating his bedroom as a gift for his positive behaviour at school.