Determined Glasgow student earns degree while caring for mum battling cancer

A young man who cares for his mum battling cancer has been able to complete his degree thanks to a bursary.

Wheatley Homes tenant David Burns, 28, who lives in the south side of Glasgow, received a bursary in 2024 from the Wheatly Foundation, the group’s charitable trust.

The bursary aims to ease students financial burden, to help with the expense of studying for an HNC, HND, undergraduate degree, or postgraduate course.

David has been caring for his ailing mum ever since she was diagnosed with cancer.

Thanks to the bursary he received, he was able to complete his studies without the struggle of additional financial stress.

He has now successfully completed his degree in electrical and electronic engineering at Strathclyde University.

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He said: “The bursary from Wheatley Foundation helped me with the cost of travel, which became much more expensive when peak fares were reintroduced, as well as the costs of study materials and some new tech to help me study.

“It made things a lot less stressful, as I didn’t need to worry about money as much.

“It also helped bridge the gap between Student Awards Agency Scotland payments.”

Wheatley Group has now opened its bursary programme for 2025.

The programme offers bursaries of up to £1,500 a year for full-time students and up to £750 for part-time students.

It is open to customers living in homes owned by Wheatley Homes in the central belt and in Dumfries and Galloway, as well as tenants of Loretto Housing, and people who live in a home factored by or rented from Lowther.

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Professor Paddy Gray OBE, chair of Wheatley Foundation, said: “Since 2016, the scheme has helped 482 people to go on to further education and get the qualifications they need.

“Our bursary programme is another way Wheatley Foundation can help people in our communities achieve their dreams.”

Applications for the scheme will be open until June 30, 2025.

More information on the bursary programme is available by emailing bursaries@wheatley-group.com or visit the Wheatley Group website.