The Plight of a Student Paramedic

Aim

Any donation, however big or small, will be so vastly appreciated as it will put me one step closer to my dream of being a paramedic

Just below is the pleading letter I wrote to Student Finance England a few weeks ago, to loan me the money to start my Paramedic Science degree with St George's medical University of London...

Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ


Dear Student Finance England team and whom ever this concerns,

I would like to discuss my student finance application for September 2016 to study Paramedic Science BSc at St George’s University of London.
 
As you are may be aware, I already hold a UK honors degree in Humanities obtained from the University of Brighton in 2010.

I am writing to you today, in all passion and sincerity that you will seriously consider my student loan application to for Paramedic Science BSC at St George’s.

I want to set out the following reasons and points that will hopefully demonstrate my continued need for support from Student Finance England.

To begin,  in my experience the word ‘loan’ can get forgotten by many as they embark on the first year of study  – most students are only 18-20 years old and don’t think about the reality of the terms of repayments until the end of their of course. We all believe we will get ‘the’ job at the end of our degree, be able to pay everything back and the degree we have chosen will lead us to our desired career - no problem.
  In my case, I thought exactly that. I was from the university graduates of 2010, who at that time had to make loan repayments when they were earning £17,495 or more a year – as I was planning to use my degree to become a teacher, I never envisaged any problems in paying back my student loan.

 During the final year of my degree, careers advisors and university tutors advised me to do some TELF teaching abroad to gain some REAL work experience of being a teacher.
  I went on to do that and taught in Cambodia for two months – in two different schools. Although I did enjoy my experiences there, I ultimately realised that they were a lot of aspects to the job that didn’t fully satisfy my integral need to help people in the best way I could - which is why I had chosen the profession in the first place. This incidentally, through a lot of careful consideration brought me to the conclusion that I did not want to pursue a career in teaching any longer.
 
Upon returning home with a clearer perspective on my new career path, I decided the best way I could help people was to train medically in some way.
   I gained a lot of healthcare experience through various paid and volunteer roles, through such organisations as St John’s Ambulance, the Sussex NHS trust and also domiciliary care work with the elderly. During my work experience, I gained a great overview of what it would be like to be a healthcare professional and it confirmed to me that the NHS was the area I should build my career in.
 Taking a particular interest in emergency care work and giving medical aid to the public at their most critical time of need – becoming a paramedic was the only way forward to me.

I have been accepted by one of the best medical universities in the UK, on their Paramedic Science BSc Hons course and will be due to start 1^st September 2016.

 Upon investigation about funding, I was surprised to learn that the NHS did not provide any support of paramedic tuition fees – especially as it is a vital public sector role and there is currently a national shortage of paramedics:

“The number of paramedics leaving the NHS has doubled in four years, sparking fears that shortages could soon reach “catastrophic” levels.

Official figures show a shortage of 1,500 workers across England and Wales, with around one in ten posts now unfilled.
The shortfall is such that most ambulance trusts have attempted to recruit abroad, going as far afield as Australia in an attempt to lure paramedics with a £4,500 “golden hello”. “

Telegraph - 10th December 2015
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/12041943/Doubling-in-paramedics-leaving-the-NHS.html

As the growing majority of paramedics now are required to hold a BSc degree in Paramedic Science to obtain a job within the ambulance service, it is ludicrous that there isn’t more support available to such post-graduate individuals, such as myself wanting to pursue a career as a paramedic.

Through the Paramedic Science BSc at St George’s University of London, 93% of paramedic students are offered jobs within the London Ambulance Service in their final year (the remaining 7% go to other ambulances trusts within the UK).
 http://university.which.co.uk/st-georges-university-of-london-s49/paramedic-science-3-years-b781

I have been accepted onto a vocational course – a graduate paramedic‘s salary in London starts at £30,904 to £39,846 (*source - Jobs Section of London Ambulance Service see link below).  This would put me well over the threshold of £17,495 in which to start repayments of my student loan debt.

http://jobs.londonambulance.nhs.uk/job/UK/London/London/London_Ambulance_Service_NHS_Trust/UK_Paramedic_QualifiedGraduate/UK_Paramedic_QualifiedGraduate-v483178?_ts=565

I come from a humble, low income family background that is unable to provide any financial support for my paramedic course. I myself am on a modest salary of around £16,500 through full time domiciliary care work and have no savings. I have no credit history as have never taken out any credit cards or loans (apart from Student Finance) therefore I have been unsuccessful in applications to banks and other loan companies. I do not have any children, dependents or disabilities - therefore I’m not entitled to any extra help.
  I have discussed payment plans and installments with St George’s University.  The figures I was quoted would be near impossible to achieve whilst studying at university, despite working part time during my studies to support myself.

As stated at the beginning I hope this email is received in all genuine politeness and respect to Student Finance England for giving me the opportunities it already has. However, based on my current bachelor degree qualification I will not be in a position to repay my student loan for some time, if indeed ever.
 I have been accepted on to St George’s Paramedic Science BSc based on my work experience and academic background. Using this qualification, I will immediately upon employment be in a position to repay my student loan debts and for that reason I believe I should be seriously considered for financial support for my upcoming course.

My proposal to Student Finance England in all due respect would be that: I would be able to make a substantial re-payment to Student Finance England directly at the end of August towards my student debt, as I am aware I have not being able to earn over £17,495 with my current awarded BSc degree in Humanities.

As stated previously, I’m aware this is not your usual policy – I’m merely coming to you as individual that has really exhausted every avenue of hope in regards to finance for my course fees and living costs. I’m coming to you as a student who has been made an offer from a renowned university, who is guaranteed a job with a salary over the loan repayment threshold and who just wants the opportunity to become a paramedic with the London Ambulance Service in three years time.

I would also be very grateful if you could highlight to me any other financial support available that I may have missed or overlooked.

Thank you for your time and consideration with everything that I have raised in this email. I will also send a hard copy of this to your main office for your records.

I have left my details just below in order for you to contact me at any time in response to this email. I’d also be happy to provide any further evidence needed to support my Student Finance application for 2016.

Yours Sincerely,



Maria Holburt

This project closed unsuccessfully on 24th June 2016