FOOTIE ace Raheem Sterling is helping more Black, African, and Caribbean heritage students go to university.
It will be the second year of the scholarship programme from the foundation named after him.
His initiative comes as research found that from 2021-22 fewer than five per cent of UK students starting undergraduate degrees at Russell Group universities were black.
The Chelsea and England player, 29, will give a financial boon to 14 successful applicants to get them through higher education without worrying about having enough cash.
Raheem told The Sun: “You only have to look at the data to see that very few capable and talented students from minority backgrounds are applying for university.
“A lot of that hesitation stems from the anxiety that the financial strain can place on not only the student but their family.
“There are plenty of young people from challenging backgrounds, from minority communities, that have the talent to really make a difference in this world, but they are hit by obstacle after obstacle.
“I wanted the Foundation to take away some of that worry and allow young people to focus on maximising that talent, whether that be at university or other.”
The grants are for students attending King’s College London and the University of Manchester.
Potential students can only apply for the grants if they have accepted an offer to study at one of the universities.
It covers tuition fees, accommodation expenses and other essential educational costs, allowing students to focus on their studies rather than affording to live.
Research by the Department of Education found that worries about living costs and day-to-day finances are one of the top concerns of students.
One previous grant recipient in London said: “It has helped me massively by taking away my financial burdens.
“Having the financial means for transport, clothes, food and other expenses is costly, especially in London.
“I had more time to focus on my studies, very useful in busy exam periods.”
A law student at Manchester who was given the funding last year said: “The grant has given me the gift of time, allowing me to work on my professional development and craft a successful application to Rare Foundations: Law, a highly competitive programme for students interested in commercial law.”
They also told how the foundation provided networking opportunities and specialist CV workshops.
Another recipient told how it has “given me peace of mind” allowing them to focus on their university life.
The scheme also provides three-years of mentorship for each of the beneficiaries, something Raheem credits with turning his life around.
He said: “I’ve loved hearing from our first-year scholars and how they have benefitted not only from the financial support but the mentorship programme too.
“To me, this is just as valuable as the education.
“Mentorship played a huge role in me reaching the top levels of professional football, and I want other young ones to benefit from the guidance and support that a mentor can offer them.
“We really want to build upon this scholarship programme.
“This year we have made 14 places available across King’s College London and University of Manchester and I’m hoping, moving forward, that we can positively impact more lives in minority and underserved communities.”
The Raheem Sterling Foundation is focused on helping improve social mobility, education, and employment opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Other initiatives the charity supports include the #BoyFromBrent project, which has put amnesty knife bins across London’s Brent borough, and a broadcast academy linked to talkSPORT and News UK.
