University benefits from donation to support health and safety qualifications

Named the Victor Marshall award, after a former University health and safety manager, the £6,000 donation has been made by the Bradford and District Industrial Safety and Welfare Association (BDISWA).

The donation will provide £2,000 per year over the next three years and staff and students from the University can apply for funding towards studying for a professional qualification.

To celebrate the donation, University Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor hosted a lunch at Heaton Mount. BDISWA President Sir James Hill and Chairman John Donaldson attended along with representatives from the University’s Health, safety and Wellbeing team, including Claire Thompson, Steve Wiggins and Stella Clark. They were joined by Director of Human Resources Joanne Marshall and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Bill McCarthy.

BDISWA was founded in 1946 with the objective of “Improving the working conditions in factories and business premises throughout the Bradford area”. The association, working with the Health and Safety Executive, provided lectures and training courses to help prevent accidents.

They also worked with other organisations in industry and education, in particular the University of Bradford. It was this link with the University which enabled awards for papers on related health and safety subjects, first presented in 1979.

Dr Victor Marshall became the Honorary Treasurer in 1990 and conferences were held at the University throughout the 90s and again in the next decade.

The University’s Director of Human resources, Joanne Marshall, said: “By accepting this donation from the BDISWA, I am really pleased to be able to carry on the memory of Victor Marshall who played a key role in Health and Safety across the region with the opportunity for staff and students to apply for a scholarship.”

Pictured (l-r) are: Steve Wiggins, Vice Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor, Sir James Hill, John Donaldson, Stella Clark, Joanne Marshall, Claire Thompson.