Given the high cost of journalism courses, ranging from £2,000 to more than £9,000, our help makes all the difference for students who successfully apply for a bursary. Many who apply to our charity already have large loans and do not have families able to support them financially.
More than 150 students to date have been given the opportunity to study for a recognised journalism qualification and enter the industry, thanks to the fund. We can help with tuition fees, the cost of travel and accommodation and course books as well as with mentoring and career guidance.
Our former scholars work as staff and freelance journalists and photographers in all parts of the media – from broadcasting, magazines and newspapers to public relations, book publishing and websites.
Board of trustees
Jim Boumelha
A freelance journalist, Jim is a member of the NUJ's ruling body, the National Executive Council and a founding member of the union's Black Members Council. Throughout his career he has been an active campaigner for the rights of Black journalists.
He is also treasurer of the International Federation of Journalists which represents 600,000 journalists worldwide.
Laura Davison
Laura Davison is the NUJ’s general secretary. Elected in 2024 Laura was previously a full time official of the union, and worked in multiple sectors including Broadcasting, Newspapers and Digital. Before joining the NUJ Laura worked as a journalist for the BBC.
Roger McKenzie
Roger McKenzie is the international editor of the Morning Star. Prior to that he was the parliamentary reporter for the paper. Roger has a long history of activity within the labour and trade union movement and is well known internationally as a leading anti-racist campaigner and trade union organiser. He is a founding member of the Global African Workers Institute. Before joining the Morning Star, Roger worked for 11 years as the assistant general secretary of Unison with responsibility for organising, recruitment and education programmes for members and activists. He was also a member of the TUC general council and the Unionlearn board. Prior to that Roger was the West Midlands regional secretary of Unison and before that the Midlands regional secretary of the Trades Union Congress. He was the first black trade unionist to hold any of the posts mentioned within Unison.
Saadeya Shamsuddin
Saadeya Shamsuddin is a senior multi-media journalist currently working at the BBC. Having begun her career in print, gaining bylines at the Evening Standard, FT and Guardian, she went onto work across various outlets at the BBC including News Channel, Today, You & Yours and BBC Westminster. However, as a born and bred Londoner, local news and speech radio lured Saadeya back to BBC London where she had worked in her early years and where she now works as News Editor of the radio station. Her love for news was sparked by reading newspapers from a young age, and her love for journalism was ignited at UCL where she became film editor of university press Pi Magazine. She went onto undertake a Newspaper Journalism Masters at City University having secured a scholarship from the NUJ George Viner Memorial Fund, of which she is now a Trustee. Saadeya is also an active member of the NUJ and is an elected officer at the Black Members' Council, working hard to attain equality and inclusion in the media for journalists of colour.
The Fund
George Viner
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The George Viner Memorial Fund was set up to honour the career and dedication of George Viner. George became a member of the NUJ in 1932 at the age of 20 and remained an active member of the union serving on the union's ruling body the National Executive Council for many years.
From 1961 until his retirement in 1976, George was the NUJ's education and training officer. One of his many achievements was the establishment of the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), which today still runs some of the best-recognised journalism qualifications.
Much of his journalistic career was spent in South Wales, where he developed his interest in education through his work with bodies such as the Workers' Educational Association.
On George's death in 1983, it was decided to set up the trust in his name to mark his commitment to and passion for education and journalism. The trust was founded in 1986 and became a registered charity in 1989. Carole, George's daughter, continues the family's association with the fund, serving as a trustee of the charity.
Donate to the George Viner Memorial Fund – anyone can donate money to the charity.