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Please meet Savana who was awarded a Postal Family Fund Rising Stars bursary to support her football ambitions. Savana has been playing football since she was 6 years old and has just been invited to train with Crystal Palace ETC for the 2026/27 season. We spoke to her postal worker mum, Irma, about how the bursary has helped their family.
Why did you apply for the Postal Family Fund bursary?
Savana is very passionate about football and works extremely hard to develop her skills. She has the opportunity to attend specialist training sessions, development programmes, camps and trials, but many of these opportunities come with significant costs. These can include training fees, camps, travel, equipment and other football-related expenses. I applied because, as a single parent, managing the cost of everyday living alongside the additional costs of supporting Savana’s football development can be very difficult.
There are so many opportunities available to young players, and as a parent I want to give Savana the chance to make the most of them. However, financially, it is not always possible to say yes. I have had to carefully consider every expense and sometimes worry that financial circumstances could prevent her from taking part in opportunities that could be important for her future.
I applied to the Postal Family Fund because I wanted to give Savana the opportunity to continue pursuing something she genuinely loves without putting further financial pressure on our family.
What impact has the bursary had?
The support has made a huge difference to our family. It has taken away some of the financial pressure and, most importantly, has allowed Savana to continue participating in football opportunities that we may otherwise have struggled to afford. It has allowed her to develop under Samuel MacNeil and Lee Bartham at her club ST Sports FC, progressing through the Girls Player Development Centre to earn a place in their Performance Squad and now competing in the Junior Premier League- Premier Division.
For Savana, football is much more than simply playing a sport. It gives her confidence, motivation, friendships and something positive to work towards. Being able to attend training and development opportunities helps her believe in herself and encourages her to keep working hard towards her goals.
As a parent, the grant has also given me peace of mind. Instead of constantly worrying about whether we can afford the next training session, camp or opportunity, I can focus more on supporting Savana and encouraging her.
The bursary has shown us that there are people who genuinely care about supporting families and helping children have opportunities they might otherwise miss. We are incredibly grateful for that support.
What would you like to say to other postal workers thinking about applying for a Postal Family Fund Rising Star bursary?
I would highly recommend the Postal Family Fund to my colleagues. For families who are struggling financially, even relatively small additional costs can become a major burden. The support provided by the Postal Family Fund can make a real and meaningful difference to children’s lives. I am extremely grateful that we were given the opportunity to apply. The support has helped Savana continue doing something she loves and has given her opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach.
Thank you to everyone involved with the Postal Family Fund for the kindness, understanding and support you provide to postal families. It genuinely makes a difference.
