Aristocrat Funds Scholarships for Kids of Prisoners

A British aristocrat who grew up on an 11,000-acre estate is giving young people caught in the justice system something simple but powerful: a real chance at university.

Lady Edwina Grosvenor, daughter of the late sixth Duke of Westminster, launched a groundbreaking scholarship program at Manchester Metropolitan University for children of prisoners and young offenders. It's the first of its kind in Britain, targeting a group she calls "the most forgotten in this country."

"The children of prisoners are usually forgotten more than any other group I can think of in this country, and it's a complete scandal," Lady Edwina told The Independent. "Imagine living with the shame of a parent being in prison, or a brother or a sister."

Her passion for criminal justice reform started young. As a teenager, her father took her to meet heroin addicts in Liverpool to teach her about drug risks. She later worked with at-risk mothers in north Wales and spent time at Central Jail in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The numbers tell a sobering story. Only 13 percent of children in continuous care attend university, compared to 43 percent of other students. Many children of incarcerated parents end up in care and face some of the worst educational outcomes in Britain.

The new program supports nine students with both financial aid and a dedicated staff member to guide them through their studies. Recipients can be children born to parents in prison or young people who served time themselves.

Why This Inspires

Lady Edwina wants these students to step out of the shadows and find their tribe. Her Hope Street women's center, which opened in 2023, already offers alternatives to prison for female offenders and their children.

One current student, who grew up in care with a lengthy criminal record, found everything she needed at Manchester Met: community, purpose, recognition, and hope. "I was surrounded by experts who were able to see beyond my past," she shared.

Lady Edwina completed her own master's degree in crime scene management at Manchester Met in her 40s. Now she's using that connection to give young people what education gave her student: a chance to rebuild.

"Education should be there for everybody regardless," she said. "They should just be able to walk into an educational institution and learn and have a good time."

Nine students will get that chance this year, with hopes the model spreads across Britain.