Former soldier’s gratitude for life-changing scholarship

Posted on 28 April 2025 • Student stories, University news

Ex-soldier Daniel Bingley, from Wootton in Bedford, credits a degree scholarship for disabled veterans from The Open University for helping him turn his life around, after a career-ending injury put paid to the working life he had known.

As a career soldier from a military family, Daniel fully expected to continue in the job until a serious injury, sustained while in training to become a sergeant, saw him medically discharged in 2017.

Now, the 40-year-old is in the middle of studying for a BA (Hons) in Computing and IT, all thanks to the Disabled Veterans’ Scholarship Fund (DVSF), which is supported by generous donations from OU alumni, businesses and supporters of the University.

“I wanted to make a difference”

Daniel went on to secure a job at American multi-national company DXC Technology, a provider of IT and Consulting Services. His role in the company is as a network architect team lead.

“My OU studies were instrumental in me getting this job,” he said.

The father of three spent 18 years in the Army, having joined as a 16-year-old when he went to the Army Foundation College at Harrogate.

“I was very patriotic and wanted to make a difference not just to this country but to others, because that is part of my nature.”

Daniel was training to lift his rank from corporal in the 1^st Yorkshire Regiment when he fell and damaged his knees while carrying a stretcher. It has meant he has spent the past seven years in and out of hospital, initially becoming a wheelchair user, before receiving the life-changing news that his leg was to be amputated.

However, he is matter of fact about his situation, saying, “I fully enjoyed my time in the Army. I got to go around the world. I can’t complain at that.”

Other benefits included taking on an ABA boxing coaching course and working as a summer mountaineering leader.

“I’ve gone across the mountains of Corsica. I did so many different things and had so many opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have had. It’s just a shame that it came to an end after my injuries.“

To Daniel, his disability has “impacted him but not defined him”.

He also revealed that it was only thanks to all the donors who had supported the scholarship that he was studying.

“If you change a person’s life, you change the outcome of their life and you also change the family and friends around them, which is so key,” he said.

Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns, welcomed the difference made by the scholarships. He said:

“The Open University’s Disabled Veterans’ Scholarship programme represents a vital opportunity for those wounded in service, empowering veterans to build on the skills gained in the military and forge meaningful new career paths.

 “Education has the power to transform lives after military service, opening new doors and providing veterans with the skills and confidence to pursue fulfilling civilian careers. Daniel’s story is a great example of this.

 “The government is committed to renewing its contract with those who have served. Alongside government-backed tools like Career Transition Partnerships, Service Leavers Adjustments Passports and the new employment pathway Op ASCEND, scholarships like this ensure veterans can reach their full potential in the workplace.”

 DVSF has awarded 363 scholarships since its introduction in 2018, over seven cohorts. To be eligible for the next scholarship cohort, applicants must:

• Be starting OU study as a new or returning student in academic year 2025/26
• Be ordinarily resident in the UK and eligible for a UK fee
• Be disabled because of, or in, military service. Applicants must also provide evidence confirming that their disability arose during, or as a result of, military service.

This could be a letter from a current GP or consultant, or written confirmation of medical discharge. For the full criteria, visit Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships | Funding | The Open University.