Influential voices
CATEGORY
Universities across the UK have help to develop first generation students into leaders in politics, law and advocacy, ensuring that there is fair representation and varied voices in some of the most influential parts of society.
Changing the world
From barristers and MPs to social workers and the world’s first minister for the unborn, these first generation students and graduates are changing the world by creating a fairer society.
Meet them
University of Liverpool
Durham University
University of Manchester
Open University in Scotland
University of Sheffield
University of Northampton
Anglia Ruskin University
Queen's University Belfast
Queen Mary University of London
Southampton University
University of Edinburgh
Glasgow Caledonian University
Liverpool John Moores University
Edinburgh Napier University
Cardiff University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Buckinghamshire New University (BNU)
University of Aberdeen
Middlesex University
Amy Hill
MA Psychology student
University of Liverpool
Amy is a first generation, disabled student who has used the skills she's developed at university to help others.
Amy was estranged from her parents and was a young carer growing up. She had lots of encouragement and support from teachers at school who helped her realise her dream of going to university. She studied Biology for her undergraduate degree and is now doing a Masters in Psychology.
As a student ambassador, Amy encourages others to come to university by leading campus tours and speaking at open days. She has worked in student services as a Life Coach and as a Disability Coach, using her experience of disability to provide support to other disabled students.
“I feel I’ve really gained confidence at the University of Liverpool. I’ve made friends for life and met so many people.”
The rt hon lord david blunkett
Member of the House of Lords and FOrmer home secretary
University of Sheffield
Humble beginnings
The Right Honourable Lord David Blunkett was born on 6 June 1947 in Sheffield. Blind from birth because of improperly developed optic nerves, his parents were forced to send David to a council boarding school for the visually impaired on the other side of the city.
In 1959, the family faced a disaster when his father died in an industrial accident. His family was left poverty stricken.
David attended the Royal Normal College for the Blind at Rowton Castle near Shrewsbury, which offered a more vocational education.
On his return to his home city of Sheffield, he took up employment as a shorthand typist at the East Midlands Gas Board, earning £12 a week.
“I grew up in one of the most deprived parts of Britain. I know the problems which inner-city children face.”
David became a trade union representative and continued to gain qualifications. He then became the first member of his family to go to university and the first blind student to win a place at university for a course designed for fully-sighted students. He graduated in 1972 and went on to gain a certificate in teaching from what is now the University of Huddersfield.
At the 1987 general election he was elected MP for Sheffield Brightside with a large majority and joined the shadow cabinet in 1992 as Shadow Health Secretary.
After Labour’s landslide victory in 1997 he became Secretary of State for Education and Employment thus becoming Britain’s first blind cabinet minister. At the start of Labour’s second term in 2001, he was promoted to Home Secretary.
In total, David served 28 years in Parliament and 45 years as an elected representative in the Sheffield area.
He was also awarded a peerage in 2015 and created Baron Blunkett, of Brightside and Hillsborough in the City of Sheffield.
David continues to be a passionate and outstanding ambassador for the University of Sheffield and for higher education.
Political career
“In today's world, learning has become the key to economic prosperity, social cohesion and personal fulfilment.”
Cameron stocks
Barrister
Durham University
Growing up in a deprived mining village in East Durham, attending university always felt out of reach as no-one else in Cameron’s family had gone to university before.
It was not until the outreach team from Durham University attended Cameron’s school to advertise the inaugural year of the Supported Progression programme that he felt that a place at university might actually be achievable.
The Supported Progression programme was vital in exposing Cameron to the university and helping him pastorally and financially.
Cameron studied Law at Durham from 2011 to 2014, and was a member of St Mary’s College. He now works as a barrister at Gatehouse Chambers in London.
“My journey to becoming a barrister was made possible by the skills and experience I gained at Durham.”
CAndy Kong
LLB Law WITH CRIMINOLOGY graduate
Candy is a first-generation university learner who took part in Aimhigher West Midlands – a partnership of universities working to support learners facing challenges to broaden their horizons and make informed decisions about their future educational and career choices.
Candy is outgoing and a great example of how university can support learners to develop from a range of employment and social opportunities. She joined the skydiving society, was part of the largest law society meeting on campus with law firms, and spent four weeks volunteering in Rwanda.
Candy is proud to be a first-generation graduate who is grateful and privileged to share her experiences in the hope of helping others.
University of Manchester
“I value my time at University immensely, from studying a challenging degree, meeting new people and taking on exciting opportunities.”
“In today's world, learning has become the key to economic prosperity, social cohesion and personal fulfilment.”
The RT Hon Lord David Blunkett
Carol hunter
MA in Crime and justice graduate
The Open University in Scotland
Carol Hunter has overcome challenges to achieve not just one but two Open University degrees, and is now inspiring others, including those also with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and adoptive backgrounds.
A master’s degree in Crime and Justice is now added to a First in Social Sciences that Carol, from Dunfermline, had already accomplished.
Before working in the finance sector for 14 years, and having two children, Carol finished first year at a traditional university and decided she didn’t want to go back.
But Carol’s late father had confidence in her abilities, and she re-entered education at Fife College, becoming a Student President, as well as winning awards.
“I wanted to make my Dad proud and show my children that it’s never too late to completely change direction.”
Esther stimpson
PhD student
University of Northampton
37-year-old single-mother of four from Northampton, Esther Stimpson won the Max Engel Memorial Bursary after completing her two-year accelerated law degree and is now embarking upon a PhD examining maternity services in prisons.
The biggest issue for her was the university academic year didn’t line-up with the school year. She found it challenging finding childcare or having assignments over the school holidays or when her children had an illness.
She gave up her fulltime jobs, so also had to overcome financial challenges. With the university’s support, Esther is now looking forward to continuing her success with her PhD.
“I feel really touched that I was picked to receive a bursary and that my hard work was recognised.”
Grace chambers
BA Social work student
Anglia Ruskin University
Grace joined Anglia Ruskin University on the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship but needed a break in learning after falling pregnant.
Grace demonstrated a huge amount of fortitude to return to university while raising two children single handed, as well as performing caring duties for members of her family, and remaining in employment.
Academically, Grace will be awarded a First in BA Social Work, notably achieving 90% in one of her final year submissions.
Grace is sharing her experiences with future apprentices, and will no doubt be a huge inspiration to them, just as she is an inspiration to the social work academic team at Anglia Ruskin University.
“University gave me opportunities to achieve in ways I didn’t even realise were possible, in the face of personal adversity.”
Jay martin
BSc Psychology graduate
Queen’s University Belfast
Jay took part in Queen’s University Belfast’s Junior Academy days, a programme to raise awareness and aspirations among those who are most able but least likely to continue to higher education.
Jay got a place on the Pathway Opportunity Programme for years 13 and 14 that supports students academically and gives them an insight into student life.
He studied Psychology and took on a range of employment opportunities while at Queen's, including as a Student Assistant for the Widening Participation Unit, working in the gym, and for catering on campus.
Jay hopes to find a job which combines his love for working with people and with numbers.
“University has allowed me to make new friends, explore my interests, and taught me more about managing finances.”
“The scholarship paid my fees and helped with living costs. knowing someone believed in and wanted to invest in me meant so much.”
Kenny Murray
Jodi Taylor-Nettleton
Bsc Psychology student
Queen Mary University of London
Jodi is a third-year psychology student who grew up on a Hackney council estate and who thought, at the age of 14, that her career options were likely to be defined by her waitressing job.
She navigated school without a secure support network. With quiet determination and motivation, she managed to get excellent GCSE and A-level grades.
Her time at Queen Mary University of London has profoundly altered her career trajectory, and the course of her life. She is eloquent, articulate and at an alumni event she displayed a rare ability to captivate an entire room of hardened business people with her personal and hard hitting story.
“University has expanded my job prospects and provided clear direction, fuelling my ambition even more. There's no stopping me now!”
JUSTINE GREENING
Politician and former secretary of state for education
Southampton University
Justine grew up in Rotherham and was the first person in her family to go to university. After gaining a first-class degree in Business Economics and Accounting at Southampton University, she trained as an accountant and pursued a career in industry, working for PwC, GlaxoSmithKline and Centrica. In 2000 Justine was awarded an MBA from the London Business School.
She contested the constituency of Ealing, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush in 2001 and became the Member of Parliament for Putney in 2005. Between 2011 and 2018, she served in the Cabinet as Economic Secretary to HM Treasury, Transport Secretary, International Development Secretary and as the first ever comprehensive school educated Education Secretary. She worked on issues as diverse as delivering the transport strategy for the UK during the 2012 Olympics to leading the UK response to the Ebola outbreak in Africa and Syrian refugee crisis.
She also introduced the Social Mobility Action Plan, Opportunity Areas and gender pay gap reporting whilst Education Secretary.
Justine left Parliament in 2019 to focus on her work on improving social mobility, mobilising the private and public sectors to work together to drive grass roots change through the Social Mobility Pledge campaign.
She has since set up the Purpose Coalition, which brings together leading businesses, universities, NHS Trusts and other third sector organisations working in partnership to develop their social impact and deliver equality of opportunity, particularly in the most deprived parts of the country. Their work is underpinned by 14 Purpose Goals, modelled on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which set out the main barriers to opportunity and help organisations to track and measure their progress.
“As the first in my family to go to university, it transformed my life for the better. Much more than a degree, it was a crucial life experience, broadening my horizons to access a wider world of opportunity out there.”
kAREN hINTON
Higher education recruitment and marketing professional
University of Edinburgh
Karen attended the LEAPS summer school and got the grades to secure her entry into the University of Edinburgh. She became a student ambassador before taking up a post as a Schools Outreach Officer where she worked with academics to develop outreach activity to support the widening participation aims of the university. She’s since gone on to a very successful career in higher education recruitment and marketing.
Lord simon wooLley
Principal of Homerton College, Cambridge
Middlesex University
A new direction
Simon Woolley was born in 1961 and grew up in Leicester with adopted parents.
After leaving school he first became a mechanic, before he moved to London at 19 and worked in sales and advertising for The Rank Organisation. He had great financial success, buying a house at just 21, but hankered after more. He took an access course which led to a degree in Politics and Spanish at Middlesex.
"My course took me to Latin America, which at that time was at war with itself – many civil wars," Simon says. "But it still had that ambiance of salsa music, landscapes to behold, and realising that not every house had running water, much less hot water.
“It's crazy to think a four-year experience can be so transformative, but that's how I see my time at Middlesex.”
"It was also in those places of conflict that my own passion was ignited for political struggle back home". He went on to study a Masters in Latin American literature. Moving into equal opportunities campaigning, he was involved in civil rights group Charter 88. His “eureka moment” was realising the need to get every party vying for ethnic minority voters' support, resulting in him setting up Operation Black Vote in 1996. Woolley was Director for 25 years, leading cross-party voter registration campaigns and other initiatives such as a mentoring scheme with alumni including MPs Clive Lewis and Helen Grant.
Woolley served for three years on the Equality and Human Rights Commission. In 2018, he was appointed by Theresa May to lead the Government’s pioneering Race Disparity Unit. The following year, he received a knighthood and shortly afterwards was appointed to the Lords where he sits as a Crossbencher. In 2021 he was elected Principal of Homerton College, Cambridge – the first black man to lead an Oxbridge College. He holds honorary doctorates from the Universities of Westminster and Leicester, and is an Honorary Fellow of two Oxford colleges.
A better, fairer society
“Now, as the first Black male head of an Oxbridge college, I've come full circle. Education is best when it enriches the soul and empowers the individual to hopefully do extraordinary things: not just for themselves, but for a better, fairer society.”
Kenny murray
ma tv fiction writing graduate
Glasgow Caledonian University
Kenny graduated from the MA TV Fiction Writing Programme in November 2023 thanks to support from a life-changing scholarship from the Ernst Maas Educational Trust.
As a very young child, Kenny first became homeless. He always dreamed of becoming a writer, but because he came from such extreme poverty, the idea seemed completely out of reach.
His course has given him the chance to take his writing seriously for the first time and develop a career plan.
Kenny has recently been appointed Deputy Chief Executive of Who Cares? Scotland, a charity that leads advocacy work on behalf of care experienced people in Scotland.
“The scholarship paid my fees and helped with living costs. Moreover, knowing someone believed in and wanted to invest in me meant so much.”
Kirsten koss
MA History and Politics student
University of Aberdeen
Kirsten left school in 2016 and after a disheartening experience. Despite this, she always knew she wanted to return to education and started at the University of Aberdeen in 2022.
Alongside her studies, Kirsten is currently working a working as an Education Scotland Student Team Member. She’s also an elected member of the NUS Scotland Steering Committee and is a keen widening access advocate. She’s hoping to become a college lecturer in the future.
Malik Al Nasir
Author, poet and academic
Liverpool John Moores University
Malik Al Nasir is an author, poet and academic. He’s currently studying a PhD at the University of Cambridge on a full Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) scholarship after doing a master’s in new media production at Liverpool John Moores University.
Malik grew up in care which he says left him traumatised, semi-literate, homeless and destitute. Many years later he successfully sued Liverpool City Council for neglect, racism, and physical abuse.
Music and poetry become his way of escaping these harsh realities. Malik has campaigned against the underrepresentation of Black people in academia and helped to develop the Widening Access and Participation Bill in the House of Lords.
“Instead of a lifetime of useless incarceration, I work with policymakers, publish books, and study at the University of Cambridge.”
Niyah Clark
Widening participation professional
Edinburgh Napier University
Niyah was the first in her family to decide to go to university and graduated in 2023 with her BA in Business Management. After graduating, was appointed Graduate Intern within the Widening Participation team.
Part of Niyah’s current role is also to support the work of the Widening Participation team and take the lead on arranging a series of events aimed at current students from a care experienced background, estranged or unpaid carers.
Shuab Gamote
BA ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE graduate
Manchester Metropolitan University
Shuab is studying a master’s in Public Policy at the University of Oxford after graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University.
Progression to university wasn’t easy. Shuab’s parents, first generation immigrants to the UK, valued education and were ambitious for him but had no direct university experience to offer guidance.
Shuab flourished as part of the university’s award-winning First-Generation Scholarship Programme supporting first-in-their-family students into higher education.
Shuab graduated with a first-class degree in BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance in 2022. Shuab established a ‘First Generation’ society and spoke at several fundraising events for scholarships and bursaries. He ran for Students’ Union President and was Project Manager of the BAME Ambassador Programme.
Sophie howe
world’s first minster for the unborn
Cardiff University
World leading
Described as ‘the World’s First Minister for the Unborn’ Sophie Howe was the first Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, the only role of its kind in the world. She held Government to account on how their decisions affect future generations and has influenced other countries to follow suit including the UN.
Sophie, raised in Ely, frequently described as Cardiff's most deprived area, enrolled at Cardiff University in 1996 to study law and politics. During her final year, she became pregnant with her son. Remarkably, at just 21, she was elected as a local councillor, earning the distinction of being the youngest elected council member in Wales at the time.
“Going to university opened my eyes to what might be possible in life and gave me the confidence to know that I had a valid and important contribution to make even when entering a career dominated by older white men.”
In 2016, she assumed the groundbreaking role of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, designed to serve as a guardian for the interests of future generations and to assist public bodies in striving towards wellbeing goals. In 2020, she was named at number 5 in the BBC Women’s Hour Power List.
Sophie is passionate about leaving the world better than she found it and is an inspirational advocate for the next generation.
Leaving the world better
Theo Mukamuri
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the first in his family to go to university, Theo Mukamuri graduated from BNU with a First in Law in 2022.
A mature student, Theo was described by his lecturers as highly motivated and a shining example of how hard work and a positive mindset can help you overcome struggle.
Theo credits the University for giving him the foundation for success. He has secured a place at Bar School and just completed his LLM Bar Practice with Distinction.
Currently, Theo is in the process of securing a pupillage which will enable him to practice as a barrister upon successful completion.
Buckinghamshire New University (BNU)