LOCAL HEROES
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First-generation students bring businesses to their local areas and awareness and outreach to their individual communities. The whole of the UK benefits.
Giving back
These students and graduates give back. From student ambassadors to a ‘social engineer’ who helps companies and people test their security systems, these individuals are determined to make the world a better place.
Meet them
Keele University
St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Birmingham City University
University of Plymouth
Staffordshire University
Edinburgh Napier University
University of the West of Scotland (UWS)
University of Liverpool
Liverpool Hope University
University of Worcester
University of South Wales (USW)
University of St Andrews
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Oxford Brookes University
Leeds Trinity University
Ant Sutcliffe
Ant graduated in 2008 with a Media, Communications & Culture and Politics degree and is the Associate Director and lead for Higher Horizons+, the Uni Connect Programme that serves Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire.
Higher Horizons+ has delivered over 4,500 activities across 129 schools and colleges in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire since 2017. More than 40,000 young people aged 11–18 years old have taken part in the programme of free, engaging activities aimed at creating pathways and increasing progression to higher education.
Ant has won awards, including the NEON Widening Participation Practitioner of the Year in 2020, and recently completed a Postgraduate degree in Outreach, Access and Social Mobility at the University of Wolverhampton.
Widening participation professional
Keele University
“Did gaining a degree and my wonderful university experience change my life? Yes – immeasurably, and overwhelmingly positively.”
Chelsea
McDonagh
Researcher, Young Foundation
St Mary's University, Twickenham
Life-changing
Chelsea is an Irish Traveller who grew up in south London, where her parents settled in the 90s. She was the first in her family to attend university. Chelsea went on to graduate from St Mary's University in 2018 with a First in Physical and Sport Education.
Chelsea felt very discouraged to apply to university and had nobody to turn to for her during the application process. At some point she said she even considered withdrawing her application because she thought she wouldn’t be good enough.
It was the support she received from her friends and teachers that made a difference for her and gave her the confidence to apply.
“It sounds cliché to say it, but university was life-changing for me. Since then, I’ve helped to set up a widening participation programme to open doors for other Gypsies and Travellers. I’ve done more than I could ever have imagined.”
Since graduating, Chelsea has gone on to work in the education sector within widening participation and has completed a master’s in education at Kings College London.
Chelsea is passionate about working with young people and changing research approaches to make them more accessible. In 2021, she joined the Young Foundation as a senior researcher after working as an education policy and campaigns officer at the Traveller Movement, and a youth research and campaigns officer at Partnership for Young London.
Chelsea is motivated by her desire to make a difference, and this extends beyond work, where she campaigns on issues surrounding Gypsy and Traveller people, and mentors’ university students from under-represented backgrounds.
Desire to make a difference
“It has been almost ten years since I started at St Mary’s as an anxious nineteen-year-old who didn’t feel as though going to university was something that a Traveller could do.”
“I knew it was a pivotal moment, but probably didn’t realise how much.”
Clair Graham
At 14, Clair was permanently excluded from school. She was finally placed in a new school a year later, but rarely attended classes, and left with no qualifications. She also had criminal offences on her record, making her journey after school even more challenging.
But after doing voluntary work and securing a role as a Social Work Assistant, Clair decided to return to education, choosing to study Social Work at Birmingham City University.
Now, she is the Head of Service for Contextual Safeguarding at Birmingham Children’s Trust. Clair has supported hundreds, possibly even thousands, of children in the West Midlands and helped them become the young people they are today.
Social worker
Birmingham City University
“Out of all my achievements to date, I am most proud about graduating from university.”
Darcie Jones
Vice-President for Education, Plymouth Students’ Union
Darcie was born and raised in Plymouth and comes from a single parent household. Her mum worked in the care industry.
Darcie chose to study History as she wanted to become a secondary school teacher. She chose to stay in Plymouth to maintain her home support network, as she started during Covid-19 and because of the supportive History programme.
Despite her original teaching aspirations, she decided to enter the student union elections in her final year of university and become involved in student advocacy. She is currently Vice-President for Education in the University of Plymouth Students’ Union and has travelled across the UK to advocate for working class students.
University of Plymouth
“Going to university has made a larger difference to my life than I ever could have expected.”
“I like to think that working class people like me fulfilling their educational potential is more social justice than social mobility.”
Ant Sutcliffe
Ellie Bowers
Police constable
Ellie comes from a single parent family and was the first person in her family to attend university. Ellie is a local student who graduated with a First in Professional Policing from Staffordshire University in 2023.
She excelled on her course and contributed to extracurricular activities including supporting students on lower levels and taking part in a guest lecture about her experiences.
Ellie found an interest in firearms investigation during her studies and explored the Firearms Command Structure for her dissertation, interviewing various firearms officers, including those of senior ranks.
Ellie is now a police constable with Staffordshire Police and is passionate about giving back to local community.
Staffordshire University
“Being the first person in my family to go to university was scary. But I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t go.”
Fiona Speirs
Widening participation professional
After her children left school, Fiona started a Higher National Certificate (HNC) and was able to transfer to a university course in her third year.
While studying, Fiona was a student ambassador within Widening Access and is now working full-time on the team promoting alternative routes to university.
Edinburgh Napier University
“University gave me more confidence in my ability to learn and to achieve – I am more in tune with myself and what interests me.”
Jamie Kinlochan
Jamie graduated with a degree in Politics and Social Policy. His dissertation focused on access to university and became the basis for a project that led to changes in the funding arrangements and opportunities provided to care experienced students.
The opportunity to study social policy meant that he was able to confront the prejudice and shame that he had experienced from growing up gay and in a single parent family that struggled for money.
In 2023, Jamie completed an master's in Counselling and Psychotherapy. He now works as a counsellor delivering mental health support to people from communities that have been socially and economically marginalised.
Mental health counsellor
University of the West of Scotland (UWS)
“The education I received at UWS has underpinned all of the work that I have done since to address injustice.”
Jenny radcliffe
An alumna of the University of Liverpool, Jenny (also known as ‘The People Hacker’) is a world-renowned ethical social engineer, con-artist and burglar for hire.
An expert on the human element of security, scams and social engineering, Liverpool-born Jenny helps companies and people test their security systems to see how they can be improved through her company Human Factor Security.
A regular commentator on television and radio on the subject of scams, cons and security matters, Jenny is the author of the bestselling book People Hacker: Confessions of a Burglar for Hire which will be made into a major television series in 2024. Jenny was also a ‘HQ Hunter’ in the popular TV show Hunted on Channel 4, where she was responsible for gathering information on contestants and was seconded to the special operations unit of the show.
Social engineer
University of Liverpool
“My English degree provided me with vital analytical and presenting skills that I use for work every day.”
Research by Kings’ College London found that people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are less likely to go on to higher education compared to the general population.
Jordan Wright
After graduating in Childhood and Youth Studies from Liverpool Hope University in 2009, Jordan Wright has gone on to become a successful entrepreneur in the sport, education and tourism industries.
Jordan is the Managing Director of LLS, which he co-founded while at university. LLS is a leading provider of post-16 sixth form sports courses designed to train the next generation of sports industry professionals. Students combine studying for A-Level equivalent qualifications with work placement opportunities within the sports industry.
Jordan is also Managing Director of the Steven Gerrard Academy. The Academy allows students to gain A-Level equivalent qualifications, alongside training in an elite football environment.
Sports entrepreneur
Liverpool Hope University
“The reason I chose university was to get that edge on others around me. I thought the degree would stand me in good stead for the future.”
Kiran Sahota
Kiran is an award-winning social historian, exploring South Asian history through a female perspective. She is the founder of a community interest company, Believe in Me, that empowers young people and women from marginalised communities, delivering sessions on topics from domestic violence to mental health.
Kiran has curated national exhibitions exploring stories of how Indian men and women contributed towards the First and Second World War. In 2021, the Prime Minister awarded Kiran the Points of Light Award, recognising her research in South Asian history, Women’s history, and community outreach work.
Kiran was inspired to follow her dreams while a student at the University of Worcester, studying English Literature and American Studies.
Social historian
University of Worcester
“I learnt so much during my time at university, particularly the value of digging deeper.”
Zee Faridi
Entrepreneur and philanthropist
Leeds Trinity University
Zee Faridi graduated from Leeds Trinity University in 2016 with a degree in Secondary PE and Sports Development. The first in his family to attend university, he was a dedicated student, who developed his ability to become very focused and goal orientated.
His positivity, hunger for success and desire to make a difference are infectious. He puts much of this down to his biggest inspiration, his mother. Despite living in poverty and not knowing if they could pay the bills, his mother would still give to charity. He has followed in her footsteps to help others through charity, mentorship and friendship, and is a positive role model to young people.
What was clear, as a student, was Zee’s determination to help others. His own charity, the Helping Hand Foundation, was established in 2015 to gather as much food and useful accessories as possible to give out to people on the streets in winter – supporting many people in Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford.
In 2017, he started the initiative Everybody Eats, setting up stalls during Ramadan to support his community in Huddersfield. These stalls, taking place on a Friday, were for everyone, from any background.
Determination to help others
“Being at Leeds Trinity helped me very much. One of the main things I took away was the ability to become very focused. Having deadlines to meet and being able to stick to routines is extremely useful in my everyday life.”
Zee has also used the experience and skills he learnt at university to broaden his horizons. He went on to launch his first online business in 2018, and the second in 2020.
In January 2022, he decided to co-own Ezmuve Estate Agents and began forging a career in property. He also launched Social Gap Media, which manages social media platforms for charities.
Zee set up a community focused enterprise dedicated to helping people from poverty-stricken backgrounds to help change their lives through business, careers and personal development.
Zee continues to support students at Leeds Trinity and returns as a guest speaker to discuss his career and charity work.
Broadening horizons
“As a family we didn't have much but my mother was always extremely generous with as many people as possible. I have definitely followed in her footsteps and I'm very proud to do so.”
“My main goal in life is to have a really positive impact on the world.”
Rachel Ali-Evans
Rachel is the first in her family to go to university and now works as an adult nurse in the community. Rachel had a turbulent childhood. She left school and became pregnant with her daughter aged 17.
She decided to become a nurse later in life when her mum became seriously unwell with liver cirrhosis and spent a lot of time in hospital.
She started by undertaking an access course at Coleg Gwent and then progressed to study a Foundation Degree in Community Health and Wellbeing, before moving on to study Adult Nursing at USW. She graduated with first class honours last summer.
Nurse
University of South Wales (USW)
“Graduation will be the final step in realising my dream. There were times when I wanted to give up, but I knew that I had to prove this to myself.”
Rebecca Munro
Widening participation professional
Rebecca spent her childhood in care and left school with few qualifications and became homeless. With the support of the Homeless Team in Dundee she was encouraged to go to Dundee College to do her Highers.
Rebecca applied to university through supported pathways scheme into Higher Education. Rebecca graduated with a First in Geography and won a scholarship to study at Emory University in Atlanta for a year.
Following a master’s in Management, Rebecca now works in the Access and Widening Participation team within Admissions at St Andrews. Part of Rebecca’s role is continuing her advocacy in the care-experienced space, where she oversees the care-experienced pupils as part of the university’s outreach programme.
University of St Andrews
“With leaving school with no grades to now having two degrees from the university of St Andrews, we’re doing pretty well!”
Ryan Denton
BA Contemporary Performance Practice student
Ryan is a final-year Contemporary Performance Practice student specialising in Drama, Applied Theatre and Education at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Ryan is also an active student ambassador for Central, regularly running tours and talking to prospective students, helping to explain the process of applying for university, what life is like as a student at Central, and helping to demystify the university experience.
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
“University has been a massively fulfilling experience. My understandings have been expanded, reshaped and formed.”
Saad Qureshi
Award-winning artist Saad Quereshi's sculptures give form to the ideas or stories by which we give meaning to human existence.
Saad lives and works in London and Oxford. He received his BA in Fine Art from Oxford Brookes in 2007 and he was the first in his family to go to University.
He is a trustee of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and features in Thames & Hudson’s ‘100 Sculptors of Tomorrow’.
Recent solo exhibitions include the Yorkshire Sculpture Park; the Nature Morte Gallery in New Delhi; the Aicon Gallery in New York, and the Gazelli Art House in London.
Sculptor
Oxford Brookes University