“I went to Preston College to study BTEC Sport. Whilst studying at college I had a complete breakdown in relationship with my mother who I lived with at the time. During the first year of my studies I stayed with friends, sometimes strangers and for some periods of time a youth hostel in Chorley called Cotswold. Cotswold housed many people including drug users and ex-offenders. 

My welfare adviser at college (Caroline Gale) supported me through 1:1 support sessions, food vouchers and finding me a secure place to live in Preston so that I could continue with my studies in a safe place. In private conversation I had told Caroline that I had always felt inspired by an amazing supply teacher I had in Primary School, but believed that I would never make it to University considering my social Circumstances. 

Once I finished college I left to try living in Nottingham with my Dad and signed up to Jobseeker’s allowance whilst trying to find a job in admin. I spent the summer of 2009 feeling incredibly low, I was struggling to find a job with limited work experience and a poor address history. Often I was asked why I had gaps in my address history during times my belongings was kept in a bin bag and I ‘sofa-surfed’ at friends houses, even completing my college coursework using a spare computer at a ‘Help the Homeless’ charity.

Two days before clearing I rang Preston College to see if there was any way I could get to University through clearing and discovered that I had actually been awarded the HKF scholarship for a place on a teacher training course and only needed to choose a subject specialism and somewhere to live – all within a couple of days! My bursary awarded by HKF allowed me to buy resources I needed to support my studies at University, and helped me to feel like I had an equal opportunity to succeed and do well. HKF even supported my application for student finance along with the local MP, where I came up against the same barriers to education and well-being when I could not answer questions about my address history or provide financial statements from my estranged mother who refused to support my application. 

I often wonder what life would be like now had I not been awarded my scholarship. I am now in a huge position to give back to others and make a real difference to hundreds of lives – if not more. I also think about the number of young people who will not be as lucky as I was to receive a life changing opportunity, and that motivates me to do more to make a difference. Sometimes I feel like I have a condition called Imposter Syndrome – how can a girl who used to share a room with a drug addict, with strict visiting rules of no more than 2 people between the hours of 8am-8pm only and with only £30 EMA to survive on per week be Head of a department earning more than the average salary in the UK? 

I love learning and I am passionate about what I do and I hope that my future work will help to raise aspirations for all people who are facing barriers to learning, employment and achieving a sense of belonging within a community. I cannot thank HKF enough for opening a seemingly bolted door to so many life-changing opportunities”.