Hi Everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. My name’s John and I’ll be taking over from Zainab here at HKF towers. Zainab did a fantastic job at HKF and I’m sure you’ll all want to say a big thank you to her for all the hard work she did. We’re also going to be joined by Susan who starts next month. I’ll send her over to the blog to so she can say hi as well. I’ll be doing quite a lot of the work on the student portal over the coming mo...
By John Howard - HKF Staff
Below is an article by Martin's Money tips about Student Finance the facts- Student Finance 2012: the facts, not the politics What every student & parent needs to know - pls spread the word It's provoked rows in the Commons and riots in the street. I'm no fan of the English student finance changes, but the political spittle from both sides is just as damaging; promoting myths & confusion while little's written of the practical impact on st...
By Zainab Rashid
This month I have chosen to write a blog of a slightly more personal nature, I had intended to write on a different topic but had a change of heart having travelled home a couple of days ago for the first time since christmas. I think that may explain my choice of topic, Many students across the country are coming to the end of either their first year of university or maybe even the end of their studies, many young people may be thinking about G...
By Stacey Warner (2010 Award Winner)
By midnight tonight, universities wanting to charge higher tuition fees must have submitted their application to the Office for Fair Access. We now know that, contrary to statements by ministers, fees of £9,000 will be the norm rather than the exception. Those opting to charge the maximum fee range from the very oldest universities to modern university colleges. David Willetts has argued on these pages that some students may pay less than the "st...
By Wes Streeting, HKF Chief Executive
The huge Channel 4 building dwarfs over other buildings situated in Horseferry Road London. The day was sunny and I was excited to be in such an amazing building waiting for the careers talk to start. I was secretly hoping a TV star would walk by on their way to filming but to my dismay they didn’t, which I later found out was because all Channel 4 programmes are outsourced to other companies. While I was waiting for the talk to begin I be...
By Angela Ndhlovu (2008 Award Winner)
Jamie’s Dream School is another attempt to improve the future of education following the success of Jamie’s School Dinners. The programme suggests it is the star teachers and not the changes in the style of teaching, which is more significant, but I feel the opposite applies. Many lessons can be learnt from this programme. It gives a great insight into the reasons why many grow to loathe education which can be used to improve future teaching. ...
By Eleanor Pople (2009 Award Winner)
Working at Kaplan Legal Advice Centre (KLAC) has given me a greater understanding of the legal profession. The work experience benefitted me enormously, as I was given the opportunity to interact with solicitors as well as legal academics who are experts in their fields and ask them questions about their daily work. I spent time researching in employment dispute and a housing benefit case. I was given the task to research and offer advice on ...
By Farahnaz Ragi (2008 Award Winner)
On researching careers in Animal Management, Team HKF came across a brilliant article which has astounded us. 10 ways animals have served the military Take a look at the following article, you too will be astounded http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/10-ways-animals-have-served-the-military/in-the-army-now...
By Zainab Rashid
I fond this article on the Guardian website http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/mar/29/education-training-inactive-benefits-cuts written by Nick Linford one of the Helena Kennedy Foundation's dedicated supporters. This article highlights the changes in FE funding and how it will affect current students. Have a read and let us know what you think about the current situation. All thoughts and comments welcome- General Discussion-The ...
By Zainab Rashid
We spoke to Hasina about her role and asked her to give some advice to students looking at a career in Digital Marketing. What did you want to be as a child? Think I’d earmarked every career from air hostess through to doctor when i was a child, though i never had a burning desire to stick to any of those choices. Why did you decide to apply for your current role? It was sort of a fluke as I’d been in my previous role for about a year and a h...
By Hasina Dhanji, Brand Manager (IG Index), IG Group
Friday 11th March Women Of the World Festival Conference Enemies of Good Art At 11.30am I met with the lovely Rachel and Zainab in the Royal Festival Hall, which was buzzing with people. In all my 42 years I have never been inside the RFH, and it is only one bus journey from my house. Though, I have been in the Hayward Gallery (next door) numerous times. So it was a real treat to finally get to see the inside of this London building. ...
By Janet Brooks (2005 Award Winner)
When is buying advantage in the education system wrong? Not when it comes to private tutoring, it seems. I’ve heard a range of justifications to support those parents and carers who pay for extra tuition for their children out of their own pockets; none of which can alter the reality that this practice reinforces inequality by giving advantage to those children with parents who can pay at the expense of those who can not. In many cases, it is...
By Wes Streeting, HKF Chief Executive
As I write this today, 10.3.11 The President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama posted a video to a popular networking website and on The White House site regarding bullying. Since HKF’s motto is ‘Social Action, Social Mobility, Social Justice’, I thought it was quite appropriate that for this blog I should share this with you all. I think that bullying as a topic of discussion relates to ‘Social Justice’. It is quite a vast subject to...
By Salvador Ragg (2005 Award Winner)
I don't think there is any greater gift than that of opportunity. I didn’t come from a rich background, blessed with opportunities and people to open doors for me so I’ve had to work hard to create these things. However, I am not one to downplay the role of luck in my achievements or the availability of some fantastic schemes. When I look back to find a significant moment that changed my path in life I see that without the Helena Kennedy award ...
By Kylie Stanger, 2007 Award Winner
We were delighted to hear from two of our previous award winners, Laura Snow and Kylie Stanger. Many congratulations and thanks to both of them for keeping in touch, it’s always good to get updates from HKF students, past and present. Laura Snow 2009 Award Winner Laura is currently at university completing her course (BA Hons, Criticism, Communication and Curation) has also been accepted onto a journalism training programme at the Catch 22...
By Zainab Rashid
This is a new annual festival which will present, recognise and celebrate women. Taking place the weekend following International Women’s Day (Tuesday 8 March) which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2011, WOW will be three days of live music, talks, debates, free events, markets and many participatory opportunities from 11 to 13 March. Led by Southbank Centre's Artistic Director Jude Kelly, this festival has emerged from an unprecedented serie...
By Zainab Rashid
Miriam Bouchiba our portal host this week, spoke to Jonathan about his role at King's College London and asked him to give some advice to students looking at Dentistry as a career. What did you want to be as a child? Anything associated with cars – a racing driver / car designer / car mechanic. Every week it was something different. Why did you decide to apply for your current role? My current role is primarily the teaching of undergraduat...
By Jonathan Turner, Senior Clinical teacher (Dentistry), King's College London
The Coalition is my shepherd, I have no faith, It makes me lie down in educational instability, It leads me into government cuts, It refreshes my options, It guides me into huge debts, For its reputation’s sake, Yet, even though I walk through the valleys of higher tuition fees, I will live with social exclusivity. For the Tories and the Lib-Dems are with me, Their policies and governance comfort me. They are deciding my future, In t...
By Vincent Atigla (2010 Award Winner)
http://m.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jan/18/third-graduate-jobs-work-experience?cat=education&type=article I recently read an article in the Guardian that said “a third of graduate jobs will go to people with work experience” this got me thinking! How many of us really value work experience? How many of us go and search for work placements while at university? I started to think about the opportunities I missed out on while I was at universi...
By Zainab Rashid
Getting started with a piece of written work, whether academic or not, can be really difficult. I know I for one, find that once I get started it flows but it’s in the getting started phase that I procrastinate and struggle with. 1.) The first thing to do is think about what it is you need to write. If you’re writing creatively, it might be worth jotting down your ideas and thinking what the aim of your piece is. Academically, the first and ab...
By Stacey Warner (2010 Award Winner)
We spoke to Andy about his role and asked him to give some advice to students looking at a career in being a producer at the BBC. What did you want to be as a child? Various things but always something to do with art. I loved art lessons the most at school and my teachers and friends always told me I was talented at drawing. I was also lucky that my parents and friends would go galleries and museums where I grew up. Why did you decide to apply ...
By Andy, Freelance Producer. BBC
Since graduating I did not think that a year would pass and I still would not have a job. I went to university imagining all the job prospects I would have once completing my degree course in tourism. I had ideas formed about how I wanted to enter the world of work. These mostly consisting of working for established tourism companies or tourist attractions. I wanted to always start at the bottom and work my way up the ladder because I knew th...
By Salvador Ragg (2005 Award Winner)
It seems at the moment, that everyone is talking about the controversial topic of student fees. Whether it’s all the articles in the news before Christmas about the “Riots” or as recently as the 20th January when the new comedy “10 o clock live” debuted and featured a colourful debate starring David Mitchell, surrounding the issue of higher fees and university education. However, with this entire media buzz, just what are people really saying? ...
By Stacey Warner (2010 Award Winner)
expert views from Denmark as I hold an interview with Cecilia. In part one; I came to discover a variety of views from young people currently living in the UK and also from a friend, abroad in the US. In part 2, I was fortunate enough to be able to hold an interview over facebook with my friend Cecilia, 18, from Denmark. I explained briefly, the situation with student fees over here. Cecilia: Omg... *** the government!! AAARGH D: ...lol... He...
By Stacey Warner (2010 Award Winner)
We spoke to Deian about his role and asked him to give some advice to students looking at a career in urban estate management. What did you want to be as a child? Dream was to become a professional footballer, although as reality kicked in I thought about being an Architect Why did you decide to apply for your current role? Logical progression from a degree in Urban Estate Management, which I’d swapped to after aborting a degree in Buildin...
By Deian Evans, Associate Director, Lambert Smith Hampton
Welcome to the second episode of ‘HKF update’. Regular readers will know that the aim of this blog is to update you on what’s been happening at HKF Towers and where Team HKF has been this week. This week our main topic of conversation has been Social Mobility. Zainab, Wes and I started Tuesday by attending the Student Retention and Progression in Higher Education Conference in London. Wes spoke at the event, which was mainly attended by uni...
By Rachel Watters
Twelve years ago, a crack commando unit was set up by Dr Ann Limb to tackle social injustice. These women (and later men) promptly escaped from their day jobs to the Milton Keynes underground. Today, still wanted by their previous employers they survive as soldiers of social justice. If you have a problem, if no-one else can help, and if you can find them (see Contact us), maybe you can hire...Team HKF! Welcome to our new regular feature – ...
By Rachel Watters
I am currently a fourth year dental student at King’s College London University. Throughout my two years at college, I received the Education Maintance Allowance (EMA). The EMA was available to 16-18 year olds on a full-time FE course. Weekly payments of £10, £20 and £30, with additional annual bonuses, were paid to students based on their household income. In 2009/10 approximately 635,000 students received the EMA. The UK Coalition Governm...
By Mariam Bouchiba (2007 Award Winner)
We spoke to Rebecca about her role and asked her to give some advice to students looking at a career in Human Resources. What did you want to be as a child? A coral reef diver! Why did you decide to apply for your current role? In 2005 I started working as an Administrator for the Audi Design Foundation, an independent charity funded by Audi UK. The charity closed in March 2010 and I was offered the role I’m in now. I was very lucky! Wh...
By Rebecca Myrie, Corpporate Responsibility Manager, Audi UK
Cheryl Henderson is the Nurse Manager at the TOR Christian Nursing Home in Edinburgh - we spoke to Cheryl about her role and asked her to give some advice to students looking at Nursing as a career. What did you want to be as a child? A Nurse or a teacher Why did you decide to apply for your current role? I started work as a part time staff nurse working in a 30 bedded Nursing Home for the elderly. I really enjoy working in this type of e...
By Cheryl Henderson, Nurse Manager, TOR Christian Nursing Home Ltd
I wanted to write about how much I enjoyed the BBC Tour organised by Zainab at the Helena Kennedy Foundation Head Office. We all met up at the Main Reception area of their flagship building at White City, and were introduced to the tour guides, Annie and Simon. Once we’d had our security checks, we were then taken to the front of the building where much to our delight, we got to take photos of the iconic Audi Quattro car from Ashes to Ashes, ...
By Johanna Robinson - 2009 Award Winner
One of the greatest concerns of any student is “How can I fit everything I need to do into a day and still have time to enjoy myself?” Normally you'll be flooded with essays, assignments, reading, revision or preparing presentations, among other things. I have a few tips which work successfully for me and hopefully you'll find them useful as well. Firstly, use a small amount of your evening to plan what you are going to accomplish the next day. ...
By Matthew Evans- 2010 Award Winner
On the 9th of December 2010 the Coalition motion, backed by 323 votes to 302, gave the go ahead for university fees to be raised to a maximum of £9,000 a year. When it comes to the increased debt generated by this new deal, Helena Kennedy warned the House of Lords that “the vista of a fee debt being carried into the future is the stuff of nightmares for many working-class people.” Conservative MP, Julian Lewis, who voted against the motion, agr...
By Pete Maclaine (Award Winner)
We spoke to Mousa Baraka, the Senior Community Organiser at Citizens UK, to find out what it’s like to be involved in community organising working for the biggest community alliance Citizens UK- http://www.citizensuk.org/ What did you want to be as a child? A footballer or an artist Why did you decide to apply for your current role? I got into community organising because it brings together two things that were very important to me in my li...
By Mousa Baraka, Senior Community Organiser, Citizens UK
The snow may have looked pretty and picturesque, but it caused chaos up and down the UK. I wanted to share my account of the snow chaos leading up to Christmas: Right where I am now in my room at home there are a few clouds and the sun is beaming down straight through my window, melting all the ice from the previous fall of snow that occurred two weeks ago in the east of the country. The part of Lincolnshire that I live in seems to have es...
By Salvador Ragg (2005 Award Winner)
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you all have a fantastic time over the holidays and the snow has not ruined your plans. Here in Milton Keynes the HKF office has been closed since Monday with more snow falling as I write this. If you have been in touch via email or phone, we will get back to you as soon as we can make it in to the office. :-) ...
By Zainab Rashid
The student protests seem to be very topical at the moment, not just in UK news but all around the world. I noticed this morning as I was looking at some of the headlines from the past few days that a wheelchair user with the same disability condition that I have (Cerebral Palsy), went to the London protests. As a result he ended up being on the late-night news on the 13th of December 2010, because he was, according to his testimony, video foot...
By Salvador Ragg (2005 Award Winner)
“As Martin Luther King and Gandhi repeatedly pointed out, active nonviolence is both more radical and more effective than either of these options.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/dec/13/images-of-violence-obscure-real-protest-story You will all have seen the news coverage, in recent weeks, about the student protests against the rise in tuition fees; indeed, some of you may have taken part in the protests. The violence that has occurr...
By Zainab Rashid
www.thesite.org - http://www.thesite.org/healthandwellbeing/ wellbeing/lookingafteryourself/healthmotforwinter. I found it really interesting to read the article on The Site (link above) regarding energy levels and mood over the winter months. Many people find it really difficult to keep their regular routine going and can feel their energy levels drop along with their mood. If this sounds familiar, you might want to give yourself a bit of a ...
By Jo Jackson
Dear All Award Winners The Helena Kennedy Foundation is carrying out a survey on the services we offer and would really like to know what you think about us. Please complete our survey by clicking on the link below; on completion you will receive a £5 Amazon Voucher. Click here to take survey Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey and hel...
By Zainab Rashid
My name is Don and I wish to share with the HKF award winners my experience as a member of London Society. I joined the society last year because I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to meet with other award winners. Living in a city as big as London can be daunting for someone like me who does not have the good fortune of consulting his family; so meeting up with people and sharing experiences is something that has given me encou...
By Don Alusha (2009 Award Winner)
The Teresa Carreno Youth Orchestra of Venezuela concert at the Royal Festival Hall (http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/royal-festival-hall) on Thursday 14th October 2010 was absolutely amazing and must be the most beautiful youth orchestra that I have seen in my whole life and from that point of view it was a success. It was also nice because of the fact that I haven’t been out for such a long time (trying to adjust myself to university stud...
By Vincent Atigla (2010 Award Winner)
Sustainability literacy is a current buzz phrase; what does it mean to you and how does it impact on your life as a student? I am a first year social work student at London Metropolitan University, and it is true that sustainability literacy has been one of the hotly debated, complex and contested phrases in recent years (Alison, 2009:15). While recognizing that this phrase is highly contested it is not my intention to pursue the controversie...
By Tesfamicael Negash (2009 Award Winner)
Education is arguably the key to future success. Furthermore, if you are a parent, your primary goal in life shifts to the future of the young one. Every parent wants to be able to provide the best for their child. So, what are the challenges that a parent faces when in full-time Education? • Not enough time with the child, • Not enough time to study, • Missing favourite TV shows, • Not going out as often as you would like (a favourite wit...
By Artwell Mpofu (2009 Award Winner)
What do you think about Lord Browne's long-awaited review of England's higher education system, which recommends sweeping changes to the university funding system. Browne proposes that: - there should be no limit on fees charged by univerities - universities will no longer have to provide a minimum bursary (currently £329) for students on full-grants - the cash will be distributed through the grants system instead. - the government will f...
By Jo Jackson
We have an exciting opportunity for 1 winner to win a pair of tickets to see the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of Venezuela on Thursday 14 October in the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/music/classical/tickets/teresa-carre%C3%B1o-youth-orchestra-of-venezuela-51368-0 The Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of Venezuela represents the next generation of young musicians arising from "El Sistema" in Venezue...
By Jo Jackson
One of our 2010 winners – Alex Broadbent – has written a ‘Fresher’s Diary’ for the Student Portal, giving us an insight into the world of a Medical Student. Hey everyone, my name is Alex and this is a quick blog of what I got up to in my freshers’ week at the University of Hull. I am a medical student and part of the Hull York Medical School. It is fairly standard practice for the Medsoc (a society full of all the medics!) to organise events o...
By Alex Broadbent (2010 Award Winner)
I found this article on the Guardian website and found it really interesting. http://careers.guardian.co.uk/top-tips-for-trainee-teachers-take-time-to-reflect. Although it is particularly relevant to students hoping to pursue a career as a teacher, I thought the points about reflecting were things we could all take on board. It is easy to get overwhelmed with everything that is going on in our lives, especially as we start university and are i...
By Jo Jackson
For all our recent graduates, here are some tips about making the most of your degree on your C.V, from the Guardian website: http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/making-the-most-of-your-degree-on-your-cv Good luck job hunting! I hope these tips come in useful....
By Jo Jackson
Once I had finished studying I went into a period of shock and aimlessness. I guess on the outside it may have looked like I was chilling out and relaxing after all my hard work but really I felt lost, dazed and confused. This period passed and I started to think about what I wanted to do when I grew up. I knew that my dream job would be in journalism but that the reality of going straight into this profession with no experience was unrealisti...
By Pete Maclaine (Award Winner)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/07/oxbridge-education-state-schools Reading this article in the Guardian got me thinking about what HKF award winners think about applying to Oxbridge. The Foundation is constantly supporting the idea that more and more opportunities should be made available to those from untraditional or disadvantaged backgrounds, however this article suggests that opportunities for such students are availab...
By Jo Jackson
Liverpool Hope University is currently recruiting for the a new diversity-driven part-time Postgraduate Diploma in Radio & Online Journalism which is to launch in January 2011. The course has been specifically designed to encourage students from all backgrounds to apply. Course fees are at their lowest band - £3,320 (£1,660 per year) and there are 7 bursaries worth £1,520 available. The course runs one day per week (apart from some intensiv...
By Jo Jackson
Emma Brown, one of our 2010 award winners, won our first Student Portal competition and treated herself and her boyfriend to a lovely meal at Pizza Express with the £50 voucher she won. Emma told us a little about how her evening went.. On the 8th of august, my boyfriend, Glenn, and I went to Pizza express with the £50 vouchers I received. We enjoyed a wonderful meal in a fantastic atmosphere. I was ecstatic with the choice of Pizza Express, m...
By Jo Jackson
When I first heard the word ‘internship’ being used by my fellow students, I immediately thought about Monica Lewinsky and her internship with Bill Clinton. That thought passed and I wrote off the idea of work experience, it was obviously slave labour and I would never be taken advantage of like that, Lewinski style or otherwise. However, in year two of my degree, an internship module came up that would allow me to work for 90 hours over the s...
By Pete Maclaine (Award Winner)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/aug/19/a-level-results-2010-willetts Were your exams really as easy as they say? August has arrived and yet again all we hear in the news is about the record breaking pass rate; “A-level pass rates rose to another record high of 97.6% today.” How can this be? Are our young people just more intelligent then the yester years? Surely not! Instead of thinking this generation just may be clever and good ...
By Zainab Rashid
The recession (yes that dreaded word again) has dramatically changed the experience for students in higher education and students are being encouraged to make the most of their time in education to gain more than academic skills. A recent blog on the Real World Magazine website (http://www.realworldmagazine.com/page/21295/leap-of-faith) suggests that ‘University is about taking risks, trying new things and taking on responsibilities - not just ab...
By Jo Jackson
Hello! I hope all you are all well. I wish to tell you a little bit about what I did a few weeks back on the 23rd of July 2010. I was invited by the team at HKF to attend the International Festival in Milton Keynes. It was to support a marvelous performance called ‘Against the tide’, I was extra excited too because it was a dance project and I have dance experience from college and university. ‘Against the Tide’ is a collaboration with two co...
By Salvador Ragg (2005 Award Winner)
Congratulations to Emma Brown who won the Pizza Express Competition this month. Emma's winning piece of advice was: "Don’t be afraid to approach other students as they are all in the same situation as you and will need to make friends like you!" We hope Emma enjoys her meal at Pizza Express! ...
By Jo Jackson
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/10355042.stm What does everyone think? Would you still want to go to university if the fees were increased to £7000 per year? What would your maximum price per year be for a degree? Do you think this is going to reduce the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that progress to university? All thoughts and comments welcome in the 'Recent News' topic within the 'General Discussion' area. ...
By Jo Jackson
Win a £50 Pizza Express Voucher! To celebrate the launch of the Student Portal, the Helena Kennedy Foundation is giving all HKF award winners the chance to win a £50 Pizza Express voucher. The winner will be able to dine at any UK based Pizza Express. You can check here http://www.pizzaexpress.com/our-restaurants/ to find out which one is closest to you and have a look at their menus. If you are interested in entering this competition, plea...
By Jo Jackson
We spoke to Peter Edge, the Marketing Manager at Kaplan UK, to find out what it’s like to be involved in the marketing of a large private company - http://www.kaplan.co.uk/ What did you want to be as a child? I never really knew what I wanted to be when I was younger, I went through loads of different ideas; being an engineer, a physiotherapist, and archaeologist... nothing like what I do now! Why did you decide to apply for your current r...
By Peter Edge, Marketing Manager, Kaplan UK
We asked Tom Meade, Investment Director at Royal London Cash Management, about his role within the firm and what advice he would give to others aiming to pursue a similar career. He offers an interesting insight for any award winners thinking about a career within Investment. What did you want to be as a child? I wanted to be either a pilot, mountaineer or historian, but bad eyesight, a fear of heights and not being brainy enough meant I had ...
By Tom Meade, RLCM
We spoke to a Forensic Mental Health Nurse, specialising in CBT about her role and what advice she would give to others interested in this career. She offers some really valuable information and advice to students and graduates aiming to work within a forensic setting. What did you want to be as a child? A nurse! Why did you decide to apply for your current role? I wanted to gain clinical experience within the forensic remit. What is you...
By Emma Cross, Forensic Mental Health Nurse (CBT), OBMH
We spoke to a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, working within a medium secure, forensic setting about their day-to-day work. She also gives some really valuable advice for anyone interested in a career as an Occupational Therapist. What did you want to be as a child? I didn’t really know. As a teenager I knew that I wanted to work in a caring profession – but wasn’t sure which one. Why did you decide to apply for your current ro...
By Elley Livett, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, OBMH
Nigel Green is a Project Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support. We asked him about what his typical day is like and what he likes most about his role. Nigel offers some great advice for any of our award winners who are thinking of pursuing a similar career. What did you want to be as a child? The earliest job I remember wanting to have was to be a plumber like my dad. Why did you decide to apply for your current role? It is a very interest...
By Nigel Green, Project Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support
After leaving college I took a gap year, and by the time it was over I’d changed my mind about the course I wanted to do, and the University I wanted to do it at. I reapplied to a local University, deciding I’d live at home instead of in halls, and I’ve never regretted it. The biggest factor in my decision was undoubtedly financial. Whilst many of my friends fork out thousands of pounds in rent on grotty student housing on top of their ever-i...
By Hannah Lambert
My name is Salvador, I began my time at university in the September of 2005. I had mixed feelings, even though at the age of 16 I left home to go to a residential college. I had a feeling that University was going to be a completely different experience; both tough and rewarding. Up until that point I never really thought about my disability or the obstacles I would face. The first few months proved difficult, much like every first-year student...
By Salvador Ragg (2005 Award Winner)
Facebook and other social networking sites seem to have taken over the world. I am shocked whenever I learn someone hasn’t got a social networking account and wonder how they have been able to resist! I was reading this article in the Times Online and found it really interesting - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7139679.ece. Despite the fact that there are now more ways than ever to connect with people, many of us a...
By Jo Jackson
Paul Magrath is a Diagnostic Radiographer at the Pennine Acute NHS Trust. He is also one of our award winners! We asked Paul what working in his role is like and he has offered some advice to other HKF award winners aiming for a similar career. Any questions about this blog or a career in radiography are welcome in the relevant topic within the ‘General Discussion’ in the Forum. What did you want to be as a child? I had no idea. Why di...
By Paul Magrath (2001 Award Winner)
Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar is a Foundation Year Two Doctor for the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. She also happens to be one of our award winners! We are extremely proud of Shameela’s achievements and she has very kindly offered to tell us a bit about what she does within her role, for any other HKF award winners who are also aspiring to become a doctor. If you have any questions please contact me through the Forum, there will also be a To...
By Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar (2002 Award Winner)
Rachel Crawford-Jones is the Fundraising Officer for Endometriosis UK, which is the leading UK charity that supports women living with endometriosis (http://www.endometriosis-uk.org/). I found out what it was like to work within the world of fundraising and Rachel offered some really valuable advice and information for any award winners looking to pursue a career within a similar field.There will be a Topic set up in the 'Gereral Discussion' ...
By Rachel Crawford-Jones, Fundraising Officer, Endometriosis UK
I went to University in 1972 when 8% of the population went on to post school education (as opposed to now 43%) and I got a student grant (and a summer job!) At this time, the common phrase was "get a degree and the world is your oyster" so I didnt even think about it 'til my final year at which point I took the very safe option of doing a year's teacher training course (I had little intention of teaching since so many of my family were already ...
By Ian King, ex CEO, NUS Services Limited
My Fresher’s experience began with moving into my halls of residence. This was scary enough in itself but meeting my six other flatmates was even scarier, although we did manage to find each other on Facebook before hand, (I would definitely recommend doing this!) The buzz of moving all your belongings into your own place whilst making new friends is just amazing and before you know it the parents are gone and your all alone. This is where the...
By Amie Kavanagh (2009 Award Winner)
A recent article in the Guardian (‘Beat exam pressure..and the examiner, 29th May 2010) recommended some top tips for succeeding in exams: Look after yourself – make sure you eat well and get lots of rest to make sure you are in top condition for your exams. Plan your work – Work out when you concentrate best and stick to a consistent pattern of study. Know your examiner – unlike A Levels and g.c.s.es, at university your exam questions wil...
By Jo Jackson
I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by some students for their assessed work. They didn’t want to just know what I did all day by asking me some probing questions, they wanted to video it and take pictures too- very nerve wracking but I think I did ok. Just to give you a flavour of the questions they asked and my answers here is a sample: How do you keep focussed on your work and meet deadlines? What I thought was I have a cloc...
By Maxine Room, Principal, Lewisham College
I was referred to Kaplan Financial from The Helena Kennedy Foundation to continue my accountant studies from AAT Technician level. I was pretty nervous about starting at a new college and meeting new teachers and students, but Kaplan was really refreshing to attend after going to mainstream colleges like Chaffron Way. The atmosphere is both professional and friendly, and the tutors seem to go the extra mile to make you feel welcome and included i...
By Sara King (ACCA Winner)
I was taught at home between the ages of twelve and sixteen. There was no single reason for me turning to home education however; a number of factors such as bullying at my old school and my learning style made it an ideal option. I'd like to talk a bit about my experience of it; hopefully this will go a small way in challenging the many stereotypes currently surrounding this form of education. The method of teaching and learning varies greatl...
By Natalie Lealand (2009 Award Winner)
We all know that times have been hard for the British economy recently – it’s a fact we are all very aware of. But it’s the impact the recession has had on students and graduates (and particularly HKF award winners) I want to talk about in this blog. The Helena Kennedy Foundation has supported over 600 students; this number will rise shortly, when our 2010 winners progress to higher education. Many of those students have successfully navigated...
By Jo Jackson
It was interesting to read one of the recent ‘Big Questions’ from The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/the-big-question-is-britains-international-ranking-in-higher-education-likely-to-fall-1923665.html) raising the question of whether, following the recent cut to university budgets, the reputation of British higher education will suffer. The government has recently reduced the budget available to some higher education i...
By Jo Jackson
It was interesting to read the latest ‘Big Question’ featured in the Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/big-question/the-big-question-should-12-rather-than-10-be-the-age-of-criminal-responsibility-1921857.html) raising the debate of whether the age of criminal responsibility should be raised from 10 to 12. Following the recent re-call of Jon Venables (who was convicted for the murder of James Bulger , aged 2 years, in Merseyside in ...
By Jo Jackson
Making the decision to study for a Masters was not an easy one. I had to think about my finances, what the benefits of studying would be and what my subject interests were. Taking into account my personal background, the various work experiences I had been involved with and my desire to specialise in human rights, I decided to study towards the LLM in Human Rights, Justice and Conflict at the School of Oriental and African Studies. However, b...
By Violar Akello (2006 Award Winner and LPC Winner)
Higher education or ‘doing a degree’, I thought was a struggle, but that said I am now the proud owner of two: BA Sociology & MSc Sociological Research. Why was it a struggle? I think money was the biggest barrier for me. I worked during holiday and term time, throughout the three years of my BA right up to the point of sitting my finals. It took me two years to save the money to pay the tuition fees for my MSc and I completed it on a part time b...
By Rebecca Murray - Article 26
It is 2010, a brand new year, full of possibilities, opportunities and challenges; whatever happens this is going to be a great year. Time to say goodbye to the past, live in the present and face the future head on. “Always do what you are afraid to do.” That’s what Emerson once said. He also said, “he who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” Everyone has some fears; in fact fear is a healthy emotion, it...
By Arlené Lewis (2001 Award Winner)
