Personal statement

Widening Access Outreach I have been part of the Widening Access team at Strathclyde since 2012. After having worked as a Mentor on S2-4 events and latterly as a Project Manager, I joined the team full-time as a Widening Access Outreach Officer in 2019. My responsibilities include design and delivery of the S4 element of our FOCUS West programme, Study Skills events and the Strathclyde Summer Experience for care-experienced young people. I am option lead for various strands of the MDP3 Social Responsibility module and am involved with the recruitment and development of mentoring staff. During lockdown I worked on the transition to digital outreach events and have co-delivered training at national conference based on this experience. My Background Having worked with children and young people in a community setting from a young age, I developed a keen enthusiasm for the creation and provision of educational workshops. After completing postgraduate studies in both research and performance, I worked as a freelancer in the arts for a number of years. My interests included collaborative practice, the role of creative play in breaking down stereotypes, and promoting the accessibility of Shakespeare. I have designed and delivered sessions for organisations such as Fife Council, Fife College (formerly Carnegie College), Oaknote Theatre, Capall Dorcha and the Edinburgh International Festival, as well as running a company specialising in educational ghost tours for English-language students in Edinburgh’s Old Town.