Leeds Trinity University offers a wide range of courses, with outstanding student support

Every graduation ceremony at Leeds Trinity celebrates the successes of the students themselves, and honours the friends, family, loved ones and tutors who supported them along the way.

As a university which prides itself on knowing each student and delivering for them personally, it has hosted a series of winter graduation ceremonies this month.

Now, two students have shared their empowering stories to show that whatever life offers, the support team can help you achieve your dream.

Personal challenges didn’t deter this mature student

A mature student and father-of-two, Mohamed Shihub (36), has graduated with a Professional Practice degree in Business-to-Business Sales having overcome personal challenges relating to his hearing impairment.

He already had two degrees from Coventry University before applying for the Leeds Trinity course offered to him by his then employer.

It was a busy time to be studying – he worked full time, his wife was a key worker throughout the pandemic, and they had two newborns at home. On top of that, Mohamed has 70 per cent hearing loss, and can only hear certain frequencies of sound.

Despite juggling multiple responsibilities and struggling with elements of his studying due to his hearing impairment, Mohamed persevered to complete his course with the help of his lecturers, including his personal tutor and Senior Work-Based Learning Tutor, Kirsty Beckett.

Using the knowledge he has gained, he now plans to one day start his own business in the energy sector, with a particular focus on inclusivity for those with hearing loss.

Mohamed said: “Leeds Trinity University offered me support on every level whenever I needed it, to ensure my work was completed. Due to my disability, my circumstances meant it was hard to balance my family, work and University, but Leeds Trinity was more focused on me succeeding than just attending for the sake of it.

“I am now able to see things differently, and I wasn't aware of my capabilities until I was progressing through the course. The course has given me insights on how to create businesses and how they function, as well as growing a business.”

Kirsty Beckett, Senior Work-Based Learning Tutor at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Mohamed came to the UK as a young child unable to speak the English language. As a result of this he faced challenges throughout his early stages of education but worked hard and progressed into a career within the sales industry.

“Whilst completing the Business-to-Business Sales Degree Apprenticeship, Mohamed worked for a large energy provider in the UK. Through this time, Mohamed regularly became one of the top salespeople in his team despite challenging market conditions, balancing his degree apprenticeship and of course the challenges that COVID-19 brought.”

Mohamed now works at Allego, a charging point operator providing fully-funded, ultra-fast electric vehicle charging hubs in UK and Ireland.

Find out more about Apprenticeships here.

“I really felt they cared”: How Leeds Trinity helped when tragedy struck

Leeds Trinity student Paige Walshe has graduated with a Masters in Applied Custodial Leadership, despite at one point fearing she would have to abandon her course.

Originally from Croydon, 29-year-old Paige was amongst the first cohort of students on the Unlocked Graduates programme at Leeds Trinity University, a national leadership scheme that involves a combination of classroom-based learning, as well as practical frontline work on the landings as Prison Officers.

Paige dealt with personal loss and grief during her studies as her dad died last year, just three years after her mum passed away. During this period she was working full time, commuting long distances, working on her masters and arranging her dad’s funeral.

She was supported throughout her time at Leeds Trinity University by Dr Danielle McDermott, Head of Prisons and Custody, Associate Professor Claire Vilarrubi, and Jacky Taylor, Administrator in Assessments and Ceremonies, who she credits with encouraging her to carry on.

She has graduated with distinction and now works full-time in the Programme Interventions department at a Category C prison, working to reduce re-offending.

Paige said: “I owe so much to Danielle, Claire and Jacky, they have helped change my life. I now have a Masters degree and no one can take that away from me. They were kind all the way through and never lost faith in me and would always reply, sometimes late at night! I don't have a bad word to say about Leeds Trinity University. I really felt they cared and because of them, I wanted to finish.

“I never intended to work in prisons, but this programme has opened so many doors. I am working in a department that works to reduce re-offending and feels really meaningful. I have proven to myself that I have the intelligence and determination to succeed and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.

“Getting a Masters has increased my confidence so much, especially achieving a Distinction despite everything that happened. I really can't believe I did it. I think it will act as a reminder for my future self that I am strong enough, which will help to stop any feelings of self-doubt.”

Associate Professor Claire Vilarrubi, Senior Lecturer in the School of Criminology, Investigation and Policing at Leeds Trinity University, said: “It’s been an absolute honour to support Paige for the past two years. She is passionate and reflective, determined to lead innovation and change within the Criminal Justice System. She fully deserves her success and I’m excited to see what the future holds for her.”

Unlocked has worked in partnership with Leeds Trinity since 2020. Since it was launched, over 10,000 applications have been submitted with over 600 participants placed in prisons across the UK in the last five years.

The principle at the heart of the Unlocked programme is a belief that the way to change prisons and break cycles of reoffending is through developing exceptional prison officers. The prison officer is the only professional who can build a relationship with every single prisoner – including the most vulnerable and challenging. They set the culture on the landings and have the power to create a safe and secure environment focused on rehabilitation.

Find out more about Leeds Trinity online.