Three former City of Westminster College students were presented with Helena Kennedy Foundation awards at a House of Lords ceremony recently, in recognition of their achievements in reaching higher education.

 

The Helena Kennedy Foundation supports students at FE colleges and in adult education who face serious disadvantage, providing them with bursaries and practical support to enable their ongoing success in higher education.

 

This support is particularly welcome at the current time because of the increase in HE fees charged to students from the next academic year. Every year City of Westminster College works to assist disadvantaged students, putting them forward for scholarships and bursaries that could assist them in reaching their learning goals.

 

This year's three deserving Helena Kennedy Foundation award winners were Oluwaseun Ariyibi, Naomi Inniss and Helen Olufowobi. Helen Olufowobi, 18, who lives in Greenwich, studied English Language, Business Studies and Sociology A-levels at City of Westminster College's Maida Vale Centre. She recently began a journalism degree at London College of Communication, a member college of University of the Arts London.

 

Helen has received a £1,500 bursary to assist with her living costs and she has access to a network that offers mentoring, work shadowing and work experience to assist her with her studies and her future career. She hopes to build a career in journalism and already has her own blog (mymindsi.wordpress.com).

 

Helen says: 'I have come out of foster care and that meant moving home, so this bursary has helped me with living as well as travel costs. I haven't accessed any of the other support yet, but I'm always receiving emails and there is a very strong network offering guidance and opportunities. 'The House of Lords ceremony was a great event - and not awkward at all because everyone was really friendly.

 

And Helena Kennedy is a wonderful person. She's very hands-on and every one of us was spoken to individually.'

 

President of the Foundation Baroness Helena Kennedy QC says: 'I am delighted to have presented Helen Olufowobi with one of our awards in recognition of her huge achievements in reaching university against the odds. Each student who receives an award has been selected because they are special and have shown real talent and determination.'

 

Helena Kennedy Foundation Chief Executive Wes Streeting adds: 'We look forward to working with Helen Olufowobi to help her get the most out of studying at university.'