Successful careers
Elizabeth Christian
Yvonne Brissett
Mark Field
Trudy Ing
Dr Stuart Prior
Linda White
Albert Phipps
Ian Webber
Gabrielle Holmes
Dr Erik Johansson Cox
Nneka Akudolu
Susan Nelson
Scott Ellis
Sue Long
Current degree students
Sarah Kate Bennett
Laurie Pycroft
Alexander Walker
Chris Healey
Belinda Robinson
Mark Williams
Laura Lacey
Nicola Power
Current Access to HE students
Laura Lacey
2009: Access to HE, Liverpool Community
College
2010: First year student, LLB Law, University
of Liverpool
As a child I was into everything, particularly music and drama, but from the age of 11 I became very ill and this resulted in me missing out on my secondary education. When I was 17 I was referred to a specialist at the Liverpool Royal Hospital and five years later, after successfully undergoing a pioneering treatment for ME, my doctors told me I was well enough to start work.
Throughout my illness I’d managed to play piano and so I started teaching this part-time. Then, even though I had no formal qualifications, I gained a job working for a national bank. I was offered a promotion within eight months, but realised that I wasn’t satisfied in the job.
At first I didn’t think it would be possible for me to go to college or university. I felt that that chance had passed me by, and it was just another thing I had missed out on. However when I heard about the Access to HE course, I bit the bullet and applied, and was amazed to be accepted.
While working at the bank I had decided I wanted to study law and I chose modules in Criminal Justice, English Law and European History. I was extremely lucky at college as my Access to HE tutors were inspirational and helped me to learn effectively and successfully deal with the workload.
I’ve now completed my first year at university and the skills and confidence that the Access to HE course gave me are still spurring me on. I can say without doubt that the Access to HE course has changed and improved my life. Things I used to dream about doing are actually accessible now. I’ve still got another five years left until I’m a qualified lawyer, but that’s going to fly by if the last two years are anything to go by!