How the Westminster community is supporting students in the new digital era
With our new virtual UK programme, WWC is inspiring more students than ever before
Education on the inside Westminster pioneers a new scheme to make higher education more accessible to prisoners
Welcome to Impact, the magazine for our valued donors and volunteers who are supporting our students and the University of Westminster.
Whilst the past few months have been anything but predictable, one thing has remained constant: your support. Your generosity and compassion have enabled us to help some of our most vulnerable students during the last year.
As digital learning took hold, so too did digital poverty, where it was clear that not everyone had the luxury of accessing multiple devices or reliable broadband to manage their work and studies effectively. Your kindness helped our students to stay connected through providing emergency laptops and living expenses to those who found themselves in sudden unexpected financial difficulty as a result of the pandemic.
The employment landscape can be a complex and confusing place even at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic. This year, a record number of you signed up to be a mentor, helping over 900 students to understand their career options. We have been lucky to have had so many of you join us as guest speakers too. Through our Westminster Working Cultures programme and awardwinning What it Takes alumni speaker
series, you have shared your expertise and advice on the topics which matter most to our students.
At the heart of the University’s ethos is a commitment to providing education and access for all. This is perfectly captured through our prison partnerships schemes which see Westminster students team up with prisoners on a range of learning initiatives to support their entry into higher education after incarceration. We also shine a light on the Students’ Union Elite Athlete Programme, through which Santander are providing our talented student athletes from underrepresented backgrounds with the resources they need to be the very best.
Finally, we are delighted to bring you the latest on 29 Marylebone Road, which is set to become a leading centre for enterprise and business innovation for our students and local community, and, importantly, a place where we can welcome you, our supporters, through all of your collaborations with us.
As we prepare our students for their future, we know you’ll be behind us. For that we are hugely grateful. Thank you.
Laura Hughes Head of Alumni Relations Jordan Scammell Head of Development and FundraisingTo donate a gift to the University of Westminster, please visit: westminster.ac.uk/support-us
Editor Jenny Stubberfield Contributors Julia Ross, Laura Hughes and Jordan Scammell
Development and Alumni Relations University of Westminster 32-38 Wells St, London W1T 3UW
T: +44 (0)20 3506 6245
E: development@westminster.ac.uk
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Registered office: 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW
Thank you to all colleagues, students and supporters who have contributed to this issue.
Photography: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Overcoming digital poverty
Thanks to your support, our students have received the funding and equipment needed to continue with their studies throughout the pandemic
Education on the inside Our Prison University Partnerships scheme plans to reduce reoffending rates by offering more education opportunities to prisoners 10
Rave reviews of the new Westminster Working Cultures UK programme from three of our student ambassadors
Destination 29MR
29 Marylebone Road will contribute to London’s recovery by offering skills training and support to local businesses
Alumna Anastasia Vinnikova on her experience of taking part in the alumni speaker event What it Takes to Manage your Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Student Enterprise Centre’s new Pioneers Programme is encouraging more diversity in enterprise
In partnership with our Students’ Union, Santander is providing support for Westminster’s most promising athletes
A fundraising campaign has been launched to enable a full refurbishment of the Soho Poly Theatre, restoring it to its former glory 22
Fulfilling the wishes of the late Dr Maud Tyler, her family have set up a care leavers scholarship in her memory
What it takes to manage your mental health
RAISED FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND DURING ANNUAL TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN
Amidst chaos and tragedy, one of COVID-19’s lasting legacies may have been launching the world into a new, digital era. Within weeks of the start of the pandemic, Westminster had moved completely online, creating a digital ‘twin’ of itself. Meanwhile, our supporter community sprang into action to keep our students connected.
This digital revolution comes at a time when a sizable chunk of the world’s population is not online at all, even in advanced economies. While the costs to universities may be easy to quantify, the toll that switching to online learning has taken on students is harder to absorb – particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Enter the new phenomenon of digital poverty.
A survey by the National Union of Students in September last year, found that over a quarter of all students were unable to access online learning during the pandemic. Furthermore, it was students from poorer backgrounds, disabled students and students with carer obligations who were most affected.
How can you study online if you don’t have a computer? Or a decent broadband connection? Or, due to the pandemic, you can no longer afford your rent, let alone your broadband? With some incredible generosity from our students and alumni, Westminster has worked hard to support some of our most vulnerable students at this difficult time, with a series of initiatives.
Santander Universities ‘Stay Connected’ Scheme
At the start of this pandemic, many UK students did not even own a laptop – now their entire education depends upon it.
“You’d think many students would be able to afford a laptop because we get a student loan,” says Joelraj Soundrapandian, who is currently completing his MSc in Biomedical Science at Westminster. “But a laptop can cost anything from about £200 or above. You don’t need to get a topof-the-line laptop, obviously, but even £200 – it’s rent for some people.”
In April last year, Santander gifted £30,000 to provide laptops to students who did not own one. Santander extended the scheme in May, providing a further £25,000, due to its initial success and students’ continuing need.
Getting hold of a laptop is just one hurdle students are facing at this time. Many have lost their jobs or were furloughed during the first lockdown (a large percentage of students work in retail and hospitality – two of the
sectors hardest hit by the pandemic). Overseas students have been stranded in London due to travel restrictions or have even taken the difficult decision to leave London permanently.
With all donations matched by the Quintin Hogg Trust (QHT), our incredible student callers, and big-hearted alumni, helped raise over £100,000 for three separate schemes last year:
• Stay On Track Scheme provides immediate support to students struggling to cover everyday living costs such as food, rent or medical fees, with grants of £750 or £300 available.
• Living Expenses Support Scheme provides means-tested grants from £100 to £3,000 to home students facing longer-term financial issues.
• Stay Sheltered Scheme provides means-tested accommodation bursaries of up to £1,100 – a lifeline for many overseas students who unexpectedly found themselves paying London rent last summer.
A volunteer for the COVID-19 Response Fund telephone campaign, Joelraj himself lost his part-time job during the
pandemic’s first wave, while he was completing his undergraduate degree at Westminster. Joelraj considers himself one of the lucky ones, however, as he lives at home, has savings and was able to find another job quickly. Seeing first-hand the problems other students were facing inspired him to volunteer for the campaign.
“When loads of people are trapped in a foreign country, when you don’t have the money, when you don’t have the facilities, it becomes a lot more difficult,” he says. “I just think to myself, I’m really lucky to be at home with my parents, I’m really lucky
to be a home student and I’m really lucky to have had some savings to get me through this, but many people don’t. So that’s what really made me go for it.”
The response from the donors he spoke to has restored his faith in humanity, Joelraj says. Many of Westminster’s alumni were (and still are) facing their own financial struggles as a result of the pandemic, but still wanted to help.
“One man I spoke to was like ‘I can’t let you go off the phone without donating, I’ll feel really bad if I don’t donate’,” he recalls.
Other alumni who couldn’t afford to donate money were quick to offer their time and expertise. One alumna, Joelraj recalls, offered to come in and speak to students about her work as a biomedical scientist instead. This, in itself, offers huge value to students who, like him, hope to pursue a similar career path, Joelraj explains.
“People were really open to doing all sorts of stuff,” Joelraj adds. “It’s really weird thinking about it actually, because my initial view is if someone cold-called me asking for money, I’d be like… ‘Errr… you want some money…?’ But many people, whether it be a few pounds… many people were just quite willing to give what they could.”
A recipient of the Stay Sheltered Scheme, Saudamini Sigdel, a final-year International Relations and Development BA student, was furloughed from her job in retail during the first 2020 peak. She then found herself unable to return to Nepal for the summer.
“This was when international travel was completely shut down,” she says.
“So, my country didn’t even have flights going in. It only had a few chartered flights once in a while and those were super expensive as well. As a student, you’re supposed to have money saved up – they say three months’ rent, that kind of thing – but it’s really hard to do.” The Scheme’s support, she says, was a lifeline at a time when she was “quite desperate”.
One particular problem faced by international students is they are not entitled to student loans. Obtaining other types of loan is difficult for all students, who often have no credit
A SURVEY BY THE NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS, IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, FOUND THAT OVER A QUARTER OF ALL STUDENTS WERE UNABLE TO ACCESS ONLINE LEARNING DURING THE PANDEMIC
history; having recently entered the country (in order to study) only exacerbates the problem.
Without the Stay Sheltered Scheme, she would have built up a lot of debt, Saudamini says. She may, eventually, have had to go home to complete her degree, as a number of overseas students she knows have done. While this may seem OK, while everyone is working remotely anyway, it effectively means studying in a different time zone, with all lectures and supervisions taking place while you (or should have been!) sleeping. There are other disadvantages too. Like many of Westminster’s overseas students, Saudamini hopes to build a career in London after she graduates.
“If you plan to work in London and you’re not in London while you’re studying then it’s very hard to do that,” she says. “If I’d been back home in Nepal, I wouldn’t have been able to do that, just because of legal obligations.”
Hearing so many stories from alumni he spoke to about students being laid off from where they worked, really opened Joelraj’s eyes to the scale of the problem, he says.
“I only realised doing the calls that students had been much worse affected than I’d initially thought,” he says. “It caught my attention and, if anything, it reinforced the importance of the campaign for me.”
As a biomedical scientist, the pandemic has also shown him, once again, the crucial importance of his studies. (Joelraj was actually studying vaccines during the first lockdown!)
As someone else about to graduate into the capital’s current job market, Saudamini has no illusions about what lies ahead, but she feels optimistic about the future.
“This journey, overall, I think has helped me build up a lot of transferrable skills that I’m now starting to realise I need, graduating in this climate, because it’s going to be super competitive,” she says. “I know there has been a record high rate of unemployment, so it is a challenge graduating now, but I think the University has equipped me properly to take it on – so I’m excited.”
Despite the progress that has been made over the past year, students will be facing significant challenges, connected to the pandemic, for
the foreseeable future. While these challenges exist, Westminster will keep doing whatever it takes to provide our students with all the support they need.
Thanks to your selfless support and generous donations, our students have been able to persevere with their studies through the most challenging year. Scan the QR code for a message from our COVID-19 Response Fund recipients:
The University is piloting a new Prison Partnership scheme, which aims to encourage more higher education in prisons, ultimately reducing reoffending rates.
In the UK, around 50 per cent of the population will have a degree or attend university by the age of 30. This compares to just two per cent of the 80,000 people serving a sentence in prison.
Meanwhile, research shows that students who have gained higher level qualifications in prison are less likely to reoffend, suggesting that access to higher education (HE) has a positive and measurable influence on social reform.
The University of Westminster has an ‘inclusive admissions’ policy. Believing that access to education is integral to social mobility, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including former prisoners. We have also established four successful and growing partnerships with prisons, which bring Westminster students and inmate students together in a range of learning initiatives.
Through these partnerships, Westminster has established itself as a leader in the field of prisoner education, but there is more that can be done.
Despite our efforts and those of other universities to encourage HE in prisons,
the uptake of the courses remains relatively low, with a reported three fifths of people leaving prison without identified employment, education or a training outcome. Of the prisoners who do undertake study, only a small proportion continue with their studies post-release.
This is due to a distinct lack of options to challenge attitudes about education in prisons, with most of the training focused on gaining employment in low-skilled, minimum wage jobs.
For those who are capable of higher achievements, there is little variety in the courses available, meaning prison students are often shoehorned into a subject that does not interest them. As a result, they are less engaged with their studies and less likely to continue the course once released from prison, or pursue a career in that field.
On top of this, there are practical restrictions to studying in prison, including limited resources, study materials and digital access.
All of these barriers dissuade prisoners from gaining worthy qualifications. Far fewer prisoners than possible are taking up the chance to rehabilitate themselves through education, despite the opportunity to do so being beneficial to them while in prison, as well as on the outside.
“Studying for a degree instantly focuses the mind. It gives a purpose to the ‘dead time’ which is now defined as ‘study time’,” explains Dan, a former prisoner who is currently completing his PhD at Westminster. “As a result, previous instances of negative behaviour during this idle time cease and this is both observed and mirrored by others on the wing.
DESPITE OUR EFFORTS AND THOSE OF OTHER UNIVERSITIES TO ENCOURAGE HE IN PRISONS, THE UPTAKE OF THE COURSES REMAINS RELATIVELY LOW
“Similarly, the attitude of staff changes. Students who choose to spend their association time focusing on their studies are seen as role models, which is both settling and reassuring to others. When staff witness this change in demeanour, they tend to engage more positively with the men or women and frequently this leads to the offer of new roles of responsibility. For students, this new mindset of experiencing positive treatment from both officers and peers is liberating. Often it is Black students who feel the biggest shift in attitude. As things become more positive over time (and a part-time degree takes six years to complete), students start to believe that things really can be different when they are released. They make a personal commitment to recidivism changes and show a determination to secure employment relevant to their qualifications. They start to feel
responsible for others and want to impart this success by persuading others to take the same path.”
The scheme to break the cycle Dan is now the Co-Director of DWRM Consultants, an organisation dedicated to providing support to prisoners disadvantaged by a lack of HE provisions. DWRM have partnered with Westminster to run the Prison University Partnerships scheme, which aims to broaden the options, support and access to HE in prisons.
This pilot scheme, led by Dr Morwenna Bennallick, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Social Sciences at Westminster, will begin by offering a Foundation module to ten students in each of three prisons (benefiting 30 in total). Those who successfully complete the module will be offered entry to a Foundation degree course
at Westminster, with the hope that many will then progress to a full undergraduate degree. Once released from prison, these students will be welcomed to continue and complete their studies at Westminster, and will be given a mentor to support them throughout the process, encouraging them to continue studying.
Following the success of the pilot, the scheme will then branch out to offer a wider variety of courses to students in prison, setting a precedent for other universities to do the same.
Until recently, Westminster didn’t have the infrastructure to offer most of its courses to students in prison. But due the digital acceleration triggered by COVID-19, nearly all of our courses can be accessed and attended online – removing the need for students to physically attend lectures on campus.
The Prison University Partnerships scheme is leveraging this development to give more opportunities to prisoners with high employment aspirations. With a wider variety of courses and more support in place, a larger percentage of inmate students can be expected to complete their studies, gain employment and break free from the cycle of crime.
Furthermore, in the long term, with the qualifications achieved and their personal experience of the criminal justice system, former prisoners will be best placed to advise on prison reform and policy change, contributing to a safer, more equal and inclusive society.
Thanks to generous donations from the Golden Bottle Trust and the Facet Trust, £10,000 has already been raised for the project.
If you would like to support prison reform by donating to the project, or would like to find out more about the Prison University Partnerships scheme, please get in touch with the Development Team: development@westminster.ac.uk
SPEAKERS VOLUNTEERED WITH WWC UK IN 2020/21
OF STUDENTS ON THE PROGRAMME WERE FROM AN UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUND
STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN PART IN WWC UK SO FAR IN 2020/21
International travel may have been put on hold in 2020, but thanks to support from our alumni community and the launch of a new programme, Westminster Working Cultures is now bigger, more diverse and supporting
But I had so many chances to speak to other people over the week – it was kind of like we built a community. So it really helped me learn how to communicate and build my confidence, and the chance to meet new people was great – especially in a year when it was otherwise impossible to do that.
“I also learnt not to be afraid to fail. Some of the speakers went from Westminster straight into their chosen career, but others took very different routes. So I learnt that everyone has a journey that starts from somewhere and that I have time to get to where I want to go – I found this so reassuring.”
As well as hearing about the personal and professional journeys of our alumni and developing soft skills through taking part in WWC, students on the programme are also taught practical tips to enhance their careers prospects.
“One of the key things I learnt was how to brand myself and use LinkedIn properly,” says Mohamed (Business Management BA, 2022). “I didn’t understand that this platform is a professional CV that you can use to network with people. I’ve since become an advocate of LinkedIn and
2 — 4pm
Chat’ with Dan Figueiredo, (Cognitive Science BSc, 2000), Senior Partner CTO at Microsoft
“I don’t see myself working in one industry for the rest of my life, so it was really good to hear from people in different sectors,” says Samiya, who is in her final year of an Accounting degree, and is also interested in having her own creative business.
She says she found one talk by Lorenzo Evans (Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance at Washington Performing Arts in Washington, D.C), particularly inspiring.
ambassadors for the programme. “You just can’t keep something this good to yourself!” says Mohamed. “So in our role as ambassadors, we raise awareness and try and encourage the next set of students to take part.”
really used it to my full advantage. I’ve also reached out to the speakers through LinkedIn – they’ve been really helpful and are always very happy to give advice.
“If you’d asked me what I wanted to do before the programme, I would have said business, with the hope of one day becoming my own business owner. But now I’m much more openminded to different industries and different possibilities.
“Because some of the speakers are alumni, it really gives you the belief that you can go on to succeed in whatever field you choose. These people have been in our shoes, so if they can do it and be successful, so can we.”
Over the course of the week, thanks to the incredible breadth of professions that our successful Westminster alumni work in, students heard from speakers from a range of different industries; ensuring there were talks applicable to each of them.
“He works in finance and began in the creative industry,” she explains. “Like him, I feel I have both creative and systematic skills – so this was really relatable. His motto was ‘walk with people and not ahead of them’, which was such a humbling thing to say. It really touched me, and made me value all the supportive people I have around me.
“When I’ve spoken to professionals before, I haven’t felt comfortable asking about their personal lives. But the speakers were really open about their personal development, which helped make their accomplishments seem achievable for us.”
Having gained so much from WWC, Bibi, Mohamed and Samiya are now
“I especially try to promote the programme to students on my course,” adds Bibi. “As Biomed students, they don’t see how it could really benefit them. So I help spread the word that it really develops you as a person. I’m so grateful that I had this opportunity – I believe that if I hadn’t taken part in the programme and become an ambassador, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
Samiya agrees. “This is the best opportunity any undergraduate can get,” she says. “It opens so many doors. If you want to stand out, build on your skills and meet new people, there is no better way.”
The Westminster Working Cultures programme is ever-expanding, and we are always keen to welcome new speakers on board. If you could inspire our students with a talk about your career journey, we would love to hear from you! Get in touch with the team: workingcultures@westminster.ac.uk
Opening in 2023, our new building at 29 Marylebone Road is set to become a leading centre for enterprise and innovation.
When 29 Marylebone Road (29MR) was first planned, few could have imagined what London would look like two years from its completion. A centre for enterprise and innovation, the project was designed to be a place not only for students, but for the wider local community. Here, in 2021, as we try to look beyond COVID-19, 29MR’s unique focus on inclusion and innovation has never been more relevant or more urgent.
London has always been a city of invention. As COVID-19 forces businesses to stop and refocus, responding to a digital revolution and new uncharted territory, this innovative spirit is needed more than ever.
Based at 29MR, the Student Enterprise Centre will become the perfect space for nurturing enterprise talent, as students, graduates and businesses will join in the building to create innovative and exciting collaborations. Budding entrepreneurs will have a dedicated area for forming new start-ups and will be able to benefit from access to innovators
and entrepreneurs in residence. Through a blend of in-person and digital working, 29MR will be a hive of activity, welcoming businesses across all kinds of industries to collaborate with our academics, students and graduates.
Within 29MR, a practitioner-staffed centre will be on hand to provide one-stop advice on the many aspects of creating and running a business – from intellectual property and trademarks, to data protection, health and safety. Meanwhile, specialist labs will train our students in the latest digital techniques and support with the production of all-important business prototypes.
The arrival of 29MR will further embed enterprise skills into our students’ courses, empowering students across all disciplines to develop ideas for innovative new businesses.
The pandemic has had a monumental impact on the way many businesses operate. For better or for worse, organisations have had to adapt hugely. Online services have been set up where none existed before, while virtual interactions have become the norm and the need to be digitally connected has never been so apparent. Meanwhile COVID-19 has accelerated the trend of home working and much speculation remains over what might be the ‘new normal’ for our working lives in years to come. Whatever the future brings, 29MR will be ready for any eventuality.
As a forum for work and collaboration, 29MR will be ‘digitally always on’. Students, businesses, researchers, and members of the community will always be guaranteed connectivity, equipping them for a
world where remote working and digital interfacing are a staple of everyday working life.
Based in the heart of London, 29MR will be a place where students, alumni and our local community can gain the skills they need to compete in this new digital world, through a series of innovative courses. Amidst the building’s distinctive and iconic design, will be
specialist equipment and technology, that is currently inaccessible to so many.
Championing social inclusion and diversity
COVID-19 has both highlighted and exacerbated Britain’s deep-rooted social and economic inequalities. It is these inequalities which have led to the skills shortage, as well as working
poverty and poor health which have made this pandemic most damaging to Londoners from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds.
In response to these problems, Sadiq Khan’s 2021 Designing London’s Recovery initiative has called on the capital’s businesses, public bodies, educators, and charities to help design a fairer and more sustainable London supporting vulnerable Londoners, and those hit hardest by COVID-19.
From its inception, the University of Westminster’s central mission has been to educate London; all of London. Today we continue to build on this reputation, helping students from a variety of backgrounds to realise their full potential. Over half of our current students come from within London. Almost 60 per cent are from Black and minority backgrounds; more than a third are from areas ranked as deprived in the UK; and
BASED IN THE HEART OF LONDON, 29MR WILL BE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY CAN GAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO COMPETE IN THIS NEW DIGITAL WORLD
nearly half are the first students in their families to go to university.
29MR will help take this mission to the next level, creating an inclusive and accessible learning environment for students, alumni, and the wider community. It will act as a base for the community to access our short courses and rapidly increasing apprenticeship portfolio, and will expand upon existing student enterprise projects, focused on widening opportunities and inclusion.
The building will act as an engagement hub for our hugely successful Westminster Working Cultures (WWC) programme, which provides a unique global employability experience for students from disadvantaged and
underrepresented groups. Meanwhile, our award-winning Mentoring Scheme will welcome hundreds of alumni, industry and business partners to 29MR, to mentor our students as they carve out their career ambitions.
Importantly, 29MR will be a space for us to welcome you, our alumni and
supporters. A range of activities will take place at 29MR to support you and your business. From providing professional short courses through to specialist business services, and from offering hot-desking space through to recording and studio facilities, 29MR will become a space for you to develop your own professional ambitions and business needs. And for those of you who are already mentoring or providing expertise to our students, we look forward to welcoming you into 29MR as you meet the students you are helping.
For our wider business community, the building will create a dedicated exhibition space for local events and programmes, a serviced workspace for employers to meet and interview students, and a space where organisations can collaborate with our students and make use of the diverse talent pool they represent.
With completion anticipated in 2023, 29MR will offer invaluable resources to Westminster students, alumni, and organisations across London during this transitional moment.
“Our vision is to transform this ten-storey building into our most inclusive centre for collaborative innovation,” Vice-Chancellor and President Peter Bonfield says. “We want to bring together students from across every academic discipline to experience the opportunities of new enterprise whilst nurturing a wider community of aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses.”
Funding will be sought for the programme of activities that will be running in the space, including inclusive scholarships, a central enterprise fund and much more. Please email Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising: j.scammell@westminster.ac.uk to find out how you can help.
What
Mental health is a very human concept. We all have a mental health, just like we all have a physical health,” explains alumna Anastasia Vinnikova (Human Resources Management BA, 2014). “Even if you never have a diagnosed mental illness, you’re likely to go through periods of stress, low mood, or overwhelm which is a dip in your mental health – mental health is very much a spectrum.”
As Wellbeing Lead at the Bank of England, Co-Chair of Thriving from the Start (an early careers mental health network) and founder of Winning Minds (a mental health website for sportspeople), Anastasia is an expert in wellbeing and a passionate advocate for decreasing the stigma around mental health in the workplace.
Along with a panel of three other speakers, she joined us for one of the ten What it Takes events which took place this academic year. The purpose of this event was to offer practical tips and guidance for students on how to manage their mental health, especially as they embark on their careers.
“It may seem cliché, but I wanted to let the students know that it’s OK not be OK,” says Anastasia. “There is a lot of pressure for us all, but especially for young people to feel ‘successful’, in particular with regard to their academic
through those very normal bumps in the road. So the more we can reassure ourselves and others that going through low periods and finding those processes difficult is normal, the less alone we start to feel, and the
life and subsequently their transition into the workplace.
“The reality of life though, is that there are many disappointments and rejections along the way, and when you look around you and everyone is putting on a brave face, it can be easy to feel you’re the only one going
more constructive conversations we can start to have about emotional and psychological wellbeing.”
As a former competitive figure skater who has sustained some difficult injuries, Anastasia’s experience of juggling academia alongside a sporting career has shaped her
appreciation for resilience. She began working in wellbeing following her own personal experiences with mental health.
“I’ve had an anxiety disorder and depression for about a decade now, and the first six or so years of that were very much shrouded in secrecy,” she says. “I didn’t really feel comfortable sharing my experiences or being open about what I was going through, because I really didn’t think it was OK to do so. It took me a long time to seek support and treatment, and even when I did, I was doing therapy in secret and hiding where I was spending my time which was just exhausting.
“When I started working at the Bank I felt a huge change. The organisational culture was so open and welcoming I very quickly started to feel empowered to talk about my mental health and seek help in a very different, more open way. I’ve really wanted to share that with others, and if I can help even one person, then the effort is definitely worthwhile.”
In the past ten years, there has been a 500 per cent increase in the proportion of students who disclose a mental health condition to their university. Conscious of this increase, and concerned by the growing number of stress-related illnesses in the student population, Westminster has a number of dedicated pastoral support and wellbeing services
in place – with student wellbeing informing an integral part of our ‘Being Westminster’ strategy. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture, in which students are encouraged to talk openly about their mental health, which ultimately will help prevent it from becoming a barrier to career progression.
“In the right organisational setting mental health doesn’t have to be a barrier to progression at all,” says Anastasia. “However, stigma of course still exists and stems from a lack of understanding and openness.
“Creating cultures in workplaces and education settings, as well as across society more broadly where we can speak openly about poor mental health is really important. Even little actions like checking in, proactively reaching out to people when you think their behaviour has changed or they are having a tough time, and finding a trusted setting in which to talk about our own experiences and feelings are all ways in which we can do our part to facilitate better openness and awareness.”
Mental health was just one of the topics covered this year in our What it Takes series. Each of the events aims to inspire and inform students about different areas of personal and professional development – from leadership to digital branding. Now in its fourth year, the award-winning series has hosted 41 talks, featuring a
total of 92 alumni since 2017. Moving online in 2020 also allowed a record number of students to take part and be inspired by our remarkable alumni.
“I really enjoyed participating in the What it Takes talk!” says Anastasia. “I am always really grateful for a platform to share my experiences in the world of workplace wellbeing, but it is also very fascinating to meet other participants and hear about their journeys. That’s an important message I hope students take away from the What it Takes series; that there isn’t one set way to find your place in the world of work.
“I also had a lot of students reaching out to me after the session. I’m always really grateful for the opportunity to connect with them and share experience, and provide any advice or insight that I can.”
Could you inspire Westminster students through your professional experiences? If so, we would love to hear from you. If you’re interested in giving a careers talk, get in touch with the Alumni Team: alumni@westminster.ac.uk
It is well known that diversity is beneficial in business. Different perspectives mean more varied ideas and richer innovation, and ultimately lead to more interesting and successful ventures. Despite this, due to a number of socio-economic factors, there remains a significant lack of diversity in entrepreneurship.
On a mission to make industry more inclusive, our Student Enterprise Centre (SEC) established the Westminster Entrepreneurship Pioneers Programme. Launched last September in partnership with Foundervine, the purpose of this new programme is to develop an experienced and highly skilled talent pipeline from the University. It aims to ‘upskill’ future business leaders by supporting student
entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds, giving them the knowledge and confidence to pursue more business creation opportunities.
This year’s programme was hosted online and included a nine-week long series of expert-led skills workshops on the creation and validation of new business ideas. In addition, students were offered mentoring sessions, one-to-one feedback meetings with real investors, a £250 bursary and an invitation to an awards event in which they could pitch their businesses to an industry and investor audience.
Of the 24 students who were successfully selected for the programme, 75 per cent were female, 67 per cent identified as being from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic group, 29 per cent had a learning disability and eight per cent were part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Over six months, these students developed their business plans from the initial idea generation to developing a product, to building a sales strategy and raising capital. The programme concluded with an awards evening in March, where six students pitched their
business plans. Thanks to a generous gift of £5,000 from Claranet Limited, the winner and two runners-up also received prize money to go towards their business.
“The Pioneers Programme is a wonderful initiative to encourage and support entrepreneurship at Westminster and beyond,” says Charles Nasser, CEO of Claranet. “Anyone starting a business is likely to face a very steep learning curve, so starting young and getting help and mentorship are critical. Although the finalists can be very proud of what they have achieved, it is an invaluable experience for all participants and I hope to see many more in years to come.”
And the winner is…
First prize was awarded to AndreeaLaura Petrescu (Architecture BA, 2022) following a pitch on her virtual tour business.
“I came up with the idea for my business last summer, after struggling to find an apartment during lockdown,” she explains. “I had to move, and could only view the apartments that offered 3D virtual tours and none of them were very accurate.”
Based on her experience and seeing the potential in 3D tours, Andreea founded R3Dscan. “My idea is to create high-quality virtual tours and 3D models that will update the digital presence of different companies and businesses that rely on built spaces,” she explains. “The idea is that everything you could do in a physical space, such as take measurements, you can also do online.”
Based in Bucharest, so far Andreea’s local clients have included estate agents, property developers, galleries, museums, dental clinics and restaurants – with the client base growing rapidly.
“People need to see these spaces,” she says. “For example, the museums closed because of the pandemic, but they still have so much to display and need a way of showing it. But even when there isn’t a pandemic, there are plenty of people who don’t have access to the museums because they live in other cities or villages. So we are trying to
digitalise the most important museums in Romania, so that these people have a way of walking through them.”
As an architecture student, Andreea has benefited hugely from the Pioneers Programme as it gave her the grounding in business which she otherwise wouldn’t have learnt. “When I created this business, it was in the spur of the moment thing and I never really considered the financing of it, or the fact that I should be planning at least 12 months ahead,” she says. “Everything I learnt in the masterclasses could be applied to my business in real life, which really helped. “I am incredibly thankful to have won the Pioneers Programme competition, especially because it was my first time pitching. The whole programme was my first encounter with a business course and I was very impressed by what I’ve learnt – from the speakers, staff and especially the well-thought-through structure of the programme.
“For me, winning the competition is proof that I’ve managed to apply what I’ve learnt during the past few months to my business and grow it. I’ve changed the marketing strategy and business model, and I’ve added another service to gain more clients. All of this allowed me to gain information that was crucial in creating a convincing, real pitch deck, that I am proud of.”
Following its success, plans are already under way to expand the Westminster Entrepreneurship Pioneers Programme next year, continuing the work to encourage more diversity in enterprise.
“We are so proud to have come to a successful end of the Pioneers Programme that supported 24 students across the University to develop and grow their businesses,” says Shiela Birungi, Student Enterprise Manager at the SEC. “We have received positive feedback on the impact the programme has had on all the students involved due to the great efforts of the SEC and Foundervine teams. We look forward to scaling up the delivery of the programme next academic year and supporting a greater number of students to explore entrepreneurship opportunities.”
“We are delighted Claranet have chosen to support this innovative programme,” adds Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising. “In the current economic climate, funding from our corporate supporters is more important than ever. One of the key aims of the University’s strategy is to substantially transform our engagement with business, industry and employers. For this reason, we also have a number of new innovative programmes planned for our students in the year ahead which offer an opportunity for partnership with other companies.”
The University of Westminster is proud to be home to some exceptional athletes. In support of our sports stars, the Students’ Union (UWSU) has established the Elite Athlete Programme, to provide some of our highest performers with the resources they need to be their very best.
Generously funded by Santander, the Elite Athlete Programme is targeted at Westminster students from underrepresented groups who excel in their chosen sport and compete at regional, national or international level.
The programme is comprised of workshops focusing on nutrition, sport psychology and mental skills, and in addition, works to support students’ digital presence, helping them to promote themselves as a sportsperson.
A dedicated team work closely with each student on the programme, to ensure they are gaining press coverage from their sporting achievements and receive financial support for competitions and games. The chosen athletes can also use the funding from Santander to upgrade their equipment and get additional training.
“We are delighted with the award that has been given to us by Santander to support some of our highest performing athletes,” says Chris Rolfe, Sports Development Coordinator at UWSU and lead of the Elite Athlete Programme. “The award will help to continue their development and ensure they have access to the best opportunities possible to achieve their sporting goals. This is another step in ensuring that sport at the University of Westminster continues its growth.”
Thank you to our sponsor:
FROM A LONG LIST OF APPLICATIONS, THE UWSU CAREFULLY SELECTED THE FOLLOWING ATHLETES TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAMME THIS YEAR:
Sociology and Criminology BA, 2023, Canoe Slalom In 2018, Jada competed in the ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom European Championships and currently holds second place in the premier division.
AFRASYAB KHALIL
Business Management BA, 2022, Basketball As well as playing for the University’s Westminster Dragons basketball team, Afra plays basketball professionally as point guard for the Westminster Warriors, who compete in national league division 1.
KIERAN SHAH
Digital Business MSc, 2021, Athletics Kieran is an avid competitor in the 100 and 200 metres. During his nine years in athletics, he has competed amongst the best in the country at English Schools’ Athletics Championships, British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships and England Nationals.
Biomedical Sciences BSc, 2023, Basketball Louis plays basketball and strives to make it his career. He plans to use part of the bursary for recovery equipment such as foam rollers, a massage gun and organic muscle recovery.
A growing number of organisations are choosing to support Westminster’s diverse student demographic, recognising our position as an institution which can truly help to create a level playing field in today’s graduate market. To find out more, visit: westminster.ac.uk/corporate-giving
The restored Soho Poly will create a vibrant community hub for inclusivity and wellbeing within the Regent Street and wider London area. It will offer community engagement and diverse programming to our partners and local schools and provide a contemporary performance and education venue for the London arts community. It will play a key role in the recovery of the arts.
The floor above the Soho Poly theatre will house Soho Poly Upstairs – our new exhibition and public engagement space. This will be a flexible and adaptable window to the world, featuring exhibitions, events, and interactive interpretation panels showcasing the theatre’s extraordinary heritage.
From 1972 to 1990, the Soho Poly was London’s most important alternative theatre venue. Located in the basement of the University’s Riding House Street building, it was a radical pioneer of ‘lunchtime theatre’, dedicated to widening democratic access to the arts. It also gave voice to underrepresented writers, particularly women.
Leaving our premises in 1990, the Soho Poly morphed into today’s hugely successful Soho Theatre on Dean Street. Sadly, its former home, the muchloved theatre, was left abandoned, despite being one of the very last existing spaces from the ‘Fringe boom’ and a site of considerable historical importance.
In 2012 it was rediscovered by playwright and Head of Creative Writing at the University, Dr Matt Morrison. He, and co-Creative
Producer Guy Osborn, have now built on the University’s reputation for public engagement through a dynamic series of events including pop-up festivals, new plays, ‘Ghost Gigs’, poetry readings and exhibitions, and the launching of the Soho Poly Arts Club in 2020.
Following the success and impact of the events already hosted in the rediscovered space, a project to fully restore and renovate the theatre to its former glory is now under way. The official fundraising campaign aims to secure over half a million pounds for the refurbishment of the theatre and the creation of a dynamic exhibition space on the floor directly above, which will become the ‘Soho Poly Upstairs’. The funding will allow for a complete modernisation of the building – including disabled access and ensuring it complies with health and safety regulations.
The restoration of the theatre will add considerable value to the University, which will be seen as a leader in the preservation of cultural heritage, and a pioneer of new cultural production.
We have just secured funding from a major heritage funder for £100,000, which will fund a one-year outreach and activities programme with three partner schools and the older people’s charity Open Age.
For more updates on our exciting restoration project, please visit: westminster.ac.uk/the-soho-poly-project
to complete their degree compared to students who have not been in care. This is largely down to financial pressures, with a reported 6.5 per cent of care leavers resorting to using payday loans while studying.
Dr Maud Tyler retired as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2006 after 35 years at Westminster. Dedicating her life to the development of the University, she was committed to giving students from all backgrounds an equal chance at reaching their true potential, and care leavers were an important part of this.
For care leavers, the prospect of entering higher education can be especially daunting. Unlike most students, they have neither the financial nor emotional support of a family to fall back on. In 2018/19, just 13 per cent of care leavers entered higher education, compared to 43 per cent of all other pupils in the UK. Those who do go to university are also less likely
Westminster’s mission is to support people from all backgrounds and we offer a variety of support for care leavers, including bursaries, tutorial support and accommodation scholarships through the Unite Foundation. However, as Dr Maud Tyler was aware, there is always more that could be done to give these students the best chance of success.
Thanks to the generous support from Dr Maud Tyler’s family, the Dr Maud Tyler Final Year Care Leaver Scholarship has been set up in her memory to support students during the crucial time of their final year of studies. Each scholarship, worth £4,000, will help these students cover day-to-day living expenses such as accommodation, food, study materials and travel costs, eliminating the
need to take out extra loans or risk getting into debt. With fewer financial concerns, care leavers can focus on completing their studies and taking part in other extra-curricular activities to make the most of their time at university.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Daniel, a Computer Science student, upon receiving the scholarship. “It is going to be a great financial help as I am a care leaver living alone. This means a lot to me because now I don’t have to worry about money for rent, food or travel.”
Through the scholarship set up in her memory, Dr Maud Tyler continues to support students as she did as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, allowing her work to have a prolonged impact on those who were unable to experience her positive presence at the University.
“When we learnt of the proposal for a scholarship fund for care leavers,” said Maud’s family, “we were delighted to be able to help honour Maud’s wishes.”
