36-year-old Surinder, from Leeds, has achieved her degree while working as an Interim Service Lead at Leeds Mind’s Suicide Bereavement Service. She secured this role following a successful placement in her First Year at University. She has also balanced working and studying alongside raising her child as a single mum.

Surinder joined Leeds Trinity in September 2018, after firming the University as her first choice for several reasons including its size, proximity to work and receiving encouraging feedback from friends who were former students.

She has always had an interest in supporting families, and chose her degree in Working with Children, Young People and Families to enable her to make a difference to vulnerable families and communities.

Surinder said: “Leeds Trinity University has helped me become more confident in my abilities and has helped me develop a stronger sense of self belief, both professionally and personally. My lecturer Syra Shakir has helped build my confidence as a professional and unexpectedly, helped me reconnect with the South Asian part of my identity. Leeds Trinity has given me a place to belong, and I hope to stay involved with the University in some shape or form.”

She added: “The University was accommodating to my needs of being a lone parent and employed part-time. Working in a related field meant I could directly apply the knowledge I had learnt while studying, which helped me secure a post of Interim Service Lead. At times, it has not been easy to manage the demands of my role and studying, but remote working and the support of my tutors and employer has helped.”

Syra Shakir, Senior Teaching Fellow in the Institute for Childhood and Education, said: “Surinder is a student who from the start was ambitious and determined. Surinder has undoubtedly worked so hard throughout her time at Leeds Trinity University, working alongside her studies, bringing with her such a deep understanding of being a practitioner and supporting vulnerable members of our community. I’m so proud to see her graduate and watch her career flourish; well done Surinder!”

Surinder plans to continue working in her field, developing suicide bereavement support for people across West Yorkshire and further highlighting the impact of suicide bereavement. She is also hoping to pursue a masters at Leeds Trinity University, in order to create a new family support service.

Find out more about studying Working with Children, Young People and Families at Leeds Trinity University.