Leathersellers’ Alumni

I grew up in rural Norfolk and, at 18, went to Oxford University to study Psychology and Philosophy. After graduating and moving to London, I realised I needed further training to pursue the kind of creative work I wanted to do, so I applied for a Master’s in Classical and Contemporary Text at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This is where I was supported by The Leathersellers’ Foundation. As the first person in my family to go to university, every stage of my education has been made possible through bursaries, scholarships and grants.

I’m self-employed, with a “portfolio career” that spans acting, filmmaking and mentoring. As an actor and filmmaker, I’m interested in creating work that encourages conversation about the society we live in and the challenges people face. I also mentor young people who are outside mainstream education, often because health needs or a lack of support have made traditional education inaccessible. I’ve been involved in this work since I was 18, when I volunteered with a Norfolk charity helping talented state school students prepare for competitive Oxbridge applications.

This year I founded a social impact production company called MIMESIC to produce Unauthorised Absence, a short film exploring the impact that school attendance fines can have on families of neurodivergent children and those facing other barriers to education. As producer, I’ve overseen every stage of the project, from script development through to production and outreach. We’ve been fortunate to receive support from charities, campaign groups, parent organisations and experts working across education, psychology, healthcare and law, alongside an incredible cast and crew who have brought both professional expertise and lived experience to the project. We’re now hoping to take the film to educational screenings and film festivals to continue the conversation around these issues.

It made it financially possible for me to move to Glasgow for the year and accept my place on the Master’s programme. That was the only institution in the UK offering the course, and studying alongside people from around the world gave me an international network that I still draw on today. It also gave me my first foothold in the entertainment industry and, perhaps most importantly, the confidence to believe I could build something of my own.

Support from the Leathersellers’ Foundation practically made my postgraduate degree possible, and also gave me confidence in what I had to offer. Being part of the alumni community has been especially valuable because I’ve met people from similar backgrounds who have overcome their own challenges in very different ways. That’s been incredibly encouraging.

Honestly, no. Postgraduate study can be incredibly difficult to access financially, particularly for students from lower-income backgrounds. Without the Foundation’s support, I wouldn’t have been able to take up the opportunity that has shaped so much of my career since.

Absolutely. Being the first person in my family to attend university, and now the only one to earn a Master’s degree, has opened opportunities that simply wouldn’t have been available otherwise. As postgraduate qualifications become increasingly expected in some professions, having access to that education has made a real difference to my career.

I really value being part of a community of people from such varied backgrounds and professions who all share a commitment to making the most of the opportunities they’ve been given. I’ve also appreciated how genuinely interested members of the Leathersellers are in supporting alumni and following their journeys.

It means being connected to an organisation that has invested in me and continues to champion the work I’m doing. Knowing that support is there gives me confidence to keep pursuing projects that matter to me.