Second time around
Sadie Augier’s first time at university was something of a false start. Two decades on, with the support of a scholarship she is thriving at the University of Leeds.
"University didn’t work out for me the first time,” says Sadie Augier, looking back at an unhappy period in her life. “I was going through some family difficulties and that’s probably why I chose to go to Chester – a long way from my home in Brighton. I studied drama and psychology, but it was the wrong time for me and I only lasted three months.”
She eventually settled in Leeds, raised two children, and worked for local charity Home Start. The charity supports vulnerable families facing poverty and homelessness or dealing with drug addiction, mental illness or domestic violence.
“We often recommended people enrol on a course called JumpStart at the Lifelong Learning Centre at the University of Leeds. It helps people take the first steps into higher education. I found myself wondering why I was telling people about this course when I could be doing it myself.”
Three years ago, Sadie finally made that leap – and then took a foundation course before enrolling on a full-time undergraduate degree in the liberal arts, majoring in sociology. It’s clear she made the right decision: “It has been incredible. It’s opening my mind to so many things about the world around us.
“I'm really passionate about tackling inequalities, and looking at why some groups are marginalised. I’m also interested in political theory, and applying that to what's going on in the world. I've always had opinions, but not always had the facts to support them. Now I’m getting the theory to back up what I believe.”
My ‘thank you’ for the scholarship almost goes without saying. It makes a huge financial difference, but everything else it contributes to is so valuable, both to students and their families.
As a student from a low-income household and the first of her family to go to university, Sadie receives a scholarship to support her studies. “I’m so grateful for the support, and financially it has made such a difference,” she says. “But the impact of the scholarship goes way beyond that, and has afforded me the time and opportunity to do much more.”
Sadie has joined the faculty’s Student Advisory Board, which comments on the curriculum and the student experience. “As someone who comes from a working class background, I'm determined and passionate about giving others that opportunity. I’m on a group which is exploring the difficulties that working class students face. If they can’t draw on the experiences of their family members, or don’t have the same cultural capital as others on their course, they are disadvantaged.
“That’s one of the reasons I dropped out of my first university. I didn't know how to organise myself or my finances and had a lack of focus."
As a scholar, Sadie has enrolled in the Plus Programme – a package of opportunities which enable students to develop the skills and confidence to thrive at Leeds and beyond. “They've taught me techniques for studying and to have the focus which I really didn’t have first time around.”
The scholarship has also helped Sadie address a long-standing medical issue. “I've finally been able to get an ADHD diagnosis – which cost £750.” And with medication costing her £150 every month, the scholarship has been invaluable. “This has made a significant difference – and the Disability Services team at Leeds have been very good; it’s great just being heard and feeling validated.”
Away from her studies, Sadie’s children Ridley, aged 12, and Laurel, 10, keep her busy. “I'm really enjoying being a parent governor at Laurel’s school, and I bring them up to campus for events such as family days at the Lifelong Learning Centre.”
Sadie continues to surprise herself: “I spent last weekend reading Lenin. A few years ago, I couldn’t imagine being able to understand it, let alone enjoy it.”
To find out how you can support students like Sadie get a second chance please visit www.leeds.ac.uk/give-to-leeds
Access and success – supporting our students
Leeds is committed to reducing inequality – whether in wider society or right here on campus.
Our new Student Success Centre recognises that the way universities teach favours some groups more than others.
Driven by a commitment to ensuring that all students have the best possible opportunity to thrive, the centre’s goal will be to ensure that every student graduates with the best degree they could possibly achieve.
Its work will tackle some key issues which may hold students back:
- Financial literacy – to help students better understand and manage
their money; - Academic skills tutoring – empowering them to make the most of the resources on campus and thrive in their studies;
- Peer-mentoring – support from fellow students who are overcoming
the challenges faced by those from disadvantaged homes.
At the same time we will examine our own structures and practices to understand why some groups of students consistently graduate with better degrees than others.
By designing, trialling and evaluating new interventions and identifying those who would most benefit from them, we will redefine the model for ensuring student success – and share our findings with other universities grappling with these issues.
The centre’s work will build on the success of programmes such as IntoUniversity, Access to Leeds and the Plus Programme, which support the development of learners from primary school through to graduation.
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