About me
My speech at a SOLE demonstration (February 2019). Image credit: Lorcan Whitehead
Since 2015, I've been heavily invested in campaigning for both local and national issues. I first became involved with the local youth council 5 years ago, where I worked with the county Youth Service to put on an event named "Stalls 'n' Ghouls" (an amazing name for a Halloween event!) promoting local youth charities and businesses, and running a local survey named "Choose the Change" to gauge what issues mattered to young people. I remember going through the ballot papers submitted, and clearly thinking "I have a chance to make a difference that matters".
Only two years later, I remember going along to the British Youth Council conference, where the national campaign for Votes at 16 launched, an issue I was passionate about. The result of our lobbying helped get enough MPs for a Private Members Bill (tabled by Jim McMahon MP). From this moment, I knew that lobbying was something I wanted to do.
Two of the biggest achievements of mine, however, have happened over the last two years. The first came in 2019, when I worked with the Save Our Libraries Essex campaign to oppose the council decision to close our libraries (to this date, a position they still hold through 'stealth closures'). Thanks to our lobbying and demonstrations, the council eventually U-turned on their decision: a massive win for people power.
Only two years later, I remember going along to the British Youth Council conference, where the national campaign for Votes at 16 launched, an issue I was passionate about. The result of our lobbying helped get enough MPs for a Private Members Bill (tabled by Jim McMahon MP). From this moment, I knew that lobbying was something I wanted to do.
Two of the biggest achievements of mine, however, have happened over the last two years. The first came in 2019, when I worked with the Save Our Libraries Essex campaign to oppose the council decision to close our libraries (to this date, a position they still hold through 'stealth closures'). Thanks to our lobbying and demonstrations, the council eventually U-turned on their decision: a massive win for people power.
My partner and I campaigning to be LGBTQ+ Officer (February 2020)
More recently, I was one of the LGBTQ+ officers for my student's union, alongside my partner, from 2020-22; this has given me a chance to represent LGBTQ+ students at my university, working for representation for everyone under the LGBTQ+ umbrella and fighting against discrimination faced on a daily basis. In this role alongside, we have managed some fantastic achievements: securing an LGBTQ+ club night, putting on more events such as cabaret evenings, launching a review into the university's all gender toilet provisions. We managed so much in just under two years!
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On top of being a campaigner I am a Computer Science graduate from the University of York (class of 2022). Since graduating, I have moved on to become a Junior Back-End Developer for a company in Harrogate. If you're interested in the tech-y side of stuff I do, check out my Github profile and the Projects tab here in my website.
In my time at university, I also wrote several articles for on-campus publications - you can read articles I have written under my journalism tab. I also occasionally put some of my thoughts and experiences into words on my blog, so be sure to check that out too! Please note that all views expressed are my own, and are not the views of the publications/editors of the publications that host my articles. |
At my graduation in July 2022
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