Dear 

A very warm welcome to our March newsletter, and a special shout out to our latest members.

It has been another busy month on campus, where we have been delighted to welcome alumni back for both reunions and as guest speakers. Recently we showed several members of the Class of 1981 and 1982 (pictured above) around campus, including the Chapel where two of our visitors got married. More images.

This month we have also celebrated International Women’s Day, and Ramadan Mubarak to all of the members of our community who are observing Ramadan. Read more about Ramadan.

As we look ahead to the long weekend, we would like to wish you and your families a wonderful Easter.

We are always very proud to feature alumni in the Leeds Trinity prospectus. Earlier this month we were able to give alumnus Mark Dolby (Media with Management, 2004) a copy when we were out on a photoshoot with him. 

It was especially nice as several of the images featured were taken by Mark. Thank you to all alumni who were in the latest prospectus. 

Earlier this month we welcomed alumnus Angus Martin (Sport, Health and Leisure and Media,1998), Leeds Trinity lecturer Katie Simpson (English and Media Studies, 2001), and our colleague Charlotte Rainey to talk to Business students about different pathways in entrepreneurship. See more images.

You can take advantage of discounted entry for York Races on Saturday 25 May 2024, with access to the County Stand.

The race badges usually retail at £55 but you can order them in advance for £37 each through the Alumni Office. Book your badges.

Thank you to Christopher Banham (PGCE History, 2009) who shared how his autism diagnosis prompted a change of direction in his career in education. 

Christopher shared a blog during Neurodiversity Celebration Week to encourage other neurodivergent individuals to "cast off masking and camouflaging, embrace their strengths, and aim to live a more authentic life". Read Christopher's blog.

The Alumni Office recently caught up with Hariss Hussain (Working with Children, Young People and Families, 2023), one of the students who participated in the 2022/23 Leeds Trinity co-creation project about decolonising the curriculum in an educational setting. 

He got so much out of the project that not only has he remained involved, he has also mentored two current students – including Adeeb Sarfaraz (Criminology with Police Studies), pictured – involved in the 2023/24 project about anti-racist practices within higher education. Read more.

At the end of January this year we welcomed back alumna Becca Haigh (Working with Children, Young People and Families, 2022) to speak at the 2024 Champions of Childhood conference. 

Becca got so much out of returning to education. She said: "Going back to education at 34 years old, I honestly thought I would be like a fish out of water. It turns out that was not the case at all."

Becca is owner of Wildling Adventures, therapeutic intervention and animal therapy. Her inspiration for her business came from her children as she is a special educational needs (SEN) mum.

She says: "My youngest son is diagnosed ASD and my eldest ADHD. We have always enjoyed the company of animals as a family having had chickens, dogs, horses, and ducks. After a long day at school when my boys would return home over stimulated, burned out, we would take them outside to feed and just be with the animals. After a short period of time, we noticed that they would calm down and start to talk about their day. Animal assisted therapy is a form of therapeutic intervention, and I wanted other people to experience this."

They say never work with children and animals but Becca loves working with both!

Read Becca's alumni profile.