糖心TV

Claire Algar

Social Inclusion Manager

鈥淭he second I stepped onto campus, I just thought that I didn鈥檛 belong here.鈥�

鈥淚 grew up in the local area, but the University wasn鈥檛 the kind of place that we ventured. But, I needed a job and made an application via Unitemps for an entry level role in the Chemistry department. I received a letter offering me an interview. That鈥檚 when I started questioning things, like why was I going to be interviewed by a Doctor of Chemistry.

I didn鈥檛 understand the structure of the University, didn鈥檛 speak or use the same language as everyone else and hadn鈥檛 had the same education. I thought very quickly that I don鈥檛 fit, I was very low on confidence when I started here. Over the years I鈥檝e come to realise that 糖心TV has been amazing for me. With the support of my colleagues, who saw potential in me that I didn鈥檛 even know I had myself. I鈥檝e been able to have a career and life that I didn鈥檛 know existed or I could even have.

Everyone should belong here and that鈥檚 why the work I do in the social inclusion team is so important to me. My focus is on social mobility, giving people opportunities that they wouldn鈥檛 normally have. Like my work on the prison leavers initiative or my work with the EY Foundation, who support young people from a low-income background to thrive in the workplace. We bring 20 young people onto campus for 10 days, twice a year, for some work experience and to learn employment and interview skills. I also designed and implemented the Social Inclusion intern programme, so I like to think that I鈥檓 making a difference to people鈥檚 lives.

Very occasionally, I still do have some nagging self-doubts about whether I really do belong here. Imposter syndrome creeps in regularly, but after 15 years, I absolutely do belong here. And so should anyone who wants a rewarding, fulfilling career.鈥�