Tom Watts Travel Award Recipient Inspires Sixth Formers

We were delighted to welcome back alumna K-Leigh Hargreaves (Merchants, 2018) to speak to our Sixth Form students during their PSHE lesson.

K-Leigh was awarded the Tom Watts Travel Award by the ASA Committee back in May 2022. They were hugely impressed with her application and travel plans, which saw her journey to Argentina to work at an Equine Therapy Centre and in a local Kindergarten.

During her time at the Centre, K-Leigh supported people with cerebral palsy, autism, visual impairments, acquired paralysis, Down Syndrome and social, emotional and mental health needs. K-Leigh explained to our students how this volunteering opportunity was tied in with her degree in Psychology from Loughborough University, her placement year at a SEN School, her love of Spanish at A-Level with Mrs Calver, and her love of horses.

She encouraged our students to pursue volunteering opportunities, highlighting the multitude of benefits, and to grasp experiences which would push them outside of their comfort zone.

She also promoted the Tom Watts Travel Award to our students, of particular interest to any current Year 13 students considering undertaking a Gap Year, and shared some of her top tips for completing the application form.

It was fascinating to hear in detail about K-Leigh’s time in Argentina volunteering, and we wish her the best of luck in the next stages of her career.

Applications for the 2023 Tom Watts Travel Award are now open. If you would like to find out more about these awards, and see what our previous recipients have done, follow this link. If you have any questions about this award, please don’t hesitate to contact the Alumni & Development Office via email.