Dundee duo commended

Zainab Adeleye reached the final of the ‘Excellence through Adversity’ category while Bailey Hope was a finalist in the LGBTQ+ section. Although Zainab and Bailey missed out on the top awards, their shortlisting represents a significant achievement.

First-year Law student Zainab (18), born to Nigerian parents who migrated to Scotland, has faced her fair share of challenges. However, she never let that hold her back and quickly threw herself into her new life in Scotland. She became the first black School Captain at her Glasgow secondary and was elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament.

From there, she was chosen to be the Deputy Convenor of the SYP’s Equality and Human Rights Committee and to represent Scotland in the UK Youth parliament. Zainab also trained as a violence prevention mentor.

“When I first came to the UK I couldn’t have imagined that I would be living my dream of studying Law and having had all these other experiences,” said Zainab. “My ambition now is to graduate and work as a human rights lawyer. I want to help other people as much as I can.”

Twenty-one-year-old Geography student Bailey, from Dunfermline, says that becoming involved in student representation has changed her life by building her confidence to levels she never thought possible.

Bailey needed to be persuaded to stand as LGBT rep on the University’s Student Representative Council and, despite her initial reluctance, she was duly elected and set about transforming the student experience for many of her peers.

Bailey continued the development of trans/non-binary swimming sessions as a way of helping people to look after their physical and mental health in an environment they feel comfortable in. Her other achievements include supporting a Trans Day of Remembrance vigil and collaborating on the motion to have a new role created to specifically represent trans and non-binary students on the SRC.

She said, “I was absolutely delighted to be nominated for this award as it represents the massive change my life has taken in recent years. I used to be so shy but what I have done over the past few years has really built my confidence. I also spent time as an exchange student in San Francisco and that really lit my desire to be an activist for Queer people back here.”

Major employers and professional bodies were represented at the London event, enabling networking opportunities for all shortlisted candidates.