UCU Life Changers Text

Tracey Bessant
University of Gloucestershire
’It’s given me confidence
in my academic ability
that I never had before.
It’s allowed me to pursue
a career that I want to do.’
Ask a group of university leavers what they did during
their undergraduate years, and certain phrases are likely
to appear: ’debating society’, ’rugby team’, ’library’,
’beer’.
Ask the same of Tracey Bessant, studying Community
Development at the University
of Gloucestershire,
and the phrases could be
slightly different. ’Affordable
housing’, ’government
report, ’House of Lords’.
’Tracey is a stupendous
student and citizen,’ says
tutor James Derounian.
’Not only has she made
the best of her higher education experience, but she
has been involved in community planning in her own
village.’
Tracey is indeed involved in creating the parish plan
for the village of Gretton, in Gloucestershire. But that’s
not all. She wrote an analysis with
James Derounian on the usage of
church land for affordable housing
which was mentioned in a
government commissioned report.
She is also working for the county
council on how to allow parents to
take more control of local schools.
’She is extraordinarily insightful,
meticulous, very pleasant to work
with, and highly creative,’ says
James.
Tracey never went to university
first time round, instead finding a
job with an insurance firm after
completing her A-Levels, but after a
number of years her ambitions
changed.
’I had a career break after having
my son, and I decided that I wanted
to do a job that gave something back to society, rather
than working for an insurance company and making lots
of money for shareholders,’ says Tracey.
’I have a really strong belief in social justice. If I think
there’s something that is not fair, or not just, and I see
that I can actually do something about it, then I would
endeavour to do that.’
She entered university in 1998, and is set to complete
her degree this year, having taken time out to give birth
to her daughter. She is heading for a first in her degree,
but initially she found the experience intimidating. ’I
was daunted by the whole prospect
of even doing one assignment.
When we were first given an
assignment to do 2,000 words, I just
thought, how on earth am I going to
write 2,000 words?’
Part of her degree required her to
carry out an independent study. She
chose to focus on whether church
land could be used for affordable
housing. The Goodman Commission on rural affordable
housing got wind of her report and referred to it in its
findings. The Church of England also requested a copy.
The matter was even raised in the House of Lords.
Tracey credits her tutors for the turnaround from
intimidated
beginner to
freelancing
researcher. ’I had
brilliant staff at
university. James
is just fantastic
at encouraging
me to follow
these mad
ideas,’ she says.
And she
doesn’t regret
going to university
for a
moment. ’It’s
just given me so
much confidence
in my academic
ability that I
never had before. It’s allowed me to pursue a career
that I want to do.’
Life changing
experience
Cheryl Alexander
Tracey Bessant
Patrick Bryden
Debbie
Hollingsworth
Joanne Rosa
Kenny
www.ucu.org.uk/lifechangers
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