Anti-Knife Crime Campaigner Graduates with Master’s, Overcoming Perceived Barriers to University

A mother, who became an anti-knife crime campaigner after her son was fatally stabbed in Leeds, has successfully completed a master’s degree in social research. Sarah Lloyd’s 17-year-old son, Kieran, was attacked on a street in Harehills in 2013 and subsequently died at Leeds General Infirmary. Following his death, the mother of four children visited the University of Leeds through an outreach initiative, an experience she described as a “lightbulb moment”. She expressed her initial reservations, stating: “I never thought that studying at university was something within my reach as a single mum on benefits.” Ms. Lloyd further elaborated on her previous perceptions, saying: “I’d always thought that universities were for the young and rich – not for people like me. But I fell in love with the Brotherton Library and didn’t want to leave.” In 2016, Ms. Lloyd commenced a foundation degree course, later graduating with a BA in professional studies, and has now concluded her master’s degree, which concentrated on programs addressing knife crime in both England and Scotland. Assistance was provided to her by the university’s Lifelong Learning Centre, an entity dedicated to aiding mature and under-represented individuals pursuing higher education. Reflecting on her experience, she commented: “It was an amazing opportunity and I never looked back.” She added: “They have been amazing and I have made lifelong friends with both staff and students.” During her studies last year, Ms. Lloyd was involved in the co-creation and appearance of the award-winning film “Cut Short – Fighting against Knives in the North,” where she cautioned young individuals about the dangers of carrying knives. The tragic loss of her son motivated her to engage in campaigning, leading her to present educational materials in schools and give presentations to both young offenders and various community organizations. She indicated her current intention to pursue a PhD. Explaining her motivation, she stated: “I am always striving to push myself further to make social change and so I want to do a PhD.” She further articulated her goals: “I want to make life better for young people caught up in violence – especially girls who seem to be joining gangs in growing numbers. They need to be encouraged to take a different path.” Information regarding West Yorkshire highlights is available on BBC Sounds, with the latest episode of Look North also accessible, alongside an invitation to submit potential news stories. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for material found on external websites and provides details on its policy regarding external links.