THE JOURNEY TO LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY

It is said that the more you travel the more you learn and has always been my dream to travel to places in search for knowledge. This was one reason I choose to come to Finland the land of a thousand lakes and trees. While studying at Diak I had an opportunity to go on exchange in different countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa (including my home /The Gambia). I choose England a place that not many African students would. There were many reasons that influence my decision including gaining experience related to studies and work, learning new culture, making new friends and also to see my brothers (one of them I haven’t seen in 10years).

This is how my Health and Well-Being Lecturer described me

My exchange took place at one of the most popular universities in the UK, Leeds Beckett University in the department of Youth and Community Work. During my exchange, I was opportune to study two modules (Empowering Relationship and Health and Well-Being) and also did a placement at Christ Church Armley Youth Project. 

I decided to travel a week before the induction to be able to see my brothers and friends. My departure date coincided with a strike in Finland and public transports weren’t working. I only got to know this a day before so had not planned much as the information I got was the last train will depart from Helsinki to the airport at 04am. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case; I ended up hiring a taxi which cost the same price as that of my flight ticket to Birmingham. After the early morning stress and hassle of getting a taxi I had a safe flight to Birmingham and my brother was on time to pick me then we drove home. That entire week was for family, friends and visiting places.

A day before the induction, my brother drove me to Leeds. The first room offer I had is located in New Farnley some 15-20mins to the city center where the University campus is. It's a beautiful, quiet and clean area with a lovely park, grocery store and bus stop just a minute away from the house. Entering the building the first thing I saw was "Princess's Room" that got me laughing. Maybe I should get rid of the "ss's" and then it will be "Prince Room" was what came to my mind. The only but about this place is the bus service/ticket, it's more than twice the price for someone who leaves around the city so after a month I found a place two minutes walk from city campus. Lovely flatmates and bit expensive rent but still cheaper than student accommodation, it was like hitting a jackpot so never hesitate to move in.

First Month

The first month was stressful with all the paper works at school (DBS check and enrolment), I could not start placement because of the DBS so the lecturer responsible for placement had to look for another option where I can do placement without DBS, and it was taking forever so I decided to enrol for two modules, this too wasn’t as easy as I thought. My admission got a red flag (fee status) because the system recognised me as Gambian instead of ERASMUS exchange student (yes I am Gambian but an ERASMUS student) therefore, I am not supposed to pay tuition. After 2weeks+ back and forth with e-mail and phone calls the flag was removed and I could now access the modules, can I select my choice of modules? No, it’s not that simple as one of them is a post-graduate course so they need clearance but finally, I was able to get select the modules and attend classes.

I love Leeds Beckett University; it has been on my list of Universities to study. Both the city and Headingly Campus got huge buildings with almost everything students will need including spacious library, cafeteria, study/meeting rooms for groups or individuals, computers all around the campus, printing and scanning facility, multimedia equipment rental, sports hall, bar and a lot more. It is the perfect University and no wonder they are ranked in terms of learning space 3rd in the UK and 4th in the world. Anytime I go to the campus, I have a feeling of being in a university and motivated to learn. The classes were very lecturer centred as they teach and give out handouts with little or no group works like in Diak but I must be quick to say that they are professional and experienced.

Two of the many huge Leeds Beckett buildings

Placement

Christ Church Armley Youth Project and Meeting Point was the place I finally got to do my placement. The Youth project work with young people between 8-18 years old and organised series of activities to create a safe space for young people to meet, that was warm and friendly and away from the risk of committing or being victims of anti-social behaviour. Most of the service users (young people) live in difficult circumstances; broken families, neglect,ill health, drugs and alcohol addiction in the home, high crime rate, low self-esteem and aspiration, crime and imprisonment, fear in community, sexual exploitation, physically and mentally abusive relationships, peer pressure, isolation and experience a lack of love and have no one to turn to. Therefore, they come to the church to get mentoring, play games, counselling and also get referral to services if they can't be provided. 

The meeting point established in 2003 as a result of the growing number of refugees and asylum seekers being dispersed to Leeds. It aimed at working towards social integration and provide range of suitable community provisions in association with other organisations to meet the needs of the beneficiaries. They orgnaise a meeting point/drop-in which is open to all refugees and asylum seekers for them to socialise and access a number of activities and services including clothing and household items, food parcels, refreshment and a hot meal, Internet cafe, language cafe, help and advice, children's activities, haircutting,women's activities, pool and other adult leisure activities. Both projects gave me a new insight but they weren’t challenging.

Christ Church-Armley 

Free Time

My first month I had a lot of free time and there was a lot of things happening, the school organised trips, events at school, festivals in Leeds, attending a book signing, visiting families and other cities in England and Wales. I also volunteered for an NGO InTouch Leeds that gives out food and snacks to homeless and people on the street every Tuesday night; it was a great way of spending my time. See pictures that sum up the FUN and FREE TIME. It’s been a journey from day one with regards to the available exchange position, the language requirement (University and UK border agency) and criminal record check which is referred in the United Kingdom as Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check. The above I will not consider a challenge rather an experience I am sharing to help you prepare for an exchange in UK, after all it was a dream come through.

Leeds Light and Film Festival

Volunteering for Intouch Leeds Foundation

Visit to York