Elisha is an advocate for building partnerships with local communities to effect positive change. As part of UWTSD’s Widening Access team she is keen to develop links with organisations and business to offer more opportunities to those communities.

Her work makes a positive impact on her own community of Blaen-y-Maes in Swansea, where she began volunteering at the age of 12. A valued and well-used space for local people, the Centre’s services include a foodbank, community clothing shop, garden to grow vegetables, litter-picking hub and a food share scheme that distributes free food rescued from landfill, as well as providing access to many other resources such as computers, printing and free counselling.

Elisha is passionate about enabling the voices of the Blaen y Maes community to be heard and to foster connections and create opportunities for members of the community. Her work at UWTSD has led to the development of a partnership between the Centre and the University which provides opportunities for the local community to engage in family and adult learning activities.

On her time at university, Elisha says:

“Going to university provided me with opportunities that I would have never imagined. I was able to learn at another level, improve my skillset and alongside this it changed my life. I am passionate that university can be absolutely for anyone. A pathway was created the moment I started my degree and I will continue chasing my ambitions wherever that will now take me.

“Joining the Widening Access team has also given me so many opportunities, and it has been a real privilege to give back, not only to my own community but to others as well. I feel passionate about the work that Widening Access does and I'm excited to be involved in the journey of changing the narrative and opening new and exciting opportunities.”

"Going to university provided me with opportunities that I would have never imagined."