Inspiring a family to dream big

From top left to right: Aysha, Emmanuel, Naoise, Afreya.

From bottom left to right: Isabella, Anya (below), Amira (above).

Farah Ahmad from IntoUniversity Head Office speaks to Leeds East family the Redman-Pokus in the latest edition of our aspire newsletter.

Sisters Aysha and Afreya have attended IntoUniversity Leeds East ever since the centre first opened in November 2014 and have taken part in a range of programmes with us. Their involvement in the IntoUniversity programme inspired their mother, Naoise, to pursue her own dreams - she recently enrolled on to an English course at the University of Leeds.

Aysha and Afreya’s story

Aysha and Afreya heard about IntoUniversity Leeds East through their mother, Naoise, who first encountered IntoUniversity through a poster advertising the opening of the centre. When Naoise attended the open day with her mother and youngest daughters, she was taken aback by this ‘amazing opportunity’ and strongly encouraged Aysha and Afreya to attend.

Aysha is a Year 12 student at Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form and is studying for her A-Levels in Philosophy, Ethics, Sociology and English Language. Younger sister Afreya is in Year 9 at Abbey Grange Academy and is currently focused on her upcoming exams. Afreya mentions that her favourite subjects at school are PE and Music, and she also reveals that she plays the steel pans and loves to sing.

After a hesitant start for Aysha and a reluctance to engage with the team at IntoUniversity Leeds East, Naoise requested for Aysha to receive some one-to-one support with her Sixth Form application. This was a huge turning point for Aysha who started to communicate more with the centre staff. Since then, she has taken full advantage of all the opportunities available to her at IntoUniversity.

When asked why they both like attending the Leeds East centre, Aysha and Afreya agree that they thoroughly enjoy seeing their mentors and appreciate ‘the full attention’ they receive not only from their mentors, but also from the centre staff. Aysha speaks fondly of mentor Katie, a Law student at the University of Leeds, and states that while she was in Year 11, ‘[Katie] helped me put together a revision timetable, she spoke to me about my future, career options and we looked through university brochures.’ Afreya feels she has gained a new friend in her mentor, Caren, an Accounting and Finance student at the University of Leeds. Alongside her meetings with Caren to discuss academic life, Afreya is especially grateful for the social aspects of the meetings, and particularly enjoyed making a chocolate cake in her recent meeting with Caren.

As someone who initially needed encouragement to try new things and meet new people, Aysha has significantly broadened her horizons. Her confidence has continued to develop and, in the 2015 summer holidays, Aysha was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Canada for three weeks to take part in an Outward Bound expedition. Aysha proudly reflects on the experience: ‘It was the hardest adventure of my life. But I did it.’ Afreya is eager to follow in her older sister’s footsteps.

It was the hardest adventure of my life. But I did it.

From the brief conversation I had with Aysha and Afreya, it is evident they are both very determined and driven. Afreya knows that she wants to go on to university but, understandably, is at present focused on her GCSEs. Aysha would like to go to the University of Liverpool and is looking forward to beginning the application process, with the guidance and support of IntoUniversity.

Naoise’s story

Naoise reveals that ‘once [the girls] came for the first time [to Academic Support] that was it. They are really very focused.’ She is clearly very proud of Aysha and Afreya’s progress and is excited for her younger children to experience the same opportunities. Another of Naoise’s daughters, Amira, recently started at St Peter’s C of E Primary School and – now old enough – began her journey with IntoUniversity Leeds East in September 2015. Naoise recalls how committed Amira is to Academic Support: ‘Amira loves it. She will not miss a session. It was my birthday last week and I said “Amira, we’re having a day off.” She said to me “no – don’t phone!” She loves it!’

Inspired by her daughters, Naoise returned to education in September 2015 by enrolling on to an access course at the University of Leeds to study English. Naoise explained that she became unsure of her abilities during the application process but she was encouraged to keep going by thinking of her daughters: ‘At each point, I have thought about them. I thought about how hard Aysha works because she’s so determined. I kept thinking, well she’s working really hard – if she can do it then I should be able to. She just doesn’t give up, she just keeps going.’

Naoise, and the rest of the Redman-Poku family, are clear advocates for the IntoUniversity Leeds East centre. When asked whether she would recommend IntoUniversity to another parent, without hesitation she said: ‘Oh 100%, yeah! I tell everyone.’

Farah's interview with the Redman-Poku family is taken from edition 8 of IntoUniversity's termly newsletter aspire. Click here to read the full edition now.