A massive achievement to win two awards!

We are so proud of our team's success at this annual event that champions young talented LGBTQ+ people. 

It's been a huge month of celebrations for our Halls Life team who have won two awards at the Queer Student Awards (QSA). 

Founded in 2021, the QSA's are the UK's first annual celebration of young LGBTQ+ people who are proudly leading in their lives, and the communities around them. Our team attended the ceremony in Birmingham and were successful in winning in two categories; University of the Year and Role Model of the Year in Education. 🎉

This comes after our recent success at the CUBO (College and University Business Offers) Awards 2024 where our UAL Halls Life team also won not one, but two awards!

For the QSA awards, in the University of the Year category, the judges recognised that our UAL Halls Life team demonstrated strategies that truly encouraged an inclusive environment, in a way that went above and beyond compared to the bare minimum of what all universities should be doing. The LGBTQ+ representation in the staff and student further demonstrated the inclusive culture UAL has developed, setting a gold standard for LGBTQ+ inclusion at university. 

The second win at the QSA was awarded to our Student Experience Manager, Carley Owen, for Role Model of the Year: Education. Her work was recognised as undoubtedly changing the experiences of students on campus. Her trans* and non-binary employment ambassador programme was also so important in the times we are living in.

Carley said she was completely blown away with winning double at their first time at the QSAs. 

"I'm so proud and unbelievably happy that our work within the accommodation and estates team is being recognised externally for being sector leading. I hope this begins to spark real change across not only across our institution but the whole of Further Education and Higher Education for our queer students and colleagues. The journey will continue until every student/colleague feels brave and safe at university to be authentically themselves," said Carley.

To cap off an amazing month of LBGTQ+ celebrations, the Pride in London 2024 Parade is happening tomorrow and our staff and students will be proudly hitting the pavement and walking along side our UAL float. If you didn't already register to walk with us in the parade, be sure to cheer us on from the sidelines as we come by. 🗣️

If you can't make the parade tomorrow, tune in to watch the London Parade online from 11:30am-6pm from the comfort of your couch. Try to spot our float and our team walking amongst the crowds! 🌈✨

Want to know more about this event? Get in touch: 

E: hallslife@arts.ac.uk

T: +44 (0)20 4586 3219

Instagram: UAL_HallsLife