It has been 29 years since Tony Blair, in a landslide election for the labour government, preached ‘Education, education, education’ as the central tenet for his time in office. During this government, university fees were introduced. Since 2004, these have only increased and, most recently, they have been raised by Keir Starmer to £9,535. The financial burden of university has grown amidst spiralling living costs, a surplus of graduates in the job market, and rising rents, many students from lower-economic backgrounds are beginning to question whether their degrees are worth the supposed social mobility they are promised. 

Amidst these anxieties, upReach’s student social mobility awards roll into their eighth year. Showcasing students from lower socio-economic backgrounds who have overcome adversity and achieved remarkable feats in academic careers, securing competitive graduate roles and propelling meaningful social change. With 13 different categories, upReach shines a spotlight on those who carved the most out of their time in education, in a climate where obtaining a degree does not guarantee success.

In a conversation with the 2023 winner, Zaynab Sowahon, she describes the impact of her tumultuous childhood spent in care and mental health institutions throughout much of her teenage life, the widening opportunities that her time at the University of Birmingham provided, and the importance of upReach’s award in propelling her ambitions forward. She is now a published author, the CEO and founder of the mental health charity Emotional Dysregulation Autism, and she is a prominent public speaker.

Speaking about her decision to go to university, she worries about the job market for recent graduates and feels grateful for the funding the University of Birmingham granted her to establish her charity. Without the financial support that enabled her to attend University, she explained how: ‘My life would have been on a completely different trajectory. It really opened up a lot of doors for me, and without the support I received I would not have gone to University.’

She explains that the impact of receiving the award was a moment of revelation for her. ‘On the night I did not expect to win anything. I was surrounded by very accomplished people and I thought I am just ZeZe. I definitely felt imposter syndrome that night. I think winning the award really boosted my self-esteem, like I’m still recognised despite my background.’

Through the recognition the award gave her and the confidence it granted for her to push forward with her ambitions she feels that, ‘Now I am in a place where life is not dangerous anymore and I can thrive. You might not have had the power to change your past, what you have been through, but you do have the power to change your future.’  

Nominations for the upReach Student Social Mobility Awards are now open and close 22 March 2026.

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