Tara Webb law prize
A University of Greenwich law student, who has been named Student of the Year and Law Student of the Year at a national awards ceremony, has spoken of the obstacles she has had to overcome.
Tara Webb, 20, from Chingford, had to leave home at 17, in the middle of her A Levels. It was a massive upheaval but showing incredible drive Tara refused to buckle and is now in the final year of her LLB Law degree.
She says: “There was a lot of domestic violence in my life up until I was about 11. We moved a number of times to get away from one of my mum’s partners. He tried to kill her with a knife. This happened more than once.
“I was living in emergency, then temporary, accommodation when I was doing my A-Levels. Hostels – they were awful. I moved in to a permanent home when I started at Greenwich, so that was literally all I had, a roof, while I waited for my loan to come through. I was advised to think about deferring a year but I didn’t want to do that. I think maybe students at Greenwich are more determined than those elsewhere. There are no silver spoons here – we’re prepared to work that bit harder to succeed.”
As well as studying for her degree Tara is setting up a domestic violence referral system, which will be available to students and staff at Greenwich who are experiencing domestic violence or who are being forced in to marriages.
She adds: “There are six of us involved and we’re setting up an email service, called Friends with Time, which should be up and running this month. People can email us their problem which we pass on to a researcher who explains which domestic violence organisations are within their borough and the support they offer.
“We can also directly refer clients to various organisations we have links with. We are trying to make domestic violence services easily accessible for victims and witnesses of domestic violence. We’re also setting up a free helpline with Barristers from 4 Paper Buildings which will operate on the first Monday of every month.”
Tara received her two awards at the Xcel Student of the Year Awards ceremony, hosted by TV personality Konnie Huq, at the Tower London Hotel.
Sarah Greer, Head of Department, Law & Criminology at Greenwich, says: “I am absolutely delighted that Tara has won this prestigious award, and there could not have been a more deserving winner.”
Law firm CMS Cameron McKenna sponsored the law award and have organised a vacation scheme for Tara this summer.
ends
Notes for editors: Xcel was founded 4 years ago to encourage widening participation among women, multi-ethnic groups and the disabled. The Xcel Student of the Year awards are a celebration of successful students in these groups. The idea is to inspire and encourage 16-19 year olds.
For images or more information please contact:
Neil McKeown, Public Relations
University of Greenwich
Tel: 020 8331 9420