One of our current students has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award recognising outstanding achievement and adaptability.
Leo Cavanagh, a second-year Politics and International Relations student, has been shortlisted for the Government and Public Sector Award at the 2026 Student Social Mobility Awards.
Organised by the social mobility charity upReach, the awards celebrate undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds who have overcome challenges to succeed at university and prepare for their future careers.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Drapers' Hall in London on 8 July.
Growing up in Cannock, Staffordshire, Leo attended a state school which was rated inadequate by Ofsted when he first joined and he never imagined studying at Durham.
He said: "Elite universities felt like places I observed from a distance rather than somewhere I could realistically belong."
While applying to university, Leo balanced his studies with 25-hour working weeks in retail to help ease the financial pressure on his family.
As the first person in his family to attend university, he says the transition into higher education brought new challenges.
"Access alone is not enough," he said. "Student finance may make university possible on paper, but rising living costs often mean students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are focused more on getting by financially than fully experiencing university life."
Since arriving at Durham, Leo has embraced opportunities to build his confidence and develop his career ambitions.
Leo has joined his college's advisory board, where he represents the interests of working-class and LGBTQ+ students. He has also become a member of the Durham Union, taking advantage of its renowned programme of guest speakers and networking opportunities.
Through the Patchwork Foundation's Masterclass Programme and support from upReach, he has gained valuable experience, including a Civil Service Summer Internship, while exploring careers in public service and policymaking.
Leo hopes his story will encourage other students from similar backgrounds to believe in their potential.
"I would encourage students not to feel they need to change parts of themselves in order to succeed. Over time, I realised that my background and experiences are not something to hide," he said.
His nomination highlights both his personal achievements and Durham’s commitment to supporting talented students from all backgrounds to thrive during their studies and beyond.
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