From OU assignment to award-winning community project

Posted on 3 December 2024 • Education, languages and health, Student stories

Rachel, 42, from Stockport, used her Youth Studies degree from The Open University (OU) to support hundreds of families in her local community. After changing careers from sales to social justice, Rachel is now the founder of the award-winning Cherry Tree Project, which developed from an idea for one of her assignments into a successful social enterprise.

Rachel shares how the OU gave her much more than just a qualification – it gave her the confidence and skills to pursue a fulfilling career.

“School was great fun, study less so,” recalls Rachel. “I just didn’t know what I wanted to do in life, so I had no fire in my belly. I was a minimum effort, straight C student whose teachers would say ‘doesn’t live up to her potential’.

“I went on to further education after school but quickly quit to start a sales role. It wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my son that I decided to return to education with a health and social care course at my local college.

“Finally, I had found my calling. I knew that this was the industry I wanted to work in, but I needed a degree to take me a step further.

“It was a chance encounter with a lady on the bus that introduced me to the OU. She told me that I could get a degree without A Levels and that her sister was a youth worker after completing a degree with the OU.”

Putting plans in place

This is where Rachel’s OU journey began, and because of the OU’s flexibility, she could juggle her caring responsibilities and volunteer roles alongside her studies.

“The idea for the Cherry Tree Project started as part of an assignment I was completing in my second year of study. We had to plan a project for our local area and I wanted to do something to help the kids on my estate. I’d put in so much work into the project that I thought I might as well give it a go in real life!

“It started as a cooking project during the pandemic. We would deliver the ingredients to families in need and then demonstrate how to make a meal on social media. In just a year, we had over 150 families joining us every week.

“Some of the young people that we were supporting then volunteered to help with the project. Together, we launched a food bank, which fed a further 150 families a week.

“Because we were so busy during COVID, the Council offered us use of a building for free, which was an absolute game changer. With a permanent base, we grew from strength to strength.

“Our focus this year is the launch of a school uniform scheme, where we’re using high-quality pre-loved items to provide families on low-income with complete school uniforms for their children.

“I’m also now the lead at the Stockport Food Network, which provides provisions for all the food banks in Stockport and have just been elected as Councillor for Romiley and Bredbury Green. In my new position, I hope to fix some of the root causes of issues that are impacting families in my area.”

More than just a degree

Through her degree, Rachel gained vital skills that she could put into practice immediately. This meant she could begin helping others long before she graduated.

“The OU gave me confidence in my abilities, which I had never got from school. It just wasn’t a format that worked for me.

“The OU also taught me how to learn. No one had ever taken the time to show me different learning styles and which might suit me best. I was finally able to retain information and get pleasure from learning.

“I’m now working in a role where I’m fulfilled. My actions are changing people’s lives for the better, and although I’m incredibly busy, it’s 100% joyful.

Embrace the future

Rachel has words of wisdom for those considering studying so that they can change careers.

“It’s never too late to take the leap and start following your passions. Whether it’s supporting your community or something else, there’s so much that we can each bring to the table, we just need to find the place where we thrive.

“My message to anyone thinking about studying with the OU would be ‘do it’. I never felt like people had the highest expectations for me, but now I’ve proved it to myself and everyone else. I know my worth and am a much happier and more passionate individual.”

Be the person you’ve always wanted to be with a qualification from the OU. Register before 9 January 2025 for courses starting in February.