Vicky Taylor - BA (Hons) Social Work (DL)

A mum of 2 who was in an abusive relationship and experienced homelessness gets a second chance at university, graduating 14 years after first starting her degree with a First-Class Honours in BA Social Work.

31-year-old Vicky Taylor, from Elgin, showcases resilience, and sheer determination as she celebrates finally becoming a qualified Social Worker at Children & Families.

“I decided to go back to university as it was a lifelong ambition to finally complete my degree. I moved to Aberdeen when I was 17, with great intentions of studying BA (Hons) Social Work then. Being homesick and feeling overwhelmed away from family and friends, I finished my first year and decided to move back home.

“I was in a horrifically abusive relationship which resulted in my ex-partner being sentenced to 10 years in prison. I had a brief period of being homeless and had social services involvement. Since meeting my now husband and having children of school age, I felt supported and determined to do something ‘for me’ again, so I took a chance and applied to get direct entry into 3rd year.”

Family responsibilities and full-time work were some of the challenges that Vicky had to overcome to succeed in her studies. From her time at RGU, she said: “The flexibility of distance learning whilst being a mum with a husband working away offshore allowed me to balance motherhood and home life with work and my studies.

“I’m immensely proud of my achievements! I would have been happy with a pass, but I never expected to get a First-Class Honours. The hard work definitely paid off.”

Throughout the pandemic, she worked frontline in a substance misuse service and had a placement at the Moray Youth Justice Team, which aims to reduce youth offending and the impact of this behaviour on communities throughout Moray.

“My placement was a great experience, and I always felt very supported by my tutor at RGU. Despite studying during the pandemic, having my placement abruptly ended due to Covid and missing out on two block weeks, I made it!

“I have since accepted a post in the same office where I had my placement, and it’s lovely to return and be part of a team that gave me great learning opportunities.”