STUDENT AMBASSADORS — Trans in the City

Across University campuses, a powerful movement is thriving as trans and non-binary students come together to form on-campus networks. These incredible individuals are creating safe spaces, fostering community, and amplifying the voices of trans and non-binary people. Their passion, resilience, and dedication are shaping the future and inspiring students across the country. And we at Trans in the City consider ourselves very fortunate to have some of these students as our ambassadors!

In these on-campus networks, trans and non-binary students find a sanctuary where they can express themselves freely and authentically. They create a support system that embraces diversity, celebrates individuality, and offers a sense of belonging. Through the bonds formed within these networks, they find the strength to navigate the challenges they face and to flourish academically, personally, and socially.

One of the most remarkable aspects of these on-campus networks is their commitment to advocacy and empowerment. They take charge of their own narratives, raising awareness about the unique experiences, struggles, and triumphs of trans and non-binary individuals. By organising events, workshops, and panel discussions, they foster understanding, dismantle misconceptions, and spark meaningful conversations that lead to positive change.

Our lead Ambassador, Neve Story of Cambridge University, joined Trans in the City in March 2023. This is what they had to say about why being an ambassador means so much to them!

“With the transgender and non-binary community becoming more visible, especially amongst young people, it is increasingly important for universities to consider their role in promoting not only the social and emotional wellbeing of their students, but also in fostering change beyond the lecture hall.

I first became involved with Trans in the City in 2023 after meeting Bobbi Pickard at a Cambridge University speakers’ event on LGBTQ+ women in business. It was upon seeing a transgender trailblazer that I realised what had been lacking in previous conversations about employment and graduate life – representation of my community not only surviving but thriving. This sense of belonging was the driving force behind the creation of the Student Ambassadorship Programme, seeking to inform staff and students at universities about the specific legal, social, and professional issues that transgender and non-binary people continue to face in the workplace. Beginning its journey as a small flagship programme, my aspiration is for the programme to blossom into a national network of transgender people and allies working to improve the accessibility and diversity of corporate spaces by expanding universities’ careers offerings, centring conversations about transgender and non-binary experiences.

In my personal experience, allyship is often viewed as operating in isolated contexts; how to support transgender people in education, in the workplace, and in public life. However, these elements are intrinsically connected. By supporting transgender students to feel safe and included on campus, universities can lay the foundations of self-belief and security that allow the focus to be on entering the corporate arena with confidence. For a community that is regularly overlooked and devalued, this can be lifechanging. Trans in the City’s threefold approach – educate, demonstrate, and celebrate – celebrates not only universities’ implementation of new, inclusive policies that champion diversity, but also reflection on where current systems can be improved. Furthermore, Trans in the City’s extensive list of industry partners supports universities in helping transgender students navigate inclusive graduate opportunities through the mentoring and expertise of likeminded professionals, a rarity given the current limited visibility of transgender and non-binary people in senior roles.

Transgender and non-binary allyship is steadily becoming an integral part of universities’ diversity and inclusion policies as we face increasingly hostile social and political rhetoric. Being non-binary myself, the approach that Trans in the City takes towards promoting change within the workplace is a comforting reminder of the power and dignity of community. Seeing this reflected in active and purposeful inclusion initiatives by universities sends a powerful and necessary message; transgender and non-binary students exist, are welcome in education, and deserve informed and meaningful support to help them succeed in future careers.”

Join us as a Student Ambassador!