Keele University

Well-being Column

KEELE UNIVERSITY Student invited to Downing Street

Auniversity student was recently invited to 10 Downing Street to mark his success in making the finals of a prestigious international competition.

Keele Uni PhD student Elliott Lancaster, who has been announced as a top ten finalist in the Chegg.org Global Student Prize, has also been praised for his accomplishments by PM Boris Johnson, who wrote to Elliott to congratulate him on his incredible achievement.

A spokesman for Keele Uni said: During the visit, Elliot met with ministers to discuss the work which led to his shortlisting. Elliott has made the top ten of the prestigious competition for his work campaigning for mental health, social enterprise, sustainability, and a solution to homelessness alongside his PhD studies. He has seen off competition from over 3,500 other competitors and is now in the running for a £100,000 prize.

In his letter to Elliott, the Prime Minister wrote: You have shown great courage in overcoming personal challenges, and I know that your success will serve as an inspiration to young people across our country. Your passion for protecting our environment including through your fantastic Utter Rubbish project is inspiring, and exactly what we need at this crucial time in our planets history. I wish you all the best for the final on November 10 and I hope that it will provide an even bigger platform for you to inspire others.

Elliott said: It is very humbling to have been recognised in this way alongside such inspirational students. I look forward to using this platform to amplify the student voice further.

The winner is set to be announced at a virtual ceremony from the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on November 10.