A University of Worcester graduate whose work has helped change the lives of hundreds of children and adults across the region has spoken of her pride at being awarded an Honorary University Fellowship, describing the University as the "springboard" that made her career possible.
Lee Gough, Development Director at Megan Baker House, received the honour in recognition of her outstanding contribution to charity and community life through nearly two decades of leadership at the specialist conductive education charity.
Lee said she couldn’t quite believe it when she learned she was being offered the Fellowship.
"I couldn't believe it. I thought, 'Why me? Why?'" she said.
"I always wanted to stay at the University of Worcester,” she said. “I didn't want to leave when I had to because I just enjoyed it so much. I enjoyed the whole experience so I’m very honoured and privileged to now be back as part of the College of Fellows."
Lee graduated from Worcester in 2000 with a BA (Hons) in English and Sociology while raising three young children as a single parent, balancing family life with lectures, coursework and assignments.
Looking back, she says the confidence she gained at Worcester changed the course of her life.
"If it hadn't been for me having been at the University, I wouldn't be doing this now," she said. "It was a springboard that got me started and got me to my role at Worcester Cathedral. And then it carried on from there."
After graduating, Lee moved into fundraising, first helping deliver major restoration work at Worcester Cathedral before embarking on what would become her life's work at Megan Baker House.
When she first joined the charity, it focused solely on supporting children with neurological movement disorders. Since then, the organisation has expanded significantly, now working with both children and adults across a wide range of conditions.
Today, Megan Baker House supports families and service users from across the region, helping people improve movement, independence and confidence through conductive education.
Lee says witnessing those transformations continues to inspire her.
"Within quite a short space of time, parents see that their child is able to stand in some way, maybe not as you and I do, but stand, and then eventually to take steps."
The Fellowship comes at a particularly challenging time for the charity, which is currently working to address a significant funding shortfall after missing out on a major grant.
For Lee, maintaining support for the people who rely on Megan Baker House remains her highest priority.
"It enables us to continue the way we are and operate services the way we operate them now," she said.
"If we don't, it means cutting services and there's so many people relying on us."
She hopes greater awareness will also help challenge misconceptions about disability.
“When I first joined Megan Baker House,” she recalled, “a friend said, 'I don't know how you could do that, Lee, all those poor children.' Well, they're not poor children, they're children just like mine."
Despite the challenges facing the sector, Lee remains optimistic about the future and hopes her closer connection with the University through the Fellowship will create new opportunities for collaboration, student placements and raising awareness of the charity's work.
"It's a great feeling to have, to know that we've got this closer link with the University than we've ever had before."
For a woman who once found herself completing assignments in the early hours of the morning while raising three young children, becoming an Honorary Fellow is a remarkable milestone.
Yet Lee remains convinced that the journey began in Worcester's lecture theatres.
"If it hadn't been for me having been at the University, I wouldn't be doing this now."
"It was being at the University that was the springboard."
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk