First-class journey to tackling inequalities

A university graduate is looking to help tackle society’s inequalities after graduating from the first Masters programme of its kind in the region.

Despite leaving school after A-levels at 18 to pursue a music career, Izzy Finch graduates this week during the University of Sunderland’ s Winter Ceremonies with a first-class Distinction.

The28-year-old is one of the first students to graduate from the new MSc Inequality and Society, the first Masters programme of its kind in the region, which explores the rising tide of inequalities in society locally, nationally and globally.

The singer/songwriter was motivated to take her first steps back into education by the degree modules, drawing on her years of experience as a Learning and Participation Officer at The

Customs House in South Shields.

The MSc Inequality and Society offers an understanding of the major cause so finequality, why some groups face unique forms of disadvantage in areas such as health, sexualities, gender, age, domestic abuse, childhood and socioeconomic issues.

Izzy said: “Joining the course has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was able to build on what I have learned during the degree to support my role at the Customs House.

“Challenging and working to eliminate the impact of inequality is something I feel passionately about.

"Working with marginalised and hard to reach communities has helped me to recognise that working in the arts to promote social change is where my ambitions to be a part of a fair society can be realised.”