Helen Young

Choosing Derby: A place that felt like home

For Helen, the decision to study at the University of Derby was shaped by both circumstance and instinct. Coming from a school where very few students progressed to university, and from a family with no prior experience of higher education, attending university felt like a significant step. While she had also received offers from other universities, Derby stood out immediately for its welcoming atmosphere and sense of community.

Rather than choosing a university based solely on prestige or distance, Helen chose the place that felt right. The city and campus offered a warmth and accessibility that made her feel at home from the very beginning.

Memories that still last 30 years later

Looking back, Helen describes her university years as some of the happiest of her life. Life on campus was filled with friendship, connection and a strong sense of belonging. Whether spending time in the Students’ Union bars, walking through Derby’s green spaces, or working at Superdrug in the Cornmarket, she remembers the city as vibrant, friendly and easy to navigate.

Field trips became some of the most memorable parts of her course, particularly a visit to Morocco - the first country she had travelled to outside of Europe. Experiences like this broadened her perspective and deepened her passion for geography.

What stood out most was the feeling that there was always someone nearby to share experiences with.

Strength through challenges

Although Helen remembers her time at university fondly, it was not without personal challenges. Complicated living arrangements and financial difficulties created uncertainty during her studies, yet she persevered and completed her degree.

Today, she reflects proudly not only on achieving a university education, but on the resilience she developed along the way. The experience strengthened her confidence, independence and ability to cope with difficult situations - qualities that would later become invaluable throughout her career.

Her time at Derby taught her that resilience often matters just as much as academic success, and that personal growth can emerge from overcoming adversity.

Building a creative and varied career in education

Helen’s degree became the foundation for a diverse and fulfilling career within education and creative industries. Beginning as a secondary school teacher, she has since built a portfolio career spanning consultancy, publishing, conservation education and curriculum development.

Today, Helen balances a wide range of roles, including:

• Teaching one afternoon each week in a secondary school
• Working as an Educational Consultant for BBC Bitesize, BBC Studios and Microsoft
• Writing textbooks and video scripts for Cambridge University Press
• Delivering live online conservation sessions
• Creating self-guided walking tours across UK towns and cities
• Leading adult field trips and delivering adult education sessions

Alongside these roles, Helen has contributed to numerous local heritage and interpretation projects, including writing interpretation boards for Burton upon Trent - a project that holds particular personal significance due to her family’s long-standing connection to the town.

A career defined by creativity and opportunity

Among Helen’s many achievements, becoming a published author with Cambridge University Press remains one of her proudest milestones. Her longstanding work with the BBC has also seen her contribute to major educational projects over the last 25 years, including Planet Planners for Roblox.

One particularly unforgettable moment came during lockdown, when she was asked to contribute to writing a script for David Attenborough ahead of a live lesson appearance. Receiving an email, which highlighted an opportunity to get some voice over from David Attenborough, was a surreal moment in a career already filled with unique opportunities.

Advice for future students

Reflecting on her journey, Helen believes success is not necessarily about being the cleverest person in the room. Instead, she credits hard work, resilience and kindness as the qualities that have opened the most doors throughout her career.

Her advice to students considering a similar path is simple: work hard, treat people well and remain open to opportunities.

If she could return to her university days and give her younger self one message, it would be:

Looking ahead

Helen is always exploring new ideas and creative projects. Her latest venture involves writing children’s picture books inspired by locations within the National Forest. With her first book already completed and published by the centre it was written for, she is now working on the next in the series.

She describes the support from the National Forest team as incredibly encouraging and says the project has brought her a huge amount of joy. For Helen, years of hard work have created the freedom to pursue creative ideas, embrace new opportunities and genuinely enjoy what she does.