Honorary Graduate: Melanie Brown MBE

What made you choose Leeds Beckett and this course?

This is not a straightforward answer. Leeds Beckett came to me to offer me an Honorary degree in Performing Arts. Obviously, I was really flattered BUT because of everything I have been through in a ten-year abusive marriage and because of everything I’ve learnt since, and as Patron of Women’s Aid, I wanted to take this opportunity and make the most of it.

I didn’t want to just accept an honorary degree. I wanted to be able to learn something that would help me and help other women. When I wanted to write my book, Brutally Honest, I didn’t actually even realise I had been in a coercive relationship for ten years. My writer had to slowly put everything together for me and explain that what I had gone through was something thousands of women – and many men – go through. I wanted to learn about Trauma because trauma is the overwhelming emotion you are left with. So luckily for me, the staff at Leeds Beckett are incredible people. They helped me chose the right course, changed the title of my degree and allowed me to come as a student which was one of the best experiences of my life.

What do you hope to do with what you learn on your course?

Trauma is part of my everyday state of mind. It is part of the everyday state of mind of everyone who is a survivor or anyone who is going through domestic abuse. Of course there are many, many reasons why people have trauma but for me as Patron of Women’s Aid, I wanted to be able to understand it as a survivor. It means when I talk to other survivors, when I talk to politicians, police, HR departments and all the people I speak to as part of my work with the charity, I can talk with the experience and knowledge I have learnt at Leeds Beckett.

What makes Leeds a special place for students to live or study?

It’s a great city, great people. There are so many things to do and explore in Leeds whether you want the city itself or the beautiful countryside. What do they say about Yorkshire – it’s God’s own county. That’s true.

And what's your favourite thing about Leeds?

That’s hard. The people, the sense of humour and the fish and chips – with scraps!

Who has been the most inspirational person in your life and why?

As a Spice Girl I have had – and still have – the privilege of meeting so many incredible people from Nelson Mandela to music legends like Prince, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney but honestly, the people who really inspire me are the women who email me on a daily, weekly basis telling me their survivor stories, pushing through awful things that happen to them in life, always trying to move forward, care for their kids… so many are out there suffering terrible things with no help from the family courts, the legal system, the police… but so many of them inspire me to just keep fighting for them, keep shouting for justice.

What advice would you give to your fellow graduates?

Follow your passion. Work hard, have a goal and just go for it.

If you had to choose any other course to study at LBU – what would it be and why?

I’d like to do more trauma-based courses or any course that helps in terms of understanding the neurological and emotional impact of abuse and trauma and what we can do to make societal change.