NCW student Zac is passionate about politics, both in the UK and globally. He’s a keen follower of current affairs and is deeply engaged with political issues that matter to him. Closer to home, Zac is equally passionate about New College Worcester and is a strong advocate for the school’s work in raising awareness of the challenges faced by people with a vision impairment—both in accessing specialist education and in securing opportunities in the workplace.

Looking ahead, Zac is excited to begin studying Politics in Sixth Form at NCW. He’s already showing great enthusiasm for exploring and challenging political topics that spark his interest and concern.

Armed with an agenda of issues important to him, Zac requested to meet his local MP, Mr Blake Stephenson. He was delighted to be invited to meet him on Monday 14th April whilst he was home from NCW for the Easter break. Mr Stephenson gave Zac lots of time to chat through the things that are important to him, including telling Mr Stephenson all about NCW and the difference it has made to his education, his mental health and his future career prospects as a blind young person. Mr Stephenson was delighted to hear all about the work that NCW do to support VI young people, and the work currently going on by the school to lobby the Government for further investment in VI schools and employment opportunities. As a result of Zac’s meeting, Mr Stephenson has agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, in support of the recent open letter to the Government that NCW has recently sent. Mr Stephenson was also keen to look at tabling specific questions on this topic in the House of Commons!

Zac also had the opportunity to talk to Mr Stephenson about the lack of step free access at his local train station, support for investment in the local infrastructure where we live, and the plans for the new Universal Studio Park that has just been approved to be built very close to where we live.