Edinburgh Alumna Sabrina Tickle was presented with the Being Edinburgh alumni award by Chris Cox, Vice-Principal Philanthropy and Advancement, during a graduation ceremony in McEwan Hall on 10 July.
The award was in recognition of Sabrina’s work supporting children, young people and families facing poverty and inequality in Edinburgh.
For more than 15 years, Sabrina has worked across youth and community settings, supporting children, young people and families facing challenging circumstances.
Celebrating impact
The Being Edinburgh Alumni Award celebrates graduates who have made a transformative impact in their communities and professions.
The winner is chosen by a public vote involving students, staff and alumni.
Life-changing work
Sabrina’s career across has been shaped by her own experiences growing up in environments shaped by poverty and instability.
After leaving school at 16, she entered higher education aged 25, an experience that would subsequently shape the direction of her life.
After graduating from Edinburgh with a BA in Education Studies in 2015, Sabrina cofounded the charity The Wee Haven Youth (WHY) Project with friend and fellow graduate Kevin Brown.
The WHY Project is a grassroots organisation supporting and improving the lives of young people in south-west Edinburgh. Since its establishment, the charity has grown into a trusted community organisation, providing youth work, wellbeing support, enrichment opportunities and pathways into employment for more than 120 young people every week.
Alongside her work with The WHY Project, Sabrina also volunteers with the Turn Your Life Around (TYLA) partnership and serves as a trustee of Fresh Start Edinburgh, a charity helping people who have been homeless get established in their new homes.
Graduate award
Previous winners of the Being Edinburgh award include education pioneer Hammed Kayode Alabi and Zhong Nanshan, an epidemiologist recognised for identifying the SARS virus and for his work leading China's COVID-19 response.