A dedicated nurse whose work has helped the most vulnerable people in Leicester has been given an honorary degree by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
Jane Gray is the executive director of Inclusion Healthcare, a not-for-profit social enterprise which provides healthcare services for the homeless and other vulnerable groups.
Based in Charles Berry House, in Leicester City Centre, it reaches 1,000 people making a real difference often in life or death situations. Its surplus money is ploughed back into improving services for the vulnerable people it serves.
Jane, who is a DMU graduate, has also helped DMU students by passing on her expertise and many have gained invaluable experience at Inclusion Healthcare.
She said: "I feel deeply honoured just to have been considered for this award. I am genuinely both stunned and delighted that De Montfort University have given me this honorary degree in recognition of the work I feel privileged to do, serving the city's homeless and vulnerable populations, members of our community who I care passionately about."
Graduating with her today were hundreds of students from the university’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. They include those working in the health care disciplines such as audiology and biomedical science to criminologists, social workers and pharmacists.
Dr Gray said she was “completely humbled” to be receiving the Honorary Doctor of Letters and had sage advice for the graduates.
She said: “I continue to be inspired by the incredible people I meet and often, I reflect on the resilience and courage of the people we serve as they move away from homelessness.
“As you leave here, do stop and think about your lives and what makes you happy. Think about your future and what you wish to achieve. You can’t change what has already gone, but you can choose how you move forward. Set your goals, work towards them, Believe in yourself – you may surprise yourself. I wish you all so very well.”
Posted on Wednesday 21 January 2015