Wednesday 24-08-2022 - 16:05

Anna Louise Holland
2001 – 2022

It is with a heavy heart that we share news of the passing of Anna Holland, who passed away peacefully at home a few weeks ago. 

A recent graduate of BA Early Years Education and Care, Anna was looking forward to starting her PGCE at UWTSD.

Anna wanted to help others and blossomed during her time volunteering with the Students’ Union. 

In 2020/21, Anna was voted in as a Part-time Officer to represent all LGBTQ+ students on our Carmarthen campus. Anna attended councils and meetings to help support change and hold other student representatives accountable for ensuring the best experience for students. 

Anna also had the opportunity to work closely with the Student Voice Team to create change for the students she represented, and oh my, did she take this opportunity.

A notable achievement Anna made was her Safe Space campaign, which promoted LGBTQ+ safe spaces by distributing colourful LGBTQ+ Safe Space and Proud Ally stickers across our Carmarthen campus. These stickers are a colourful reminder that the campus is an inclusive space.

We placed stickers in the CWAD cafe, Stationery Shop, IT Service Desk, and Student Services. University and Union staff also displayed stickers on their doors and laptops.

Anna personally gave stickers to students at our pop-up event, which they placed on their laptops to show their support. In addition to the pop-up, Anna requested help to share stickers via Pride Packs, that were given to students on Lampeter and Swansea Campuses.

After the success of the campaign, Anna was asked for her comments – “I am really grateful to the Students’ Union for supporting me in carrying out my idea. Seeing it come to life has been really exciting”.

We loved Anna’s initiative. A member of the Students’ Union who worked closely with Anna in her role of Part Time Officer said the following:

“Anna was a quiet and kind person who truly wanted to help make UWTSD a place for all. She always brought ideas and passion for the LGBTQ+ community to her 1-2-1 meetings with the Students’ Union. I was really impressed with the enthusiasm that went into Anna’s Safe Space campaign; she even went as far as sending over small design ideas for our design team to work from. On the day of the pop-up event Anna came out of her shell big time, she stopped and spoke to students entering the CWAD cafe without the need to lean on any Students’ Union staff. I asked Anna how she felt the event had gone and exclaimed how proud I was at her just speaking to people so confidently. Anna was beaming and agreed that she had stepped out of her comfort zone and felt positive about how the Pop-Up had gone. The loss of Anna will be felt deeply by staff and students alike and we are very saddened to not have her here to continue her great work with the Students’ Union as a post-graduate student.”

Anna’s legacy at UWTSD and her involvement with the Students’ Union will live on, and the great things she achieved throughout her young life! 

 

Funeral Arrangements

For all those staff and students who would like to pay their respects, a celebration of Anna’s life will be taking place this week at 11am on Friday 26 August at Llanelli Crematorium.

Dress code

Please wear something colourful. Anna’s favourite was Yellow. Her mother stated that “Just come as your best self! No wallflowers”.

 

Support

If you have been affected by this sad news the university’s Wellbeing Service is here to support you. All the information about services is on the website but there is some key information below:

 

Student Assistance Programme

The Student Assistance Programme is available 24 hours a day to all students at UWTSD. This includes single session counselling and signposting to external bereavement services. There is also further information and guidance, as well as a Live Chat function available via the app.

24/7 Helpline: 0800 028 3766.   

App Information: You can download the app and log onto Health Assured via www.healthassuredeap.co.uk. The username is: ‘wellbeing’ and the password to access the portal is ‘LoopMIndTram’

 

University Wellbeing Service

The University Wellbeing Service, including counselling and advice, can now be accessed via the Support Request Form. Please complete this to self-refer and the service will be in touch to discuss and arrange the support you’d like to access.

If you are concerned about a fellow student you can let the Wellbeing Service know by submitting a Cause for Concern form. This means we can work with them to keep themselves safe and to access any support that they need.

If you have any issues accessing support please contact the Student Hwb at hwb@uwtsd.ac.uk.

 

Additional Support

Togetherall - 24/7 online mental health support. Use your university email address to register.

Student Space by Student Minds provides a variety of different resources and interactive support functions (text, web chat, email, and phone).