The Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire has praised the University of Worcester’s inclusive ethos and approach on a visit.
Brigadier Roger Brunt CBE DL had a tour around some the University’s key buildings and met Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Worcester.
He said he thought the University’s approach to inclusion was “inspired”. “It’s a thoughtful, modern, sensible balanced approach which aims to give everybody a fair chance and I think that’s wonderful,” he added. “The University is creating a level playing field and it seems to me that’s what most people want.”
Brigadier Brunt’s tour included the Nursing facilities and new student hall of residence at St John’s campus, as well as the City Campus, Art House, moot Law Courts and the joint-owned University and Worcestershire County Council library, The Hive. It also took in the Severn Campus, including the University of Worcester Arena and the ongoing construction of the new Centre for Health and Medicine.
Brigadier Brunt, who is the Patron of Worcester Snoezelen, praised the new hall of residence, which has two rooms specifically adapted for wheelchair users, and more generally the thought that the University has put into making its facilities inclusive. He gave an example of the ramp at the University of Arena for wheelchair users. “It’s around the front of the building, not at the back,” said Brigadier Brunt. “It just shows that a lot of people talk about giving equal treatment for people with disabilities. It seems the University has put their money where their mouth is, which is great.”
Brigadier Brunt also highlighted how impressed he has been by some of the University’s ambitious projects in recent years. He said: “I’m always impressed by The Hive, it’s just astonishing. It’s such an inspired idea with regard to both use by the public and the University community. And I’m always impressed by the Arena and what that does for both sport and young people in Worcester.”
“I’m a resident of Worcester and I know that the University has been a huge and growing part of the life of the City in the last 20 years I have lived here,” he added. “Whilst I have gone to places individually like The Hive and St John’s campus for various things, it’s been a real education just going around and seeing not only what’s here but the ambition of what could come in future and the care and thought that’s going into everything. If I was a student, I would be very excited. What strikes me is that the University has cared about the past, with an eye to the future.”
Seeing some of the converted Second World War buildings on campus, which were used at one time to process the personal effects of RAF bomber crews lost on operations, Brigadier Brunt said this had been a poignant moment for him as his uncle’s effects would have been among them.
Brigadier Brunt has been a Deputy Lieutenant for Worcestershire since 2019 and was appointed Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire in 2021 by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, with Her Majesty The Queen’s approval.
Brigadier Brunt served in the British Army for three decades. On retirement from the Army, he became the UK Government’s regulator for security in the civil nuclear sector. He is the County President of Worcestershire Royal British Legion, the Chair of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Justices of the Peace in the Midlands Region and a Lay Member of the Lord Chancellor’s Staffordshire and West Mercia Advisory Committee.