Councillor Anna Rothery has been appointed an Honorary Senior Fellow of Liverpool Hope University - and says she’ll use her position to continue to fight for equality and social justice.
The former Lord Mayor of Liverpool is an independent councillor for the city’s Princes Park ward, and also an acclaimed activist when it comes to social mobility, access to education and racial equality.
And Cllr Rothery says she relishes her relationship with Hope - which dates back a number of years, and with her previously being made a Visiting Fellow of the University.
Speaking at Hope’s Foundation Day ceremony, she said: “I love the ethos of Hope. I’ve met with the Vice Chancellor on a number of occasions and we’ve had long conversations about the equality agenda, Global Majority groups, the LGBTQ+ community, women’s rights, and much more.
“We’ve looked at an end-to-end model of educational mobility, and we’ve looked at how we recruit and retain from the Global Majority.
“And I feel like this ongoing relationship is a good fit for both myself and the University. I welcome the opportunity and I look forward to the work that lies ahead.”
In the past two years Cllr Rothery spearheaded a unique collaboration between Hope and Liverpool City Council in the form of the ‘Bridging the Gap’ Social Work programme - an extension of the University’s Social Work degree offering whereby 15 extra places have been created exclusively for students from diverse communities and Global Majority Groups in Merseyside.
Speaking about the initiative, Cllr Rothery reveals: “It’s not enough to say our doors are open, we have to look at the infrastructure, and about retaining the students who come forward.”
She’s also worked closely with Hope’s Business School and Teacher Education provision.
And now, Cllr Rothery’s remit will be extended to liaise closely with the University’s Creative Campus, examining how to increase Global Majority representation in the arts and media.
She’s also coming to the role with real drive and determination based on personal experiences.
Cllr Rotherty, the first Black Lord Mayor in the history of the city of Liverpool and former mayoral lead on equality and race equality, adds: “I went to a typical comprehensive school and I had to fight really hard just to sit my GCSEs, because there was a reluctance to encourage people from particular sections of the working classes to go forward into education.
“I was really lucky. ‘Objective One’ funding came into Liverpool in the mid-Nineties and education became much more accessible. I was hungry to learn about everything, and I was able to access the education and qualifications that I needed.
“And for me education really is the key to everything; It’s the route out of poverty, it expands your horizons and allows you to take your place in society. It’s one of the most important things we will ever fight for as a society. This worldview underpins everything I stand for - it’s about opening access for everyone.”
Cllr Rothery’s list of achievements is lengthy - and continues to grow.
In 2012 she became the first Liverpool councillor to address the United Nations, where she spoke on religious, linguistic and minority rights at a prestigious summit in Geneva, Switzerland.
She’s a former Chair of Culture Tourism and Sport. And she’s also a member of the Windrush Defenders, an advisory member of Navajo Awards, and a patron of Cheshire and Merseyside Adult Gender Identity Collaborative (CMAGIC).
And Cllr Rothery always enjoys speaking with the Hope students she meets on a regular basis.
She reveals: “What I’d say to young people is that you should not be held back by perceived limitations. If an opportunity arises and you’re interested and passionate about it, then there’s always the chance to learn along the way.”
Cllr Rothery, like the rest of the world, says she’s been watching developments in Ukraine closely - and fully expects Liverpool to do its bit when welcoming refugees to the city.
She proudly states: “We are a city of sanctuary. We will open our arms and welcome people from all over the world, whether it’s Ukraine or it’s Yemen. We’re organised at a community level and we have a history of mobilising quickly and bringing networks together to help those in need.”
Cllr Rothery is also not someone to be silenced - as can be seen from her decision to resign as a member of the Labour party in November last year.
Speaking about the switch to being an Independent Councillor, she adds: “Previously, it felt as if my wings had been clipped. I couldn’t carry on. I’m now much better placed to instigate change because if you can’t debate the issues then you can’t bring about positive change.
“Politics is not about agreeing with everything or everyone all of the time.”