Award-winning broadcaster and campaigner, Carrie Grant MBE, has been announced as the next special guest for the latest instalment of the University of Bedfordshire’s popular ‘An Evening With’ public lecture series.
Taking place on Tuesday, April 26, at 5.30pm, ‘An Evening With…Carrie Grant MBE’ will be running as a hybrid event – meaning the audience can attend in-person at the Luton campus or remotely via a live-stream
Grant – who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts for her services to charity by the University’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences in 2018 – will be delivering a live public lecture titled ‘Finding Your Voice in a Loud World’, which will focus on finding truly inclusive, collaborative approaches to work and life.
She has spent more than three decades working in the entertainment industry as a singer and vocal coach alongside the likes of Take That and Michael Jackson. In 2020, Grant was awarded an MBE for her services to Music, Media and Charity.
She is also a keen campaigner for change in healthcare systems and for the celebration of neurodiversity in society. Together with her husband – with whom she shares four children with special needs – Grant runs support groups for over 150 families with autistic children, with a monthly parent support group running for the past six years and a weekly parents’ group which has been active for the past eleven years.
The title of her public lecture, ‘Finding your voice in a loud world’, refers to the importance of feeling that you can advocate for yourself and find agency over your own life – also referring to singing and the benefits that singing can bring to your physical and mental wellbeing.
Under represented
Grant is also dedicated to giving a platform to voices of under represented communities, especially those with intersections, such as being Afro-Caribbean and neurodivergent and/or LGBTQI+. She strongly believes those voices need to be represented more widely in society and, additionally, this lecture will touch upon the mental health implications of remaining unheard.
Speaking about her upcoming public lecture with the University of Bedfordshire, Grant said: “There is freedom to be found when you find your true voice, wisdom to be developed as you learn when and how to use it, and magic to be discovered when you add it to other voices. This is fundamental to leadership in the 21st century. I’m really looking forward to presenting this public lecture.”
Professor Rebecca Bunting, Vice-Chancellor, is the host of Bedfordshire’s successful ‘An Evening With…’ public lecture series. Ahead of the next event she commented: “It’s a privilege to welcome back Carrie Grant MBE to the University to talk to attendees about her fascinating career and fantastic charity and campaign work.
“Her lecture is sure to be engaging and insightful and I hope it will inspire both current and prospective students, as well as the wider University community. I encourage anyone with an interest in the charity or entertainment sectors to register for this wonderful evening and hear what wisdom she has to share.”
‘An Evening With… Carrie Grant MBE’ is free for the public, students and staff to attend – simply register through Eventbrite and opt to join in-person or via the online livestream.
For more information about other upcoming University events visit: www.beds.ac.uk/events
