Two women celebrated their graduation from university at a ceremony put on by the Lloyds Scholars programme in central London last week.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Kayleigh Derricutt being honored for graduating by former head of Lloyds scholars programme Richard CooperKayleigh Derricutt being honored for graduating by former head of Lloyds scholars programme Richard Cooper (Image: Archant)

Radhika Patel and Kayleigh Derricutt, both from Barking, were two of the largest group to graduate from the award-winning programme it began in 2011.

Radhika stole the show, taking home the prestigious Scholars Champion award.

The programme offers young people from lower income households the opportunity to gain employability skills and experience alongside their degrees.

Radhika said: “Deciding to apply to the Lloyds Scholars scheme has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

“I could always talk passionately about something that was important to me, but with the scheme I was given the platform to do so to a lot of senior people, which I never thought I was quite capable of.”