Birmingham City University

🖼️ Inspired Festival Stories: Fine Art 🖼️

Hannah’s love of nature lead to her interactive, walkthrough project. The project is made up of ceramic pieces, printed media, sound and scent throughout the exhibition.

Feeling Inspired? Check out Inspired Festival 2026: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/arts/inspired-festival”

Try this revision method if you struggle to focus, or have ADHD! 🎧 Find more tips by downloading our free revision guide - linked in bio!

After being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as a child, and told he may never walk or speak, Thomas faced years of rehabilitation, major surgery and setbacks with incredible determination, never losing sight of his goal to attend university 💪

Now on track for a first-class degree, Thomas hopes his journey will inspire others facing barriers, with ambitions to one day work within organisations such as the The Football Association and Formula 1.

🎥 Inspired Festival Stories: Media Production 🎥

Abbie was diagnosed with cancer as a teenager. In her short film, she explores the stigma around having cancer and how she felt treated during this time of her life. Now being cancer free, she aims to break taboos around talking about cancer, and wants others to feel less uncomfortable talking about it.

Feeling Inspired? Check out Inspired Festival 2026: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/arts/inspired-festival

🎨 Inspired Festival Stories: Art and Design with Creative Technologies 💻

Helen’s project reimagines school curriculums for students aged 16-18 years old to include time in nature as mandatory. She has used digital 3D modelling software, VR and created a nature activity guidebook for students to follow.

Feeling Inspired? Check out Inspired Festival 2026: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/arts/inspired-festival

Menstrual Health Optimisation is an AI-powered application designed to help women manage period pain through personalised dietary guidance.

Built using research-backed insights into the relationship between nutrition and menstrual health, the project helps make trusted information more accessible and easier to apply in everyday life.

Search ‘BCU Innovation Fest’ to find out more

Aquablue is a smart waste-collection boat designed to help keep waterways cleaner and protect aquatic ecosystems.

See how the idea behind Aquablue came to life and how innovative technology can help create a healthier environment.

Search ‘BCU Innovation Fest’ to find out more

Inspired Festival: Kseniia’s story 🇺🇦🌸

Being born in Eastern Ukraine, Kseniia had her life impacted by the 2014 conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

After moving to the UK, she started studying at BCU and has decided to use her final project to dive into the impact that these events had on her and others of her age that went through the same situation.

Her social media channel, (.yak on TikTok), includes personal stories and those of others. Kseniia hopes to encourage discussions amongst young people that have been affected by war, and explore how it has changed others.

Feeling Inspired? Check out Inspired Festival 2026: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/arts/inspired-festival

Jordan is one of the students who was awarded the Henderson Scholarship,
generously funded by BCU graduate and Slack co-founder Cal Henderson and his wife Rebecca, through the Henderson Family Foundation. Curious about the application process? Jordan explains more. Check if you could be eligible by searching Henderson Bursaries and Scholarships.