For the past five years I have been working with at-risk youth and vulnerable adults in my position with YWAM London Radiant. We run several schools per year, but as we've grown as a base we've begun to branch out beyond that to pioneer projects that have long been on our hearts.

For me, this is government.

While theatre and writing have been my means of challenging people to see the world differently, I've developed a passion for affecting the sphere of society where laws are actually made that change people's lives.

In 2016 my friends and I started The Lazarus Project, which reaches out to the homeless, trafficked, sex workers, refugees, and other marginalised communities. The more I've worked with them, the more I've realised the great need there is for someone who listens and sees them to be in a position of influence.

As I've worked more closely with the government through different events and internships I've encountered the same confusion at every turn: "But you're an actress...why are you here?"

So to counteract that, I'm going back to University! I've been offered a position at the prestigious University College London to get my Masters in Human Rights. UCL has many alumni working everywhere from Amnesty International to the United Nations, and their programme is one of the best in Europe. With this degree I believe that doors will open that I've found previously closed. Instead of seeing me as just an actress or a charity worker they will see that I've put in the time and effort to be trained and qualified to be in a position to represent the oppressed and overlooked.

I hesitated to start a website for this cause because we all have student loan debt, right? In some way we're all on our own in this. But that's just the point:

I don't want to be on my own.

By donating to this fund you're not only helping me go to university, you're taking part in the effort to raise up voices for the voiceless. It isn't about me, it's about a community joining together to stand for those who have been silenced.

I have countless stories to tell, but I'd rather their bearers spoke for themselves. I want to be in a position to make them heard.

Will you help?