A STUDENT has been presented with an award at the House of Lords for her determination to turn her life around after she was attacked.

Helen Beardon-Hambleton, 38, of Sutton Poyntz, received the Helena Kennedy Foundation award at a special ceremony, where she was singled out for reaching higher education against all the odds.

She overcame being attacked while working as a civil servant three years ago.

Helen said: “It makes it very clear how vulnerable you are.

“Physically it didn’t take me very long to get over it but mentally it took a long time.”

Mum-of-one Helen decided to change her life and enrol on a Fresh Start programme at Weymouth College.

She said: “I remember meeting the tutor outside the building because I was so nervous about going in.

“I left school at 15 and went straight to New Zealand to live with my uncle, I didn’t have any qualifications.”

Former Formula One truck driver Helen is now studying a Forensic Science foundation degree at Weymouth College. She plans to become a collision investigator.

The £1,500 bursary will support Helen’s costs while studying and the award has also given her access to mentoring and work shadowing opportunities.

Helen received her award from human rights lawyer and peer Baroness Helena Kennedy.

Baroness Kennedy said: “I am delighted to have presented Helen with one of our awards in recognition of her huge achievements in reaching university against the odds.

“Each student who receives an award has been selected because they are special and have shown real talent and determination.”

Helen thinks she won the award for these reasons.

“I think you just have to push ahead if you want to change anything.

“It’s very easy to sit back and feel sorry for yourself.”

Picking up the award at the House of Lords was a day that Helen will never forget.

She said: “I went with my stepmother Stephanie Beardon. There were over 100 recipients there. It was such an amazing day.”

Ross Kay, vice principal and director of learning for higher education at Weymouth College, said: “Helen joined Weymouth College through our Fresh Start programme after having to stop work due to a violent attack in her workplace.

“Following her Fresh Start, she went on to our Access to HE programme within our Degree Centre at Weymouth College and is now on our Foundation degree (FdSc) Forensic Science.

“Her progress has been outstanding.”