A STOURBRIDGE psychology student has been awarded a scholarship to help her fund a volunteer trip to Sri Lanka.

Imogen Healy, who is studying at University of Worcester, will travel to the Asian country later this year to work alongside psychology professionals.

The 21-year-old said: “I will be on a psychology-based placement for the duration of my stay, and my timetable will be broken down by days.

“I’ll be working with those with learning difficulties and mental illnesses, and for one day every week I will be based in an 800-bed psychiatric unit in the Colombo district, working within the acute learning disability and occupational therapy units.”

She continued: “I’ll also be delivering projects to local children and teaching local youths, so it’s a great opportunity to get some real hands-on experience as a psychologist in an international setting – something that will be extremely beneficial in my future career.”

Although this will be the first time Imogen has travelled abroad to further her skills, she has extensive experience volunteering for UK-based mental health charities.

Dr Tim Jones, head of psychological sciences at the university, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Imogen and is testament to the dedication of our students in developing their skill set and helping to realise their career ambitions."