Lindsay was an activist. From her teenage years she ardently campaigning for better treatment of people and planet. She volunteered to help existing organisations prosper, working to achieve change in big and small ways.

School and College Years

2005-2007 The Powerpod

Lindsay worked on the Powerpod, a traveling exhibition on renewable energy funded by the Scottish Government. Once constructed, she was an enthusiastic communicator when the Powerpod was at one of its several public exhibitions.

The Woodcraft Folk continues to be a movement for children and young people, open to everyone from birth to adult. Woodcraft Folk offers a place where children will grow in confidence and awareness, learn about the world and start to understand how to value our planet and each other.

2010-2011 Voices into Choices

One of Lindsay’s responses  to the mental health issues she saw around her at school and college, and university, was to launch the “1,000 voices” campaign – an online platform where young people could share their experiences of mental health issues.

She won support from Stephen Fry in September 2011. Catherine Salmond, the journalist who wrote the piece, recalled meeting Lindsay:

“It was one of those interviews you never forget,” she said. “Articulate, impassioned and wise way beyond her then teenage years.”

2008 Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides: Volunteering

As part of the United World Colleges curriculum, students are required to do two weeks volunteering in their first year. Lindsay and fellow students requested to volunteer on the island of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland, where her grandmother came from.

The experience gave Lindsay and four fellow students an insight into the community and the challenges of island living. The students gave back their own international perspective and their energy. Find out more at the Volunteer Centre, Isle of Lewis.

2010 UNFCC Conference Of the Parties (COP) 16 Cancun 

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) meeting was  held in Cancun Mexico in November 2010.

As a result of the negotiations in Cancun, countries pledged to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with developed countries committing to stronger mitigation targets and developing countries taking voluntary actions to reduce emissions.

A group of United World College students, including Lindsay, made their own way to Cancun and volunteered at the COP, contributing long hours of research and secretarial support to the Small Island Nations delegation.

University Years and After

2012-2014 Greater accountability for politicians

Lindsay worked as an intern with the Green MP Caroline Lucas while studying at SOAS. Later working with the pressure group 38 Degrees, she worked with the Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith on legislation to allow constituents to initiate removal of their MP and thus introduce greater accountability for politicians.

Eventually in March 2015 the “Recall of MPs Act” became law in the UK. The legislation makes provision for constituents to recall their member of Parliament (MP) and trigger a by-election.

2013 ‘Cops off Campus’ protests

In response to widespread concern at SOAS about police behaviour in London, students raised a petition of nearly 5000 signatures demanding formal investigation into the Metropolitan Police following the ‘Cops off Campus’ protests.

Lindsay handed the over the petition to the London Metropolitan Police Commissioner, triggering a formal investigation.

2012-2014 London Nightline

Throughout her time at SOAS Lindsay volunteered with Nightline. London Nightline is a confidential overnight helpline that supports students at university across London with their mental health and wellbeing.

For over 50 years, the charity has been there for students during the darkest hours. From academic stress and relationships to mental health and suicidal thoughts, no problem is too big or too small to talk to their dedicated volunteers about.

For more information go to www.nightline.org.uk.

“Wow… The person on the end of the line asked me questions I hadn’t thought of and talked me through a plan of action without directing the conversation, so I now have more of a sense of what I am going to do. Thank you.”