My name is Jemma Jessup, I am a third-year BSc Nutrition and Health student at the University of Roehampton, London and was a co-founding member of the Nutrition and Health society at Roehampton. I am also a senior student ambassador and a dedicated Food Bank Volunteer.
What made you want to study Health and Nutrition?
My route to studying Nutrition is a little less conventional than most (if there even is one), it started when I was on furlough in 2020 during the pandemic. I had a very different career prior to my degree, whereby I worked for a designer responsible for dressing the late HM the Queen, alongside other well-respected names. I absolutely loved my job, but when the pandemic hit, I found more time on my hands than I knew what to do with, so indulged my curiosity and followed my passion for nutrition (which I had always thought of as more of an interest than potential career).
I began volunteering in the Deptford warehouse for The Felix Project, which is what really sparked my passion for food advocacy. This volunteer role is what lead me to join all the dots surrounding my interest in food, health and nutrition. There are numerous complex food and nutrition elements involved in my family history so deciding to embark on a nutrition career really brought everything together for me.
Initially I completed an online Science Access course, which gave me the equivalent qualification of a Chemistry and Biology A level. After that is when I decided that I wanted to take this career change seriously and began looking into my options – which living in London seems almost unlimited! I began to narrow my search by looking into the background of a few nutritionists I had followed for years on Instagram, in particular Rhiannon Lambert, who I discovered to be a Roehampton alumnus!
Tell us about your experience co-founding the Nutrition and Health society at the RSU.
It was after a project in my Professional Practice module in my 1st year that led to a couple of my classmates and I deciding we should relaunch and reclaim the Nutrition and Health society. We were told that one use to be in existence years ago, but sadly hadn’t stood the test of time. It was definitely a little challenging getting it off the ground, but once the risk assessments and signature requirements were ticked off, we could plan our launch at the 2022 Freshers Fair.
Being one of the founding members of a society opens more doors than you might first think! For one, I was approached to join the catering review board in the 2022-2023 academic year. This was an opportunity to use my student voice and feedback to the catering company who supply the canteens on campus. I am a huge advocate for bringing healthier options to the forefront of campus, so I was delighted to join this conversation – perhaps one I need to follow up with the new pizza machine arrival in the library!
In your opinion, why should a student join a society with the RSU?
As a student who commutes to campus, it can feel a little difficult to find a group of like-minded individuals. The array of societies at Roehampton means there is something for everyone, and if not, you are thoroughly encouraged to start your own.
The best part of it is being able to test out new sports, clubs and hobbies. Whilst I’m not part of the rowing or squash society, that doesn’t mean I didn’t sign up to their taster sessions to see what it was all about. Joining a society can either be a step outside of your comfort zone, or a step towards a group of people that share your enthusiasm for something.
What advice would you give to a prospective student who is nervous about starting university?
Starting university is nerve wracking, regardless of how sure of your course, modules or accommodation you are. I was worried about feeling a lot older than my peers, but that fear was squashed immediately.
My friends laugh at me because I always sit in the front rows of my lectures, but the reality is that I feel more confident to ask questions in a big lecture hall if I can’t see the hundreds of people sat behind me. So, I recommend putting your needs at the forefront of your attention, and making sure all your choices benefit you and leaning into the experience.
What are the main highlights of studying Health and Nutrition at Roehampton?
A highlight for me is the size of the university and in particular the size of the nutrition course at Roehampton. I knew I wanted to study at a university where my lectures would know my name or at least recognise my face in the corridor, and that’s exactly what Roehampton offers.
Studying at Roehampton also means you can support the university, which I do though my role as a senior student ambassador. The role is a diverse one, but my favourite shifts include working as part of the Clearing team on results day and Wimbledon book fest, which last year included the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and former political voice and author Alastair Campbell.
Roehampton has opened more doors than I can list… In particular, last summer I was approached by the Nutrition department to participate in a paid internship in collaboration with the Big South Project. The internship allowed me to work with one of my brilliant lectures, registered nutritionist and chef Clem Cleave, alongside the support of Dr Sue Reeves and Dr Yuwei Lin.
Jemma recently wrote a blog piece titled: Supermarkets or Super Marketers? Unmasking the marketing ‘magic’. The article focuses on the advertising regulations around less healthy foods and the government legislation which is attempting to reduce obesity rates in the UK. Read it here.
The BSc Nutrition and Health at Roehampton is accredited by the Association for Nutrition, and we are ranked the 5th university in London for Nutrition and Dietrics (Complete university Guide 2023). For more information visit the course page here.