London Met student Leah Royal has secured a pivotal new role supporting families of those in custody, while completing the final year of her BSc (Hons) Youth Studies degree
Date: 16 October 2025
After beginning her higher education journey at the University of Roehampton, Leah transferred to London Met to pursue a BSc (Honours) in Youth Studies, a course that she says reignited her passion for working within the criminal justice system.
Now in her final year of study, Leah has been appointed Family Engagement Manager at PACT’s Family Engagement Advice Service based at Pentonville Prison. In her new role, Leah manages a team of family engagement workers and oversees her own caseload of families, offering advice and guidance to help them stay connected with their loved ones in prison. Her responsibilities include supporting families with visiting arrangements, accessing financial assistance, and participating in workshops and courses designed to strengthen family relationships.
Leah will also coordinate and deliver a variety of activity days – including dads’ reading groups, art classes, and other family-focused sessions – aimed at improving communication and wellbeing for both prisoners and their families.
During her time at London Met, Leah gained valuable experience working with a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in North London. There, she developed innovative approaches to youth engagement, such as inviting young people to attend lectures at the University to give them a meaningful introduction to higher education and inspire future academic aspirations.
Reflecting on her studies, Leah shared how her Youth Studies course has directly shaped her professional development.
“Through the course, I rediscovered my passion for the criminal justice system,” she explained. “This new role feels like a natural career progression from my work in the PRU, and an opportunity to apply the theory I learned from the Youth Studies course – especially the module Management and Supervision in Youth and Community Work Settings.”
Leah’s achievement highlights the real-world impact of London Met’s Youth Studies programme, which equips students with the skills and confidence to make a difference in their communities – from youth work and education to family engagement and social justice.
