Jason Arday was born to Ghanaian parents and grew up in Clapham, South London. At the age of three, he was diagnosed with autism and global development delay. And during his early childhood he was non-verbal, communicating via sign language.
Countless hours of speech therapy helped, yet it was the enduring support of his mother, who used music and lyrics to connect Jason with language, that finally broke through the silence and, at the age of 11, the words began to flow.
Jason was unable to read or write until the age of 18 and was told by a careers officer that ‘unpaid volunteer work’ was the best he could hope for. But undaunted, Jason and his mother reached out to nearby Merton College, which had a place available on its BTEC in Sport and Development.
With the belief and support of inspirational sports lecturer Sandro Sandri, Jason completed his BTEC and went on to study for a BA in Education Studies with Physical Education followed by an MA in Education and Pedagogy and a Master’s in Education Studies. He completed his PhD at Liverpool John Moores University.
In 2021 Jason was appointed Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Glasgow, making him one of the youngest professors in the UK. And in March 2023, he was appointed Professor of Sociology of Education at Cambridge University – making him the youngest ever person of colour and one of the youngest people to be awarded a professorship at Cambridge at just 37 years of age.
Jason’s philanthropy journey began in 2003 when after a moving visit to a homeless shelter, he decided to raise money for the charity Shelter, setting himself a series of ultra-marathon challenges for charity which involved running 30 marathons in 35 days, 300 miles in three days and 600 miles in six days. He has since gone on to raise more than £5.5 million for 70 different charities over two decades.
He has also undertaken and completed relief work in South America and West Africa with WaterAid installing water points, which provide drinkable and clean water. The highlight of these fundraising achievements culminated in selection to be an Olympic Torch Bearer for the London 2012 Olympics.
He has also been shortlisted three times for The Mirror’s Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year Award, and is now a Pride of Britain judge. Additionally, Jason has set up homeless drives across London to develop mobile soup kitchens and cleaning facilities for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Addressing students receiving their degrees during the ceremony at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge last night, Professor Arday said:
“Anglia Ruskin University is a very special place and I am beyond humbled and honoured. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the entire ARU community, especially the Vice-Chancellor Professor Roderick Watkins for bestowing this wonderful honour upon me. I have greatly appreciated over the years working with colleagues from ARU, particularly Katie Potts, Linda Brown and Julian Priddle who are some of the finest the sector has offer.
“I would like to congratulate the outstanding Class of 2024, it is a privilege to be in their presence on such a special day.”
Professor Watkins said: “Jason shares many values with our Anglia Ruskin University. He embodies our principles of inclusion, excellence in education and research, and in widening participation in higher education.
“Jason is a firm and long-standing friend of ARU. He is a distinguished academic, philanthropist, and a champion of diversity and inclusion.”
