Mother and daughter graduate from same degree course at Wrexham University.
Date: August 27. 2026
A mother and daughter are celebrating after graduating together from Wrexham University.
Katie Stretton, 27, and her mother Caroline, completed the Mental Health Nursing degree this summer and have already secured roles in the sector. After years working in other fields, they are now encouraging others to take the plunge and consider a career in nursing.
Katie Stretton (right) with mother Caroline
“I had worked in retail previously,” said Katie. “So this was a completely new field for me. I chose this course because I find mental health extremely interesting. I am fascinated by how the brain works and how it can affect our thoughts, emotions and behaviours. So, I wanted to develop my knowledge and understanding of something I have a genuine interest in.
“Initially, it was my mum who suggested doing the course, and we agreed to complete it together. I’m grateful that she encouraged me, as I don’t think I would be where I am today if it wasn’t for her support. She pushed me to reach my full potential and gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.”
“I had several jobs prior to coming to uni,” added Caroline. “I was a director of wedding dress shops and ran my own pub. During Covid I started working in a care home and completed my level 2 and 3 in health and social care. A work colleague suggested we go to college to get our qualifications to attend university to become mental health nurses. My daughter said she would like to do it too, so we applied and started together.
“From day one I enjoyed the whole learning experience, and being on the course with my daughter was a proud moment for me. She has a young daughter so it was sometimes a struggle for her doing placements, but she carried on and I’m proud of us both. I’m so happy that my daughter will have a career for the rest of her life. I know she’s sorted now.”
“We both found the course difficult at times,” added Katie. “But having each other was a great support. My mum and I work in very different ways. She was extremely organised with her work, whereas I had a habit of leaving it until the very last minute! This caused my mum a great deal of stress as she was convinced I wouldn’t finish the work in time! Regardless of the differences in our approaches, it was nice to be able to support each other.
“I would definitely encourage other people to step out of their comfort zone, and that it’s never too late to try something new. Neither of us had any idea of where this course would take us, but we both committed to taking that chance and it has now opened so many new opportunities for us.
“I would absolutely recommend Wrexham Uni for mental health nursing, and I think a big part of that is down to the tutors we had. They have been extremely supportive which made a huge difference to the whole experience, especially during times where we found it more challenging.”
Caroline is also encouraging others to think about doing a degree in later life.
“I surprised myself by being able to do a degree as an older adult,” she said. “But I’m proud. It was challenging, but the tutors on the mental health course helped me through. They were always there to answer my questions and guide me. I am forever thankful to them and will truly miss them all.
“My advice to anyone who has a dream, is to just to go for it no matter how old you are. If I can do it anyone can.”
A number of Wrexham University's nursing courses still have places available for the September 2026 intake, as well as the March 2027 intake, with fully funded options available. The deadline for the September intake is Spetember 2. Find out more here.