Grant Milne

Highland piper Grant Milne has been able to successfully balance playing music and studying to become a social worker, and is now involved in an exciting project that allows him to combine both passions.

Being able to stay in the Highlands to study was a major factor when Grant Milne decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Work (Scotland) with The Open University (OU). 

Already working as a Mental Health Support Worker and playing as a professional bagpiper for the Highland folk-rock band Torridon, it was important for him to be able to achieve the right balance between life, work and studying. 

He explains: “The OU allowed me to attend the majority of my tutorials virtually, which was a major influence on my decision. It gave me the freedom to fit in tutorials around life and work and not the other way around!”

As well as being attracted by the OU’s “track record of utilising online sources and distance learning tools”, Grant found that the university’s online forums meant that even though he was studying independently he never felt alone.

“There was always someone within the forums who was willing to help you with guidance or reassurance,” he says. “It was good to be able to draw on that shared experience across Scotland and be able to support each other.”

‘Turning point’

Feeling like he was at a key turning point in his career and approaching his 30th birthday, Grant recounts a key moment during a review involving one of his clients and a social worker that influenced his decision to pursue this career.

“I spoke to the social worker afterwards and asked about what their role was and what it was like in the sector. I left with a clear picture in my head, ‘That’s what I want to do’. I looked into it that week and started making plans to begin studying that year,” he shares. 

“A few other support workers in the Highlands have made that step from their role to social worker so I knew it was a sensible next step. It’s reaffirming to know that they are still working within the sector and have a positive influence in their capacity.”

‘Keeping a balance’

I was able to keep working as a support worker, as well as play music at the weekends. I also did music lessons.”

Grant decided to break up his studies and work towards a module a year, allowing him to continue to fit in life, work and music. He successfully applied for a Part-time Fee Grant for his first four modules studied and independently funded his remaining two. 

Discussing his decision to flexibly study one module a year over a six-year period, he comments: “I always approached my studies wanting to keep a balance. I think that’s important so that one thing doesn’t completely dominate your time and you end up completely burnt out or stressed when the rest start falling apart…I was able to keep working as a support worker, as well as play music at the weekends. I also did music lessons at night and still managed to hold down a relationship with a very patient wife!”

During his studies, balancing family life became a new challenge when his daughter was born in 2019 and his son in 2021. Sadly, Grant lost his mother to cancer during the final year of his studies and closely after his wife’s grandmother died too, which he says felt like a “rollercoaster”.

He welcomes the support he received from the OU during this difficult time, sharing: “The OU responded brilliantly in my opinion. I told my placement tutor what was happening and from there the OU contacted the relevant staff members and arranged for me to take leave from my studies, assignments and placement. I felt their response was compassionate and allowed me to focus on what was needed at the time.”

‘Passionate about my work’

I am in the role that I should be in and can see myself in for a good while to come. I’m glad I had the opportunity to achieve that with the support of the OU to get here.”

Grant is now a Social Worker in a Drug Treatment and Testing Order Team, which is where he completed his second placement during his studies. He’s also managed to combine his love of music and his new career as a social worker as part of an exciting new music project to engage long-term offenders with traditional Scottish music. He explains:

“Within my team in criminal justice we put our shared skills together to offer different group activities…The ethos of my group is to encourage clients to engage with music in a way that explores their cultural identity by learning music on the Scottish penny whistle, as well as learning to actively listen to music. 

“The clients that have attended have been helped to learn how to control their breathing and control, as well as how to listen to others. I’ve run one block so far and the clients have reported that they feel a huge sense of achievement, as well as feeling much more confident in their own abilities when trying new things. 

“I think it’s unbelievable that I’ve been able to combine my music passion to my professional role and I feel very lucky to have the support from my team to do this.”

Describing it as “pretty amazing” to graduate and well worth any sacrifices made over the years, he adds: “My final point is something that my wife said about two months ago. She said it was the first time in years that she remembers me coming home and talking about my work passionately rather than moaning about it.

“I am in the role that I should be in and can see myself in for a good while to come. I’m glad I had the opportunity to achieve that with the support of the OU to get here.”