A television star who formed charities in High Wycombe and studied at Buckinghamshire New University is set to become its first ever Chancellor - and is planning to launch new furniture-related courses. 

Jay Blades formed Out of the Dark, a charitable social enterprise that recycled and revamped salvaged furniture to train, educate and employ young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, after graduating from the High Wycombe university. 

He then went on to forge a successful career in television, starring in The Repair Shop and Money For Nothing, and documenting his battle with dyslexia in BBC show 'Jay Blades: Learning To Read at 51'.

Jay is set to be the first ever Chancellor of Bucks New University and is working with the uni to develop new furniture-related courses and facilities as part of a £15.1 million programme to develop the High Wycombe campus.

The programmes are expected to launch in 2023.  

Brought up by his mother on a council estate in Hackney, Jay’s journey has taken many twists and turns.

After leaving school at 15 with no qualifications, he got back on track by studying for a degree in criminology and philosophy at BNU from 2001 where his dyslexia was both identified and supported by the University.

Jay Blades recalls his ‘revelatory’ experience at BNU which set him ‘on the right path towards the future’. 

He said: “I believe everything, including furniture and people, can be repaired, restored, and rejuvenated.

"At BNU I learned to make the most of every opportunity to be the best version of myself.

"That’s why I’m so proud and honoured to be appointed as the first Chancellor for a university that shares my passionate belief in the power of education to transform lives.

"It’s great to come full circle and now do my bit at BNU to ensure that every student reaches their full potential.

"This is an exciting partnership that’s going to make a real difference because BNU and I share a mission to remove barriers to education for all and boost social mobility.”

Vice-Chancellor of BNU, Professor Nick Braisby, said: “Jay is an inspiring individual and a shining example of the transformative power of the education we provide at BNU, and we’re enormously proud of all that he has achieved.

"We’ve recently celebrated our 130th anniversary and so this is the ideal time to appoint our first ever Chancellor.

"Our long-term collaboration of creativity and social conscience will build on High Wycombe’s furniture tradition which matters greatly to both Jay and BNU.

"Jay’s insight and expertise will be key to developing an exciting range of creative, innovative furniture-related courses that offer something really different to our students, all backed up with excellent teaching and industry-standard facilities.”