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Student mentors wanted

Birkbeck is seeking students to connect with young people in a mentoring programme run by the charity IntoUniversity.

IntoUniversity aims to address underachievement and social exclusion among young people by offering an integrated programme of out-of-school study, coaching and mentoring. Birkbeck recently worked with the charity on a special week of activities, which saw children from two schools visit the College and take part in their own 'graduation ceremony'.

More about mentoring

Mentors are matched with a young person aged between 10 and 18. The mentor's role is to engage the young person over three key topics:

  • Academic: the mentor may provide some one-to-one tutoring or help with homework
  • Social: developing their social skills and helping them learn how to interact with adults and people from different backgrounds
  • The Future: encouraging the young person to think about university as an option open to them.

Mentoring takes place mainly at one of the IntoUniversity centres located in

  • North Kensington (W11)
  • Kennington (SE11)
  • Kensal Green (NW10)
  • Bow (E3)

IntoUniversity centres will be opening in Haringey (N17) and Hackney (E8).

Mary Fok from IntoUniversity said: 'Volunteers will be expected to meet their mentee at least once a fortnight during term-time. There's a mix of academic and social activities, so you might be talking through a school project or piece of coursework and then playing board games or cooking something up in the kitchen.

'Whilst you will receive training and support from mentoring staff throughout, personal qualities are vital to this role. Our Volunteer Mentors need to be great team players, good listeners, flexible, even-tempered and, ideally, have experience of working with children. Alongside these, a desire to make a difference and the ability to make a child smile are paramount!'

Any student wishing to find out more about the mentoring programme should email mentoring@intouniversity.org to request an Expression of Interest Form.

Click here to learn more about IntoUniversity.