Mentoring Works kicks off for 2026

Written by the Mentoring Works team

As we step into the new year, we are thrilled to officially launch the 2025/26 Mentoring Works programme. Our mission remains clear: bridging the gap between the corporate world and the bright young minds of east London and Islington.

The story so far: impact in numbers

With a strong foundation established before the new year, our BIG Alliance and ELBA partnerships are already delivering significant scale:

182 Mentors mobilised across 8 corporate partners.
199 Students supported across 7 secondary schools and colleges.
Strategic Reach: Connecting Year 10 and Sixth Form students with professionals in the City and Canary Wharf.

By facilitating regular sessions at corporate workplaces, we are helping students raise their aspirations and develop essential employability skills at a pivotal stage in their development.

“This programme is outstanding as it provides the students with so many opportunities which are all very positive. For me the most positive aspects of the programme is having the opportunity to meet with professionals in the world of work in their place of work. This is priceless as it raises their ambitions, motivates them and provides them with an understanding of the world of work and how they can make it a reality for them.”

– School Coordinator

Celebrating the “small wins”

While long-term impact is measured in years, our immediate momentum is fuelled by early successes. Many mentoring partnerships have already completed their first couple of sessions, with students experiencing professional environments first-hand. Feedback confirms that our matching process has been a resounding success, with rapport and confidence already flourishing.

Innovating for the future

To sustain a high-performing programme, we are evolving our offer to be more inclusive and supportive:

Inclusive excellence: We are enhancing our framework to specifically support neurodiverse beneficiaries, ensuring our mentoring is accessible to all.
Mentor masterclasses: Based on your feedback, we are launching a series of professional development sessions. We kick off shortly with a masterclass on the GROW coaching model, giving mentors a powerful tool to facilitate student breakthroughs.

Overcoming challenges with resilience

A programme of this scale naturally faces hurdles. We are currently navigating administrative delays in DBS and consent form processing. While safeguarding remains our top priority, we are working tirelessly to streamline these systems. Additionally, we are adapting our recruitment strategies to meet the changing working patterns of our corporate partners. By refining our onboarding and leaning into the support of our corporate leads, we are building a resilient framework that can withstand these pressures.

A shared mission

Thank you to our mentors, school leads and corporate partners. Your passion proves that dedicated guidance can truly change a young person’s trajectory. Here is to a transformative 2026!

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