Mentoring Works midway point celebration event
Students and mentors participating in this year’s Mentoring Works Year 10 programme have reached the midway point after five months on the programme. Students and mentors began their mentoring relationships at the end of last year, with initial launches between September and November 2015.
There are approximately 500 participants this year; including 200 mentors, matched to 300 students. Participating companies and schools include CMS London with Cardinal Pole School, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer with Haggerston School, Schroders with Mossbourne Community Academy, Linklaters with Clapton Girls’ Academy, Northumberland Park Community School and The Gilberd School, General Dynamics with The Royal Docks Community School, Macquarie Group with Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, MUFG with Holloway School, AXA with Highbury Fields School Expedia with Islington Arts & Media School, Hammerson with St Aloysius College and Deutsche Bank with City of London Academy Islington.
In recognition of their commitment so far, many students have enjoyed a group social with mentors, getting competitive and hoping to strike it lucky with a bit of bowling! The Mentoring Works team have used the socials to help gauge feedback from participants, which we’ve been collating and sharing with groups whilst assisting with any queries, or need for further ideas or resources.
Mentoring Works are delighted to hear about everything that students and mentors have been doing in sessions and the feedback we’ve had so far. One student told us that “all the information has been useful in helping me prepare for future decisions. I enjoy the experience because it’s a nice relaxed atmosphere, compared to all the stress in the academic related stuff I’m doing now” and another student commented “my mentor is nice and kind and really goes out of her way to make sure we have a really good session every time”. Mentors have been describing how impressed they are with their students, with one adding “they are always so engaged and responsive. Yesterday we discussed/prepped for work experience. They were so excited and looking forward to it. They asked some really good questions too and said thanks at the end – as they always do – and said that they are lucky to have mentoring.”
Established in 1996, ELBA’s Mentoring Works programme matches Year 10 and Sixth Form students to business professionals working in the City of London. Students are encouraged to develop the skills and competencies needed for future education, training or careers. Mentoring Works has been accredited with the Approved Provider Standard (APS) by the Mentoring & Befriending Foundation. The APS is the national quality standard designed specifically for all types of mentoring and befriending projects.
