Student Mentoring Project
Mentoring aims to; raise aspirations, educational attainment and knowledge of higher education for pupils in Years 9 - 10. Teams of four Mentors will visit local schools on a weekly basis from January until May to work with groups of 20 pupils.
Session content would be flexible to meet the needs of the school and the pupils. Mentors will be encouraged to run occasional sessions together, in large group format, and to utilise their individual subject knowledge to assist pupils in smaller groups on other weeks.
Please read through the role information below and if you are interested go to the how to apply section to download an Information Form to complete and return.
The role
The role is to support individuals and groups of learners in local schools, by providing a range of activities and events that support progression to higher education. Sessions and activities will help pupils to develop positive learner perceptions, raise aspirations and improve attitudes to education.
Successful candidates will also help learners to overcome barriers, improve motivation and build confidence. Other areas of support will be identified by the Mentors whilst working within the school, which could include supporting persistence, time management and transition issues. Mentors will work as a team to deliver an eclectic programme of activity for learners.
Mentors will work on a voluntary basis and will undertake full training before being placed within a school. Some students may be able to use their time on Mentoring towards placement hours for their course or gain academic credit through elective module Students as Tutors LLS221.
Mentors must have initiative, be reliable and be capable of working on their own with learners, as well as part of a wider team. Experience of working with young people is desirable but not essential. Mentors must be innovative and creative to deliver the required sessions and be prepared to commit to all elements of the programme including training, session delivery and preparation.
Volunteers must be current students at University of Sunderland during the academic year 2011-12. They must have no spent or current convictions relating to children, must be able to provide UK addresses for 5 years and willing to undergo a CRB check (police clearance).
Benefits
Mentors are given full training before going into schools. There is ongoing support from the Mentoring Coordinator, the Student Recruitment team, the School Coordinator and other Mentors. You'll be sent weekly emails updating you on what's happening, sharing ideas and offering additional opportunities.
Many Mentors have gone on to have successful careers working with young people and have found their mentoring experience invaluable. Not only does it increase employability skills such as communication, administration skills, organisational skills and time management, but Mentors also gain a wealth of knowledge working with young people one-on-one within a school environment.
There is also something very rewarding about hearing that your Mentee has passed their exams, got higher grades or even just avoided detention for a month!
If you have space for an elective module within your 120 credits then you may also be able to sign up for Students as Tutors LLS221 and gain 20 credits towards your course as part of Mentoring. If you do not have elective modules but would like to study for the addional credits then you need to speak to your programme leader to get permission. This would not impact on your ability to be a Mentor, it would just mean that you can not gain credits from the expeirence.
Mentoring can also be counted towards Placement hours for some courses. Speak to the Mentoring Co-ordinator or your Programme Leader for more infomration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose which school I work in?
No. We put all Mentors and Mentees through a matching process, based on support required, common interests and availability.
What if I'm allocated to a school far away?
All of our schools are within 30 minutes of the University of Sunderland City Campus and are on public transport links. You will be reimbursed for all travel costs.
How do I plan a session?
You will be given training on how to put a session together. We also have a library in the office full of inspiration and activity ideas. If that isn't enough, we have a Mentoring space on SunSpace where everyone can share their ideas and ask for help.