FAQ

 

This section aims to answer all the questions you may have regarding the Mentoring Programme and what it invovles. If you have a question that isn’t answered on this page or elsewhere on the site then submit your query for further assistance.

 

What are the objectives of the programme?
How will you benefit by being a mentor?
Do I need support from my employer?
Can I become a mentor if I am self-employed?
What skills do I need to become a mentor?
What information do I have to provide to join the programme?
How long do I have to commit to the programme?
How long do mentoring sessions last?
When does the mentoring programme start?
Are the mentoring sessions scheduled for a particular day?
Where do mentoring sessions take place?
What support is given to me as a mentor?
How many pupils will I be matched to?
How am I matched to my students?
What age are the pupils on the scheme?
Will there be a chance to meet other mentors on the scheme?
Will I be expected to take my pupils on trips?
Will I be provided with ideas for mentoring sessions?
What schools and companies are involved in the scheme?
How often will I have to travel to the school?

 

 

What are the objectives of the programme?

The main objectives are to increase their self-confidence, gain experience of the working world, improve their academic performance and raise aspirations.

 

 

How will you benefit by being a mentor?

As a Hackney Schools Mentor you will :

• Gain huge satisfaction through making a positive difference to a young person’s life
• Broaden your understanding of different lifestyles and cultures
• Develop personal skills of listening, motivating and problem solving
• Have fun, feel valued and find a new focus in your life!

 

 

Do I need support from my employer?

It is vital that each mentor has support from their employer. All companies listed on the ‘who’s involved’ section of this website give full support to their employees to join the scheme. If you would like a member of the programme staff to ring your manager and explain how the programme works than please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

Can I become a mentor if I am self-employed?

We welcome people who are self-employed becoming mentors. However, mentors in this situation will need to provide a suitable public place for sessions to be held e.g. a café or a library. It can be arranged for sessions to be held at the Technology Learning Centre on the corner of Reading Lane and Mare Street in Hackney.

 

 

What skills do I need to become a mentor?

There are no particular skills needed to join the scheme although you will have to be a working adult. There are, of course, some personal qualities needed by a mentor. These include:

• A positive, non-judgemental and patient attitude towards young people.
• A desire to help in the educational and personal development of young people.
• Good communication skills and a willingness to strengthen listening and facilitation skills.
• A respectful attitude towards people of different educational, economic, cultural and racial backgrounds.
• An ability to handle personal information sensitively.
• An ability to commit the required amount of time.

 

 

What information do I have to provide to join the programme?

If you are interested in joining our programme, you will be asked to complete a profile form indicating your interest in 1:1, small group or group-group mentoring. We also ask you to provide a passport sized photo of yourself.

 

Once we have received your form, a police check will be undertaken, according to the current legislation for adults working with this age group. We also require you to provide us with two references. Following a positive police check, you will be invited to join a training session.

 

We do not ask you to make a definite commitment to the programme until you have completed the training session.

 

Once volunteers have been accepted as mentors they will be linked to students on the basis of the information provided on the mentor and student profile forms.

 

 

How long do I have to commit to the programme?

We ask mentors and students to commit one academic year to the programme (September – July). After this period of time we leave it up to mentors and their students to decide if they would like to continue. Although some relationships have carried on successfully beyond this period, it is generally the case that students workload increases as they enter Year 11 - (the old 5th year) and they may no longer have the time to commit to the mentoring relationship.

 

 

How long do mentoring sessions last?

Mentoring sessions generally last between 1 – 1 ½ hours and we recommend that they take place fortnightly. A longer period of time may be necessary for planned visits and activities.

 

 

When does the mentoring programme start?

Recruitment of mentors begins in July and training sessions will be held throughout July and August at various locations around the City. Mentoring Sessions will begin in early/mid September.

 

 

Are the mentoring sessions scheduled for a particular day?

We will be providing each school with a recommended day for mentoring sessions. This will enable those students who are reluctant to travel by themselves to join a big group for their journey to the company. However, we do understand that having a set day for mentoring is not always practical for mentors and therefore we leave it up to each group to decide between themselves which days suit them best. So, for example, having one session on a Thursday and the next on a Tuesday is fine.

 

 

Where do mentoring sessions take place?

Mentoring Sessions will normally be held at the mentors’ place of work. However, mentors will be required to visit the school for their first meeting with the students. For guidelines relating to self-employed mentors please read the above section.

 

 

What support is given to me as a mentor?

All mentors receive initial training and are given a Mentor Resource Pack to help them with ideas for planning sessions.

Programme staff are always on hand to offer support and advice. Regular feedback sessions are held at companies and give mentors the chance to raise any issues or concerns with a member of the programme staff.

 

Each term a Mentor Support Network Evening is held at one of the participating companies and all mentors from all companies working with the scheme are invited. These are social occasions and give mentors the chance to network and to talk about their mentoring experiences.

 

 

How many pupils will I be matched to?

We ask mentors to state which type of mentoring they would prefer. We do however ask you to be flexible as our main objective is to find a mentor for any young person who wants to join the scheme.

 

The three main types of mentoring are: 1:1, small group or group:group. There are no strict rules about any type of mentoring as much will depend on the individuals involved – but here are some of the possible pros and cons that may be worth considering:

 

One to One mentoring

• You will get the chance to form a really strong bond with a young person. This relationship will be more intense and may give the student greater opportunities to open up and be more honest.
• If your mentee is very shy, it may be initially harder to gain their confidence.
• Meetings at the workplace must take place in sight of others. This means that 1:1 sessions cannot take place in a closed meeting room. As a child-protection precaution, it must be possible to have a private conversation in view of colleagues or in a public place.
• Please note that we do not match male mentors 1:1 with female mentees.

 

One mentor: small group

• Mentoring sessions will tend to be more lively as the students will normally be more confident alongside a peer and should be more talkative.
• However, some students may revert to type and be less willing to learn and take part as they are in front of their friends – this may make them overexcited and disruptive.
• It is less likely that students will be open and honest about their feelings if they are in a group.
• Mixed abilities and individual needs can sometimes make it hard to plan sessions effectively.
• If a meeting room is not available, mentors will obviously need to consider the potential impact on, say, an open-plan office of a group of up to four pupils coming to the workplace every fortnight for an hour.

 

Two mentors: small group - (some points from a small group still apply)

• This form of mentoring can take the pressure off the mentors a little as you plan sessions and bounce ideas off each other.
• Students may feel more intimidated by the presence of two adults.
• Some mentors find it useful as you can cover for each others’ possible absences.
• A larger group can often lack focus and it’s sometimes harder to achieve objectives.

 

 

How am I matched to my students?

You will be linked to students on the basis of the information provided on the mentor and student profile forms.

 

 

What age are the pupils on the scheme?

The pupils on the scheme will have just entered Year 10 (the old fourth year) and will be 14 –15 years of age. They will just have entered Key Stage 4 of their education and will be studying for the first year of their GCSE exams.

 

 

Will there be a chance to meet other mentors on the scheme?

Each term Mentor Support Network Evenings are held at on of the companies participating in the scheme. All mentors will be invited and this is a social evening which gives mentors the opportunity to network and to share their mentoring experiences.

 

In addition to this there will be trips arranged involving all mentors and pupils from a particular school. These help to strengthen the mentoring relationships and can be a fun way to get to know your students in a relaxed setting. Recent trips have included bowling, a visit to the Tate Modern, and even a Djing Course! For more information and to see some photos of these outings, please visit the recent trips section of our website.

 

 

Will I be expected to take my pupils on trips?

It is by no means expected that you take your mentee(s) out on trips and visits but we would certainly encourage you to do so if you get the chance. In previous years mentors have found that this can help break up the programme and act as a good reward/incentive for the students.

 

View a list of free places to visit.

 

 

Will I be provided with ideas for mentoring sessions?

On joining the programme all mentors will be provided with a Mentor Resource Pack. This pack is full of ideas, exercises, hints and tips for mentors and will greatly assist you in planning your mentoring sessions.

 

 

Which schools and companies are involved in the scheme?

Visit the 'Who's Invovled' section to view the list of schools and companies currently involved in the scheme.

 

 

How often will I have to travel to the school?

You will normally only have to visit the school the first time you meet the students. We believe that it is good to meet them initially in their own environment and it will give them a chance to give you a tour of their school.