UCL launches largest ever mentoring scheme with UCL Academy

UCL in conjunction with the Brightside Trust, a mentoring charity, has launched a bespoke mentoring scheme for students at the UCL Academy, the UCL-sponsored school in Swiss Cottage. The project sees 65 current UCL students, a mixture of undergraduate and postgraduate volunteers, mentoring 245 Level 1 students (12-14 year olds) and 70 Level 3 students (16-18 year olds). The UCL mentors visit the school roughly once per month to meet individually or in small groups with their mentees. The mentors help the Academy students to make informed decisions about their future and serve as role models by offering advice on topics such as subject choices and post-16 and higher education options. The mentors are provided with prompt materials to aid discussion of areas such as student life, budgeting and revision techniques. In between the face-to-face meet-ups the Academy students are able to communicate with their mentors safely online through the Brightside platform, which is full of helpful articles and resources. The mentors are able to share their experience of higher education whilst also developing important skills through working with the young people.