Volunteer with Students in Schools

Become a Student Mentor

The University of Derby's Students in Schools Mentoring Programme gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of local primary or secondary school students while developing your transferrable skills for the future.

As a Student Mentor, you will support individual or small groups of young people in a designated school in Derby or Derbyshire to build confidence, develop key study skills and encourage goal setting. Your experiences, advice and encouragement can help pupils recognise their potential and make informed decisions about their future.

Mentors are matched with a local school to deliver an 8 week programme of support, working with the same students for a minimum of one hour a week.

Mentors can volunteer on either or both strands of the programme:

Reading Heroes - literacy and reading support with year 5/6 pupils
Mindset Mentoring - confidence and attainment raising with year 10 pupils

Please note that participation in the Students in Schools Programme is an unpaid voluntary position.

Commitment and Training

Mentors must be available to support the programme for at least 1 hour per week over an 8 week programme. Delivery will be in a designated school, in individual or small groups, and will only take place during term time of your allocated school.

Completion of training is mandatory and will be provided by the Schools and Colleges Liaison team in person, prior to placements starting. Training will include:

Effective mentoring techniques
Safeguarding and professional boundaries
Communication and engagement skills
Reflection and evaluation

Our Schools and Colleges Liaison Team will provide ongoing support throughout your time as a mentor.

All volunteering placement offers will be conditional on obtaining an Enhanced DBS Certificate. The University will cover the cost of the DBS check for volunteers who do not hold a valid certificate.

Why Become a Mentor?

Mentoring is a rewarding opportunity to give back to your community while gaining valuable experience that will enhance your own personal and professional development.

Gain valuable experience working with young people in an educational setting
Develop communication, leadership and coaching skills
Build a network of professionals within the education sector
Make a positive impact on students from widening participation backgrounds
Strengthen your CV and graduate outcomes

Volunteer hours can be used for course-specific placement hours. Mentors may also request a reference on completion of the Students in Schools programme.

What Will I Be Doing?

You will be working with individual or small groups of pupils who were identified by their teachers as a pupil who would benefit from mentoring. Mentors will work collaboratively with teachers, using guidance provided by the Schools and Colleges Liaison Team to shape and tailor session delivery to the needs of pupils.

All mentors will provide monitoring and reporting on the pupil's progress and feedback to the University of Derby on the impact of the programme.

Reading Heroes

Help pupils improve their reading fluency and comprehension
Act as a positive reading role model for pupils
Encourage curiosity, imagination and a lifelong love of reading

Mindset Mentoring

Develop study, organisation and goal-setting skills
Help with pupils year 10 work experience applications
Explore future educational pathways

Who Can Apply?

We welcome applications from University of Derby students from all subject areas and year groups.

We are looking for mentors who:

Have a genuine desire to support and encourage young people
Punctual, reliable and professional
Friendly and approachable with strong interpersonal skills
Enthusiastic and have a positive attitude
Interested in supporting under-represented students in accessing high education

How to Apply

If you would like to apply to become a Student in Schools Mentor, please complete the online application form below and submit by Sunday 4 October.

For more information, or if you have any questions about the voluntary opportunity, please email sclteam@derby.ac.uk

Students in Schools Volunteers

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