89% of secondary schools across the UK considered 'mentoring programmes' effective activities in the development of social and emotional skills
(NESTA 2020).
Mentoring interventions can contribute to enhanced social mobility, allowing young people to elevate their aspirations and ambitions, whilst developing the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their goals.
Career skills mentoring programmes can improve behavioural, academic and employment outcomes for young people, whilst supporting their social and emotional development.
Register below to express your interest in participating within the Mentoring Programme and additional opportunities.
The Mentoring Programme is available in the following regions across the UK:
We also have alternative opportunities for mentors who don’t live or work in these regions. Our wider services include Career Lounges, online webinars and workshops, and blog posts.
“Since I have come onto the programme, I have learnt to speak up more when it comes to teamwork and class discussions, along with being able to think more deeply into my future”
The Mentoring Programme consists of twelve weekly group sessions, delivered primarily in secondary schools, further education settings, and alternative provisions. Sessions are facilitated by The Diana Award Mentoring Programme Coordinators and Facilitators, with support from our professional volunteer mentors. Sessions last around an hour and are delivered on the same day and time each week.
Thanks to the generosity of our corporate and trust funders, the Mentoring Programme is free to schools and students. The programme is currently available in Birmingham, Leeds, and London.
Throughout these sessions, we support young people in collaboration with volunteer mentors, sharing professional advice and guidance and providing careers skills training. The programmes also encourage young people to participate in youth-led social action, with mentors and mentees working together to develop projects tackling issues that directly impact them and their community.
The UK is struggling with social mobility and equality of opportunity. Recent research from the Office for National Statistics states:
• There are an estimated 794,000 young people aged 16-24 and NEET in the UK.
• 11.6 per cent of young people aged 16-24 in the UK are NEET.
Moreover, over the past three years, children and young people have experienced significant disruption to their education, whilst opportunities to improve social mobility have dwindled. Disadvantaged young people have been most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside the cost-of-living crisis.
• For example, during the Covid-19 lockdown, young people eligible for Pupil Premium (PP) reported lower psychological wellbeing that their peers (Impact Ed. 2020).
• Research from The Sutton Trust indicates that 84% of teachers think that lockdown and associated disruptions will increase the attainment gap in their school (Sutton Trust. 2022).
• Moreover, 61% of employers cancelled work experience placements in 2020 (Sutton Trust. 2020). - Research from Beetfreeks reveals that nearly half (46%) of young people said that the pandemic has left them with fewer opportunities for work (Beetfreaks. 2020).
The Mentoring Programme approach prepares young people for their personal and professional futures by instilling active citizenship, and nurturing character, resilience and determination.
For young people, the concept is simple, but the impact can be life changing! If you meet our eligibility criteria, all we ask of you is to commit an hour of your time for twelve weeks. Our Coordinators, Facilitators and Volunteer Mentors will be with you every step of the way to guide you through your sessions. Throughout, you will learn new skills, participate in youth led social action and gain insight into the working world through fun and engaging interactive sessions.
The Mentoring Programme is available in:
• Birmingham
• Leeds
• London
We also have alternative opportunities for young people who don’t live or work in these regions.
Our wider services include Online Work Experience.
The Mentoring Programme is free to schools and students thanks to the generosity of our corporate and trust funders. We are always looking for more funders to ensure that we can continue to provide our programme to disadvantaged young people.
If you would like to fund the Mentoring Programme, please email us mentor@diana-award.org.uk.
The Diana Award is the charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world. We have 20 years’ experience running bespoke youth programmes for children and young people aged 9 – 25 and are proud to have supported over 800,000 young people to date through our interventions.
Our vision is one in which young people are empowered to change the world. We exist to empower young people to make positive change by unlocking potential, creating opportunities, and inspiring action.
We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our Mentoring Partners.
