The Mentoring Programme consists of twelve sessions delivered weekly, with each session lasting between an hour and ninety minutes. Sessions are facilitated by Diana Award Mentoring Programme Coordinators and Youth Facilitators, with support from our professional volunteer mentors. The programme is currently available in Birmingham, Leeds, London and Jersey.

Alongside the Mentoring Programme, we provide additional opportunities for disadvantaged young people outside of these regions, including Career Lounges, webinars and blog posts, each of which share insights into the world of work.

Mentoring can provide young people with a positive role model to support their development. The Diana Award understands that mentoring can contribute to enhanced social mobility, allowing young people to raise their aspirations and ambitions whilst developing the social, emotional and careers skills they need to achieve their goals.

89% of secondary schools across the UK considered ‘mentoring programmes’ effective activities in the development of social and emotional skills. Career skills mentoring programmes can improve behavioural, academic and employment outcomes for young people, whilst supporting their social and emotional development.

Despite overall increases in employment, young people from working class backgrounds still experience the highest rates of unemployment. When in employment, young people from working class backgrounds earn 24 per cent less than those from professional backgrounds. In professional occupations, they earn on average 17 per cent less than their more privileged colleagues.

The Mentoring Programme also encourages young people to participate in social action, with professional mentors and mentees working together to develop a campaign around a social issue that affects their community. We believe that participation in social action has a ‘double benefit’  for individuals and society  as it supports the development of employment skills, and social and emotional skills in young people. This approach prepares these young people for their personal and professional futures by instilling active citizenship, and nurturing character, resilience and determination.

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 between an hour and ninety minutes of your time, once a week at one of our partner schools or youth centres, for twelve weeks. Our Facilitators will be with you every step of the way to guide you through your sessions. Throughout, you will share your skills, career journey and work experience with our young people through interactive sessions.

The Mentoring Programme is available in:

• Birmingham
• Jersey
• Leeds
• London

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.

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.

The Diana Award is a charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world. Our mission is to foster, develop and inspire positive change in the lives of young people. We are proud to have the support of her sons, Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. 

We have 20 years’ experience running bespoke youth programmes for children and young people aged 9-25 years and we are proud to have supported over 80,000 young people through our programmes. These young people, who come from all walks of life, are part of a social movement of incredibly courageous youth who share a deep and lasting sense of social responsibility.