The Diana Award secures overwhelming response from parliamentarians & business leaders to harness the power of mentoring for young people
Over 100 MP’s and Peers pledged to ‘Give an Hour’ of their time to mentor a young person through The Diana Award’s with ‘One Hour, One Young Person, One Parliamentarian’ campaign’.
A virtual celebration event was held in partnership with National Mentoring Day featuring Lord Michael Hastings, Tessy Ojo CBE (CEO The Diana Award) David Shapiro (CEO The National Mentoring Partnership), Chelsey Baker (CEO National Mentoring Day) Charlotte Kirby (VP Global Strategic Relations, Salesforce) and Chizzy Akudolu (Holby City/Strictly Come Dancing).
Praise poured in from all over the UK on the hashtag #nationalmentoringday thanking mentors for making a difference. This year saw a huge increase in organisations giving back by launching mentoring initiatives on the day.
To mark National Mentoring Day (Tuesday 27 October 2020) youth charity, The Diana Award, held a virtual event which saw professionals across sectors come together to support young people with practical mentoring solutions. Young mentees shared their experiences alongside conversations with Lord Michael Hastings, Chizzy Akudolu (Holby City and Strictly Come Dancing) and Tessy Ojo CBE, CEO of The Diana Award.
The day also saw 100 MP’s and other parliamentarians matched with young people across the UK for one on one, hour long mentoring sessions throughout the week.
“I cannot thank you enough for the advice you gave me about politics and life in general. I found this mentorship truly invaluable and whenever would best suit you I would love to take you up on your offer and speak with you again.”
Edward Dixon, 18 years old, was mentored by Sir Peter Bottomley MP
“It was a pleasure to mentor one of my constituents and discuss their aspirations and future. I was so inspired by her that I have offered to be her mentor for a year.”
Ellie Reeves, MP for Lewisham West & Penge
“We are delighted with the overwhelming response from MP’s to support youth mentoring. Giving just one hour can generate new thoughts, challenge ideas and inspire change. We know that mentoring can be life-changing for a young person and enhances their future prospects. For a young person without a positive role model in their life, a mentor can be the voice that says ‘you can do it and this is how’ – words they may have never heard before.”
Tessy Ojo CBE, CEO of The Diana Award
“As a nation we must reach out and support those being left behind during the pandemic. With the uncertainty that surrounds us, now is the time to embrace mentoring for all. Everyone has life skills and experience to share as a mentor. Mentoring is transformational, if everyone became a mentor in whatever way they could, businesses and society would be transformed.”
Chelsey Baker, CEO & Founder, National Mentoring Day
Young people are urgently seeking guidance and navigation in these particularly challenging times. Mentoring is fundamental to breaking down the barriers of social mobility in the lives of young people.
The Diana Award is the Secretariat for The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and the UK partner for a youth global mentoring initiative that was set up in light of the pandemic.
#MentoringNeverStops is more than a hashtag, it is an urgent reminder that we cannot stop as young people need us now more than ever.
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