Mentoring Update Matches Made At Homerton

While rolling lockdowns spelled an end to many College activities, for our Mentoring programme they proved an unlikely springboard. With internships and work placement opportunities curtailed, students had an increased need for advice and guidance on their entry to the world of work. And alumni, trapped at home, proved touchingly grateful for the opportunity to be of practical support.

MATCHES MADE AT HOMERTON

Managed as a joint initiative by Homerton Changemakers and the Development Offi ce, ‘Mentoring for Pandemic Times’ matches current students to mentors for a commitment of three to fi ve online meetings over six months. Between July 2020 and June 2022, 165 mentors have been matched with mentees, and the framework, initially devised as a response to the pandemic, has continued unchanged.

“We’re still operating virtually, as it’s easier for both the mentor and the mentee, and it allows it to be global,” says Dr Soraya Jones, Senior Programme Lead for Homerton Changemakers, who describes herself as “the matchmaker”. “It has also been a pleasure working with (Alumni Relations Manager) Sally Nott, my ‘partner in crime’ who helps to recruit most of the mentors. I couldn’t do it without her.”

Some mentees are seeking specifi c advice for a job application or on entering a particular industry, while other mentoring relationships evolve into a much broader source of support.

“It’s so important to be able to be open and honest with someone outside the College,” explains Soraya. “The mentors are not counsellors, but everything they hear is confi dential. It’s not just careers, it’s life guidance from someone the students can trust.”

Following the fi rst round of the programme, 94% of mentors said that they would be willing to participate again. Mentoring has attracted particular interest from younger alumni, with recent memories of the challenges of the job market, who are keen to pass on their knowledge.

“It was lovely to connect with my mentee, and to feel that I was able to help them discover new perspectives on their past experiences, that will support them into the future,” said one.

CASE STUDY

After completing her BA in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Gonville and Caius, Yuwei Zhang began an MPhil in Education at Homerton last autumn. She signed up to the mentorship programme in the Michaelmas term, and was matched with Sarah Bird (PGCE 1981). Having initially intended to use the opportunity to ask for advice on job applications, Yuwei was off ered opportunity to ask for advice on job applications, Yuwei was off ered a role in management consulting before her fi rst mentoring session, so the focus became more general.

“I felt that I had quite weak leadership skills, and sometimes struggled with motivation,” says Yuwei. “East Asians tend to be to be brought up to be modest, but it’s really helped to have someone to acknowledge my achievements. At networking events, particularly as someone who looked a bit diff erent, I could be a bit introverted and I’d struggle. Sarah told me: ‘Don’t compare your inside with other people’s outside,’ and that’s really stuck with me. I’ve internalised it. One major improvement is that I’ve become more assertive and self-confi dent.”

Sarah has taught for 39 years, and is currently Assistant Head of a large comprehensive school in Dorset. Having recently gone part-time she had more time available, and jumped at Homerton’s request for mentors.

“I’ve always worked with trainees and young people, so when I saw the call for mentors I really wanted to do it. I’m responsible for staff wellbeing, and have done lots of work on positive mindsets and helping young people be the best they can be.”

As the mother of two adult children in their 20s, Sarah was particularly struck by Yuwei’s isolation from her own support networks, while studying in the UK.

“Yuwei is just a joy. She’s a young woman in this country with no family here, and she’s obviously exceptionally bright, but even though she’d got a job off er she was worried. I gave her some techniques to boost her confi dence, and we explored all sorts of things. I’m so touched that she found it so valuable.”

Yuwei and Sarah are now in regular email contact, and met in person for the fi rst time at the Changemakers Mentoring Dinner in May, reconnecting over breakfast the following day.

“I’d love to do more,” says Sarah. “My PGCE year at Homerton was such a magical time. The course was inspirational, I absolutely loved it, and it fi red me up. So I really wanted to help someone from Homerton, which has such a special place in my heart.”

If you’d like to mentor a current student, please contact Sally Nott on

alumni@homerton.cam.ac.uk