Spotlight On... Student Mentors

They meet the students regularly and help them navigate both the academic and social side of university life – from preparing for exams to making friends.

Izzy and Sophie just graduated from university themselves several years ago – both studied Psychology – and say that makes it easier for their mentees to relate to them. They also have a Level 2 qualification in Counselling Skills.

Sophie says:

“We can work with students for the full three or four years they’re at university. It helps them to have that familiar face, and not just a random person they go to when they need help.

“It is lovely to be with them for the whole journey. It gives you a lot of satisfaction when you see them get settled, especially if everything has been up in the air at the start.”

The pair regularly see 12-15 students each - mainly at Sunderland, Durham, Teesside and Newcastle Universities as well as Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Colleges – and have capacity for more.

Their work is funded through Disabled Students Allowance and Student Finance England, and most referrals come from universities themselves or assessment centres.

They support students with understanding assessments, time management, exam preparation, navigating the campus, contacting lecturers, dealing with stress and anxiety, joining clubs and societies, making friends .. anything the student needs.

And they also find themselves lobbying lecturers on the students’ behalf sometimes. “Student support plans are shared with lecturers and relevant staff, but there’s no way of controlling that they’re being read and actioned,” Izzy says.

“There are a few lecturers we have to speak to and say, ‘the student has this needs assessment, you actually do need to do this.”

To find out more about the Student Mentoring Service, or to contact them, go to www.ne-as.org.uk/student-mentoring

Well done Rebecca Welch