Do I require a DBS?
Yes. All mentors will need to have completed an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check within the last three years of the final day of the session you will be supporting. If you haven’t got one – don’t worry! The Fund will pay for this and provide guidance on how to apply.
How many students will I be mentoring?
As a mentor you’ll be matched with up to three students, however we try to limit the number to two. On rare occasions, we are not able to match every mentor with a student for each session depending on who signs up to the project, what their interests are and how many mentors we have who meet this interest. Please don’t let this put you off though, as we need a diverse array of mentors and there is always next session!
How often should I be messaging my student?
We ask that students and mentors exchange at least one message per week – so please do sign up only if you can commit to this level of engagement. Regular contact encourages the student to remain engaged and this is important for the project to have a positive impact.
When should I start messaging?
The sooner the better! A message from the mentor in the first couple of days of the session is really important in encouraging the students to engage and demonstrating to them that you are eager to help. If there is no message for the best part of the first week, students might switch off!
What do I do if my student doesn’t engage?
Throughout the programme, we monitor engagement and work closely with school staff to ensure as many students as possible stay engaged. Where students sometimes disengage, we always recommend sending follow up messages encouraging them to return to the conversation as often this is the nudge they need. In some situations, students get matched but then decide that they do not want to make use of the project.