This is a fantastic opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of young people, as well as a great development and networking opportunity as many staff consider objectives for the year ahead.
Career Ready is a social mobility charity that supports high school students by bridging the gap between school and the workplace. It champions young people who face socio-economic barriers by improving their career aspirations, giving them an opportunity to develop their skills and confidence and offering an insight into the world of work.
The University is brilliantly positioned to take part in this programme as mentoring can be offered across a broad variety of roles and careers. It's great for staff to get involved in the local community and see first-hand the difference these charities can make. Supporting programmes like this also aligns with the University's Strategy 2030 focus on social and civic responsibility.
What's involved?
The programme includes:
- 18 months of mentoring. Mentors are carefully paired with a secondary year five or six student based on their interests and career aspirations.
- Meetings between mentors and students usually take place every four to six weeks, over two academic years.
- A four-week paid internship in June or July 2025 which is organised by the mentor and paid for by their department.
- Ongoing support is provided by Career Ready in the form of masterclasses and toolkits.
At the end of the four-week work placement, mentors and mentees will be invited to attend a celebration event to thank participants for their time and efforts. Mentees will give a short presentation of their experiences during their placement to family, friends and mentors, and will receive a certificate of completion.
How to get involved?
If staff are interested in getting involved and want to make a difference to the life of a young person, they should register interest before 12 July by completing the registration form:
Career Ready – registration form
Further information, including case studies, can be found on the Career Ready webpages.