The Development Award

“The committee seem to have gone above and beyond for their members, creating various resources for their members to reflect and complete”

Leeds Women in Leadership Society

What prompted this project ?

This mentoring scheme was created to inspire 1st and 2nd years and help them develop. Mentees have had access to a more holistic education than provided at University as this programme encompasses both academic and non-academic areas such as life skills and soft skills to help them at University and their future career.

What difference has the mentoring scheme made to student development?

Through this scheme, mentees have gained access to one on one guidance from their mentors.

Pairs were assigned and followed for a whole academic year, allowing for great personal development from both mentors and mentees. Workshops have been organised throughout the year around employability, and a speed mentoring event took place at the start of the initiative to pair each mentee with a mentor that suited them best.

Members of this scheme have also been more involved in the Women in Leadership society as a whole, a few of the mentees were on the committee for the flagship Empower conference. Thus, this programme not only helped students through their individual pairs but have also allowed them to develop and be more engaged with the society as a whole.

How was the project meaningful student development?

Many studies have shown mentoring to have a positive effect on students especially when this is peer mentoring as it creates a safe and comfortable space for development.

When setting up this scheme, the committee did a lot of research in the area and designed a mentoring handbook for all the mentors to refer to throughout the year. They also designed a time log and mentoring session worksheet that the mentors update after each meeting. The committee worked closely with Redington, one of their partners, to provide the workshops throughout both semesters that were open to both Mentors and Mentees.

After logging a minimum of three meetings, we rewarded each pair with a voucher to spend in the University Union during their next meeting (on coffee or cake!).