NewVIc students get ahead with One Million Mentors
Students at NewVIc Sixth Form Centre have been given a unique opportunity to grow their own networks, knowledge, skills and confidence they need to prepare for the world of work and succeed in their careers.
Students at NewVIc Sixth Form Centre have been given a unique opportunity to grow their own networks, knowledge, skills and confidence they need to prepare for the world of work and succeed in their careers.
We have launched a 1 to 1 mentoring partnership programme with One Million Mentors, a community-based mentoring project with one simple aim: to connect one million young people with one million life-changing opportunities.
The programme launch event brought together students and mentors from a wide range of professional backgrounds for a fast-paced series of one-on-one conversations. Each student had the chance to speak with several mentors, gaining insights into different industries and receiving practical careers advice. Discussions covered everything from choosing the right career path and building employability skills, to hearing first-hand stories of career challenges and successes.
Students said the event gave them a clearer understanding of their future options and helped boost their confidence as they begin to think seriously about life after sixth form.
Chloe, NewVIc Intensive GCSE student, said:
“By attending this mentorship event, I was given an opportunity to speak to different mentors with various careers and backgrounds. This allowed me to understand how they were able to get these careers, their experiences at work and receive advice on how to get the best out of sixth form school and choose the right path to achieve my goals.
One of the mentors was an engineer who works with Transport for London shared with us how he got to what he is currently doing for work. Surprisingly, he was initially interested in law due to the influence of his parents but realised that it was not for him and diverted from humanities to STEM subjects. He found it easier to do Mathematics rather than write essays! From this experience, he advised us to do what we are good at and will love doing instead of what others want us to do. At the end of the day, it is our own future and not other people’s.
Overall, this was a wonderful experience and I look forward to the 1:1 sessions where I’ll get more advice and guidance.”
Nana, NewVIc Intensive GCSE programme student, added:
“Overall, the mentoring session with the mentors was eye-opening. Not only were we able to address the doubts that we had about our career paths and courses, we also gained a ton of advice and inspiration from the mentors' life experiences.
One thing that cut across all the pieces of advice was the importance of communication skills. We learnt that how a person speaks to others could either repel them or attract them. We learnt that even in the workplace, different people like to be contacted differently, whether through email, docs, PowerPoint slides or even phone calls. Since most of the students in our class were interested in careers that dealt with many interactions, it helped us a lot, and we now know we need to hone this skill.
All in all, it was quite a great programme and I look forward to future sessions.”
Connie Gossage, Regional Manager for Programme Delivery, One Million Mentors, said:
“One Million Mentors organised a speed networking event to launch the 1:1 mentoring programme at NewVIc Sixth Form Centre. Students were able to talk to a range of mentors about careers and explore themes such as what to consider when choosing a career and how to approach applying for roles This was a great icebreaker before the actual 1:1 mentoring sessions begin!”
Mahmoud Warsame, Advice and Careers Manager, NewVIc, commented:
“We’re delighted to have embarked on a partnership with One Million Mentors, which will provide our students with invaluable career insights.
This event helped students understand the importance of professional networks and gain practical career advice, reinforcing our commitment to preparing them for future success. A huge thank you to One Million Mentors and their volunteers for their time and expertise!”
The programme will continue throughout the academic year, offering students ongoing support, guidance and encouragement from experienced professionals.