School pupils from across the region will be the stars of the show at a Mentoring Awards Ceremony, hosted by Bristol University, taking place this Thursday [28 April].

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor, Councillor Simon Cook, will present school pupils with awards in recognition of their participation in the Aimhigher West Mentoring Scheme. 

The scheme recruits and trains University students to act as mentors to Year 10 and 11 pupils in local schools.  Mentors are introduced to two or three mentees, meeting with each one for an hour a week over an eighteen week period, helping to motivate them and raise their aspirations. 

Mentees can talk with their mentors about everything from homework, exams, extra-curricular activities and their hopes for the future, giving them the opportunity to speak informally with someone they see as an equal. Mentors can share their experiences too, giving the mentees an insight into University life.

Twenty five students from Bristol University volunteered their time to take on the role of mentors.  Sarah Stutt, a third-year law student at Bristol University said: “Last year, I was placed with two troubled children, the main goal for me was to encourage them to go to school, let alone university!

“They are both doing well now, though, one is an apprentice and the other is in her final year of GCSEs.”

Professor Patricia Broadfoot, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Bristol University and Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will both give speeches at the event.

The event will take place on Thursday 28 April from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Victoria Rooms, Queens Road, Bristol.