WHAT IS HORIZONS?
Horizons is 1-1 mentoring programme for lower-sixth students from underprivileged backgrounds in the North West. The students will receive mentoring from an early-career professional who is working in their field of choice and/or studied at an institution or on a course the student wishes to apply for.
The 1-1 mentoring will be available for underprivileged groups (as defined by Office for Students, Creatives Industry Policy and Evidence Centre (CIPEC), and Aquinas College).
WHY?
With regional inequality growing, and COVID-19 compounding disadvantage, ‘it remains crucial that we continue to support students to overcome barriers and to achieve success in education and employment.’ (officeforstudents). Research from CIPEC already shows only ‘16% of people in creative jobs are working class’, and there’s a ‘double disadvantage’ for ‘people from minority ethnic backgrounds or people with disabilities’, they also indicate little career autonomy and progression for those underprivileged. NUS research also shows that ‘a student’s race and ethnicity can significantly affect their degree outcomes’.
Through these sessions we hope to: help students enter into specialised and competitive courses/training; equip students with up-to-date, relevant advice and feedback on applications/interview skills; provide insight on realities, challenges and how to prepare for a course/career; and enhance students' skills within sessions e.g. interview skills/audition skills (all led by relevant professionals).
OUR FIRST YEAR
In our first year, we will be working with 13 students from Aquinas College, Stockport. We are so delighted to be working with Aquinas and delivering the programme with their wonderful Careers team.
Each student will be matched to a relevant mentor and receive 3/4 sessions from June 2021 - October 2021. Because of the ever-changing nature of COVID-19, and trying to create a remote and flexible model, the journeys will all be done remotely and digitally.
Through this initial year, we can strengthen and develop the programme; in upcoming years we hope to have a wider outreach across the North West.
WHAT WILL YOUR MONEY HELP WITH?
ACCESS: we need to raise funds in order to ensure all access provisions for our students will be implemented. It is vital that each student can engage with their journey in the best possible way, and in a way that suits any needs they may have.
MENTORS: we find it crucial to pay each wonderful mentor for their time, to recognise their expertise, and to provide a DBS if they do not currently hold one.
FUTURE ENGAGEMENT: having money set aside to work on the programme's future will be crucial. For instance, hiring a photographer to create a bank of images for our website and initial pitches to colleges.