The Alumni and Friends Fund Grant, made possible through the generous support of the Student Fund, celebrates the exceptional contributions of our staff and students by funding projects that enrich university life and enhance the student experience. Thanks to the kindness of our supporter community, one of the initiatives that received funding this year was a student mentoring scheme at IntoUniversity Kirkby.
Mentoring is one of the programmes offered by the IntoUniversity Centre, where students aged 10-17 are matched with current University of Liverpool students who act as positive role models, allowing mentees to develop social skills, confidence and explore options and interests. Our students lead one-to-one sessions, supporting mentees with academic skills, social and emotional development and future thinking.
Speaking about the impact of the scheme, a mentee said: “I like coming to IntoUniversity mentoring because the mentors really support and inspire me, and it has helped me in a lot of ways. I get to have fun and learn things that are different from school, like researching careers I could do.”
Funding from the Alumni and Friends Fund Grant covered travel expenses for four students volunteering as mentors at the Centre. The students provided vital academic and emotional support to 20 young people, helping to boost their confidence and aspirations, while also developing their own leadership and communication skills.
The transport costs and distance for students to reach the Kirkby Centre were a significant barrier in allowing them to access this volunteering opportunity, so transport passes allowed them to take this up, also benefiting the Centre and the young people they work with.
About IntoUniversity
IntoUniversity is a national social mobility charity which runs 39 local learning centres across England and Scotland. The charity aims to provide a safe space for young people to learn, explore and succeed in a welcoming and supportive home from home environment.
The Kirkby Centre, opened in 2023 through a unique collaborative partnership between the LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community, the University of Liverpool and the Steve Morgan Foundation.
Impact of mentoring
Hear from student Nour, who explains why she chose to volunteer:
Sarah, Widening Participation and Outreach Officer who oversees the mentoring scheme, said: “We try to encourage students from a widening participation background to volunteer at the centres, so that the young people who participate in mentoring can have a university student mentor ‘just like them’. However, for many widening participation students, giving time for free is difficult, as they need to prioritise paid work. Transport passes make volunteering more realistic for them.
Thank you so much for your support. Our students can benefit from a volunteering opportunity which would not otherwise have been available to them, improving their employability and allowing them to expand their networks. The benefit for the young people these students will mentor, and their wider community, cannot be overstated.”
About the Student Fund
The Student Fund helps ensure that students from all backgrounds can access university, thrive during their studies, and go on to make a meaningful impact in the world. From emergency grants in times of crisis to bursaries that level the playing field, your support truly changes lives.
A portion of the funds raised also supports the Alumni and Friends Fund Grant, which enables activities that enrich the student experience, just like this one.