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Youth

Empowering Young People through Mentorship: Westminster City Council's City Lions Pilot

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted careers education for young people in Westminster, with many opportunities cancelled and uncertainty remaining about how to replace them. To address this issue, Westminster City Council's dedicated youth team, the City Lions, developed a mentoring pilot to empower young people to explore their career choices and broaden their horizons. The pilot's objective was to provide guidance and support to young people through mentoring pairs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The City Lions' mentoring pilot was launched in May 2021 to respond to the changing needs of young people affected by the pandemic.
  • The pilot engaged thirty-four young individuals from school years 10 and 11, including those in care, young carers, or neurodiverse.
  • Working professionals from creative industries such as TV, marketing, and advertising, theatre, technology, and engineering were recruited as mentors.
  • The mentoring pairs met virtually every two weeks over a four-month period, with mentors supporting young people to develop skills in goal setting, confidence, communication, creative thinking, and careers.
  • Some mentors also took their mentees to their workplaces, further enhancing the learning experience.
  • The pilot proved successful, with 100% of mentees rating their overall experience as excellent and 90% of mentors recommending the programme to others.
  • One mentee noted that the programme provided a safe space to talk and learn, while a mentor expressed their appreciation for the programme and the City Lions team.

Statistics:

  • 34 young individuals participated in the City Lions mentoring pilot.
  • 100% of mentees rated their overall experience as excellent.
  • 90% of mentors said they would recommend the City Lions programme to others.
  • The pilot ran from May 2021 to September 2021.
  • The next City Lions programme will run from January 2022 to June 2022.

Sources:

  • "Byline: MIL-OSI Publisher Source: City of Westminster" (original source)
  • "City Lions team engaged thirty-four young individuals from school years 10 and 11" (City of Westminster)
  • "Councillor Timothy Barnes, Cabinet Member for Young People and Learning said: ..." (City of Westminster)

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