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King's students provide academic and pastoral support to local schoolchildren

02 November 2016

Health

SHINE Mentoring, a volunteer-led charity, is in its 12th year of operating mentoring programmes at five primary schools in the London Borough of Southwark.

The charity, which has received lottery funding as well as NSPCC accreditation, was started in 2004 by three medical students at King’s, with the aim to provide academic and pastoral support to children at local primary schools through the provision of university student mentors.

Mentors visit their mentees once a week for an hour’s session and the end of the academic year is marked with a celebration event, where the children get to visit King’s for the day and take part in a variety of fun activities from origami and learning dance routines with KCL Dance Society to gaining valuable life skills such as first aid.

SHINE has gained recognition on a regional and national level having been awarded two Student Volunteering England Gold Awards and a Southwark Community Contribution Award. 2014 saw SHINE recruit its 1000^th mentor and between 130 and 150 mentors are being recruited this year.

The opportunity to be a positive role model for these children is truly a privilege. I’ve been part of SHINE for six years now, and ultimately what matters most is walking into that classroom, seeing the excitement on your mentee’s face and realising how much having a mentor truly means to them!– Shafaq Adnan, SHINE Mentoring committee

The work of SHINE has been well-received by the head teachers of the schools taking part in the programme.

One head teacher said: ‘They develop friendships and act as role models. They give the positive message that Further and Higher Education is accessible for all. This is crucial in a school such as mine where parents and extended families very rarely have a college background.’

Another added: ‘These mentors have given so much to our children – personalised support, individual care and attention, and a realisation that the future could hold the same successes and achievements as they see their mentors enjoy.’

Find out more about Shine Mentoring.