 Peer Mentoring Scheme is all about students supporting each other.
If you would like to volunteer to become a Peer Mentor please contact the Student Liaison Officer for your academic area or email slo@bolton.ac.uk for further information and an informal chat.
Please see Mentors Frequently Asked Questions for additional background information which may help you decide if you would like to join the scheme.
As long as you have completed 1 year of study at the University of Bolton, and there are spaces on the scheme, you will be able to apply. The SLOs provide full training and support for all the peer mentors.
You will already have acquired a wide range of skills as a student which will help you to support other students. If you consider yourself to be friendly, postive, motivated, non-udgemental and patient, you will be a great asset to the scheme!We just ask our volunteers to be prepared to commit time and energy for the initial training, maintain regular contact with the SLOs, attend meetings with the SLOs when requested and engage fully with the scheme.
Initially you should contact the SLOs to request to join the scheme as a peer mentor. You will then be invited to meet them for an informal chat and to complete the peer mentor application form. This wil also give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have to gain a better understanding of the scheme.For a brief overview of the process please see our flowchart for peer mentors (pdf file).
The maximum amount of time that you would spend with your mentee would be up to 1 hour per week and you would meet on the University's premises, as per the mentoring schemes guidelines. It is a joint decision, between your mentee and yourself if your meetings are to be held; weekly, fortnightly or monthly. However, in the first instance mentees may request weekly meetings and then, when they are more confident, they may suggest that you support them fortnightly or even on a monthly basis. The scheme is flexible but it is important that the mentee's needs are met.
Peer Mentoring is a great opportunity to develop qualities and transferable skills that will improve your employability. Ultimately, this will enhance your CV and differentiate you from other graduates.Peer mentors who supported students in previuos years reported that mentoring helped them to, reinforce their study skills, increase their confidence and assist their career development. They also experienced personal growth and some mentors commented how they felt that mentoring had developed their coaching, communication and self reflection skills.
Thank you to all our students who have volunteered to be Peer Mentors during the last few years - we couldn't have done this without you!
These pictures show some of our peer mentors from previous years receiving their certificates at the Annual Volunteering Awards.