The foundation for mentoring is the relationship between the mentor and mentee. Over time, a supportive and respectful relationship of trust is developed allowing the mentee to explore issues and work on overcoming barriers in a safe environment. The mentor supports the mentee in problem-solving, decision making and testing out new strategies. The mentoring sessions offer opportunities for reflection and constructive feedback to enhance the personal development of the mentee.
Mentors will see you for a regular meeting agreed in advance to support you in overcoming any barriers that are affecting your studies. This could range from helping to organise time, starting assignments, discussing problems or help with exam preparation. Your mentor will support you to enjoy your time at school, college or university and make the most of the opportunities available.
Mentoring in the workplace is to support those in work or in the transition back to work. Your mentor can offer independent support with strategies around building confidence and managing the pressures of working life. It is often arranged for an hour per week so that you have the benefit of a regular meeting to support you.
The support, for example, could focus on areas such as:
We want you to be able to access your support when and where it is right for you. Your support can be delivered in person on campus, at work or virtually via email, telephone or video call between 9am and 9pm, 7 days a week.
Mentoring support is usually funded through the Disabled Students’ Allowances or Access to Work but some people pay privately or are sponsored by their employer. If you use our service to access a mentor, we will invoice your funding body directly and deal with all the employment requirements of your mentor, such as recruitment, payment of tax and national insurance.
“The support I received from the Learning Support Centre (LSC) was mentoring and note taking. I accessed these services through my disability adviser at De Montfort University in my final year for additional support. The mentoring worked by meeting with my mentor twice a week (I received two hours per week), and the note taking worked by a member of LSC sitting in my lectures. I chose to sit away from my note taker so that I could sit with my friends. Both services helped me in my final year by taking away those extra stresses of making notes when I was anxious, and my mentor listened a lot to my worries. The skills I learnt were better note taking in a working environment. I managed to build my confidence with the help of my mentor, better management skills (study/time) and self-believe. Now that I’ve graduated, all these skills I use in my new job for the NHS. I would highly recommend both of these services from the Learning Support Centre. Without these services in my final year, I’m unsure I would have achieved as much as I did in my last 9 months at De Montfort University”
Zoe (BSc ICT (Hons), De Montfort University)
“A genuinely enabling experience, LSC is to be highly commended for providing an exceptional service and placing client satisfaction and achievement at its centre, Thank you”
BSc Occupational Therapy Student, Coventry University
The Learning Support Centre provides a range of specialist disability support services that are tailored to the individual needs of our clients.
