Businesses in the City of London are being urged to sign up for a new mentoring scheme aimed at transforming the life chances of young people who’ve been in care.
The City of London Corporation has launched Step Up Mentoring – A Square Mile Futures Programme – which will help 150 young people aged 16 to 30 from across London build skills, confidence, and connections for the future.
The three-year initiative will focus on young Londoners who have been in the care of a local authority and are among those least likely to have access to quality mentoring.
The £300,000 programme follows a study by the City Corporation’s Education Strategy Unit which found gaps in mentoring services for these groups, and will be delivered by OMG Education, an experienced mentoring provider.
The initiative will combine online and in-person sessions, with many of the face-to-face meetings taking place in the Square Mile, giving participants the chance to experience the City for themselves.
Participants will be matched with trained mentors who can offer encouragement, practical guidance, and career insights, helping them to break down barriers to employment and independent living.
The programme was shaped with input from care-experienced people, who called for a diverse mix of mentors who are trustworthy, empathetic, and skilled communicators, who can both relate to and challenge their perspectives.
The programme aims to help mentees:
Build positive relationships with mentors and professional networks
Gain the confidence to apply for aspirational jobs – including in the City
Improve employability skills and life skills such as resilience, team work and learning to trust
Develop the tools to live independently and achieve their ambitions
In addition, it will contribute towards lowering the estimated £2 billion annual cost to the UK of poor outcomes for young people leaving care.
Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Education Board, Naresh Sonpar, said:
“Every young person deserves the chance to reach their full potential, no matter their background.
“This programme will give those who face the toughest challenges the guidance, skills and confidence they need to succeed – and to see that the City is a place of opportunity for them too.
“This scheme will make a tangible difference to the lives of people who need it most, giving them the networks, confidence, and life skills to thrive – personally and professionally.”
