National Mentoring Day – Ifra supported by a volunteer learning mentor

To celebrate National Mentoring Day here’s an example of the difference a volunteer learning mentor can make with one young person.

Ifra* and Kate started working together in April 2019. Ifra is a young person from Pakistan and is studying at Merton College. Kate is her volunteer learning mentor. They used meet in the library each week to practice English, and as the pandemic hit moved to meeting online.

Ifra found the lockdown difficult and isolating at times. She struggled to keep up with her online learning. Kate continued to support her with her education and helped her access all her learning materials.

Ifra used to say that she wanted to go to University but then suddenly changed her mind, saying she no longer wanted to go. Kate let us know that she was worried about this decision. She didn’t know why she had changed her mind. Until Ifra told us and Kate that she didn’t think she was clever or good enough to go to University. Through several discussions Kate helped her to realise that she was good enough to go to University if she still wanted to. It would be hard work but she reminded Ifra that she had been working hard and well for a long time now. Her learning mentor helped Ifra to believe in herself again and rebuild her confidence.

Ifra successfully applied to university and is doing well. She is studying Business and Accounting at the University of East London.

*Note: Names have been changed to ensure anonymity. Photos are illustrative.

Come and volunteer with us

Our volunteers are truly amazing. They help us run all of our community services.

If you’re interested in volunteering then please fill in our ‘Volunteer Application Form’.

Our volunteers help with:

• mentoring for an hour a week to support a refugee young person
• supporting one of our GCSE study groups that meet for 2 hours a week in Battersea
• helping out at a Homework Club on a Wednesday or Thursday from 4.30pm-7.00pm
• being an escort for older people on and off our minibus during the day Tuesday – Thursdays
• supporting older people as a ‘Fone Friend’- a telephone befriender with local older people
• teaching in our ESOL (English/Maths/IT) classes as a volunteer teaching assistant 
• help with fundraising
• strengthen our communication and marketing 
• and so much more.

Do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

About Katherine Low Settlement

Katherine Low Settlement is a much-loved, busy charity that has been at the heart of the community in Battersea, south-west London, since 1924.

With a few staff and a lot of volunteers, Katherine Low Settlement runs a range of its own popular community projects including educational courses and wellbeing activities. The charity supports children, young people and their families, older people, refugees and newly arrived communities of all genders, nationalities and religions.

The Katherine Low Settlement building in Battersea High Street, opened in 1924, is used for community activities and events, usually – until the arrival of Covid-19 – by over 500 people a week. Its rooms are available for hire at affordable rates.

Katherine Low Settlement is grateful for the funding received from supporters, trusts and foundations to enable the charity to continue to reduce poverty and isolation and bring Battersea together.

Press contacts

Aaron Barbour
Director
Katherine Low Settlement
Telephone: 020 7223 2845
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.klsettlement.org.uk

Pictures
High resolution digital images available from Katherine Low Settlement press contacts.