Photo - 2021/22 mentors and BGS mentees
Mentors pictured left to right: Jo Hobday (née Baylis, DAHS 1990), Katharine Cook (née Chapman, DAHS 1987), Rachel O’Brien (née Dolamore, DAHS 1990), Zandria Barclay (née Tolliday, DAHS 1997), Emma Cummins (BHS 1988), Lucy James (DAHS 2010) and Liz Beales (née Menday, BHS 1998).
As part of the school’s vision to equip our students for an ever-changing working world; we will shortly be commencing our sixth year of the BGS Alumnae Mentoring Programme, open to all students in the Lower Sixth to apply for, run in conjunction with The Alumnae community.
All the Mentors involved with the programme are alumnae and the programme is part of our drive at BGS to make our alumnae organisation modern and purposeful for its members, as well as an introduction for students to the additional support network our alumnae community provides, not just at school but in the years ahead.
We received a large number of applicants for the programme and currently are able to facilitate up to 15 pairings for the year ahead. We have just completed this year’s programme and our Mentors have represented an array of interesting careers such as Banking, Marketing and Branding, Engineering and Forensic Science.
A successful mentoring partnership benefits both the Mentor and Mentee in different ways. The students involved in last year’s programme were unanimous in their appreciation of receiving advice and guidance from another adult who is neither their parent nor teacher. The students felt a sense of empowerment as they worked through achieving their own personal challenges with their Mentors. Whilst for the Mentors, it is a fulfilling experience, giving them the opportunity to share their skills and experience, as well as enhancing their own personal development.
Mentee Ishani Patel (Upper Sixth), who was mentored by Rachel Parsonage (née Groom, DAHS 1993), CEO of KMI Brands, reflected on her experience:
‘I just wanted to say a gracious thank you for providing this program to us and giving helpful advice and support with each session. Rachel has been hugely encouraging for me with both my confidence and application, and coaching me on life post-school. The mentorship program is something I will value a lot and have taken away lots from’.
