Businesses in the 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 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 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.”
Jamal Miah, CEO and Founder of OMG Education, said:
“At OMG Education, we see every day how much of a difference the right mentor can make in a young person’s life. For care-experienced and SEND individuals, having someone they can trust, who believes in them and helps open doors, is life-changing.
“This programme is not just about helping people into jobs – it’s about building their confidence, showing them that the City is a place of opportunity for them too, and making sure they know they have what it takes to thrive.
“We’re proud to be working with the Corporation on a programme that has been shaped by learners themselves, because that’s the only way to make it truly work for them.”
This initiative is being delivered in support of the City Corporation’s wider aims of building diverse, engaged communities where everyone can feel they belong, and supporting people to achieve their ambitions through education, learning and skills, with a focus on improving social mobility and tackling inequality.
The impact of the programme will be independently evaluated to make sure it delivers real and lasting benefits.
Businesses interested in taking part in the mentoring scheme can find more information and sign up online at www.omg.training/step-up-mentoring
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