Mentoring Looked After Children
A Collaborative Project between Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Councils ‘Get Real’ Team and the Department of Sociological Studies |
The 'Get Real' Team are a team of teachers and support workers who support Looked AFter Children's education in Rotherham. This project aims to meet the University’s ‘Widening Participation’ agenda by pairing up 1st Year BA Social Work students with young people in the care of Rotherham who are coming up to or preparing for their GCSE’s. The hope is that the little extra input and support around homework may improve GCSE results but may also raise the expectations of the young people toward entering Higher or Further Education. Young People benefit by the opportunity to meet University students, which will hopefully help them recognise that University isn’t some out of reach Ivory Tower and is something they can aspire to, as well as the extra support with subjects they may find a little more difficult. Students benefit from developing some genuine insight into the lived experience of a young person in care, and the chance to develop their communication and relationship building skills, which are central to good social work practice. Following a successful pilot in 2007-08, 12 students have volunteered this year and matched with young people. The university supports students by meeting travel expenses and Joe Smeeton, who leads the MA in Professional Practice with children and their families providing guidance on how to engage young people. The Get Real team provide support and advice about the educational needs of the young people and how to support improved performance. |