Tower Hamlets College - mentoring - London

This mentoring programme is designed to help students (aged 16+) to realise their potential through the ongoing support, advice and encouragement of a mentor primarily from the business and financial world around the City and Canary Wharf. Tower Hamlets is a deprived borough with over 20% of 16-24 year olds claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance.

The programme aims to raise motivation and help combat social and education exclusion.

It provides students with an invaluable link into the business world, helping them to broaden their horizons, increase their aspirations, gain more confidence and help them to achieve their full potential through positive role models. 

Students are able to choose their mentor – usually someone from their chosen career path – and meetings take place once a month. Sarwar Zaman (18) is now reading law at the London School of Economics. A former student at Tower Hamlets College, Sarwar has been supported by three mentors including Clive Watson, Chief Executive at insurance underwriters Canopius and Hugo Laing, a lawyer at Clifford Chance.

“You can build up a good relationship with someone other than your teacher or family members to get invaluable support, encouragement and guidance. My mentors were a great source of support,” says Sarwar.

His mentor Clive Watson wanted to share his experience with students and gain more understanding of people living in an area close to the City. He wanted to help students understand the business world and put something back into the community. He took Sarwar to the trading floor at Lloyd’s introducing him to business colleagues and helping him to learn about life in the City.

Another of Sarwar’s mentors, Hugo, helped him with his UCAS application and with applications for work experience including securing a work placement at Bank of America. He encouraged him to explore other career options in addition to the law. Sarwar has grown in confidence and believes that despite his background he can succeed as a lawyer. He went on to secure a three-week paid work placement with a law firm.

The mentoring relationships helped him to obtain straight As at A Level and a place at the LSE. His mentors gave him a source of “strength and inspiration” including support with academic work and applications.

“My mentors have taught me that resilience and perseverance is a must in the face of a huge work load and leadership is not about bossing others around but about inspiring others to raise their performance. It has given me an invaluable insight into the world of work and meeting deadlines.” says Sarwar who has become a mentor himself.

Clive says he felt a “high degree” of satisfaction from the mentoring relationship. “Whilst the work he (Sarwar) put in to achieve the grades to get to LSE was work he had to put in on his own, I like to think I provided some direction and support when he required it.”

Hugo says Sarwar grew in confidence and was able to communicate confidently with older people from different backgrounds.  “As a mentor I learned that young people are under extreme pressure with regard to courses, exams and jobs.  I gained a greater appreciation of what it is like to be a young person in East London at present.” Project Name: Tower Hamlets College Mentoring Programme
Organisation: Tower Hamlets College
Location: London, E14 6DA
Co-ordinator: Mable Kong-Rawlinson
Tel: 0207 510 7755