Posted Wednesday 1 June 2022
On 25 May, around 100 mentors, mentees and staff from across the University came together to celebrate the success of the 2021/22 Beyond Barriers Student Mentoring Scheme, and the achievements of those who took part.
The event took place in the Town House courtyard and was hosted by University Registrar Professor Sue Reece , and Head of Wellbeing and Inclusion Jenni Woods, who gave updates on projects in Wellbeing and Inclusion. The evening also included speeches from mentors and mentees about their experiences. Following the speeches and presentations, there was a drinks reception which provided a perfect opportunity for guests to network and socialise, while taking in views across South West London.
A special award was presented to the ‘Mentor of the year', Peter Tully, who is the founder and director of Create Property Investments Limited. Three further mentors, Alan Love (director Choice Insight Limited), Huma Qureshi (financial accounts, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew) and Joanna Heary-Nightingale (human resources manager, Atlas Copco) were recognised for their outstanding contribution to Beyond Barriers.
The mentoring programme received positive feedback from both mentor and mentees. Sara Grove, mentor and Kingston alumna said: "This is my third year as a mentor. Every year the shared dynamic between mentor and mentee is varied. What is constant is the enjoyment of working together on a common issue, and discovering a solution through active listening, empathy, and positivity."
Marina Nikolic, fourth year Cancer Biology student commented: "Thanks to this programme, I feel more confident about my capabilities. My mentor challenges me to explore different opportunities and supports me every step of the way. I am grateful that I was selected for this programme, and I am expecting that by the end of it, I will demonstrate amazing progress in all the areas that I've been working on!'
Aaminah Mohammed, second year Law student, also said: "Through this process I was able to interact with someone in my chosen field of study who provided me with advice on how best to manage my life at university, as well as insightful guidance on what life in the working environment could look like."
Find out more about Beyond Barriers
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