Social Mobility Foundation Parent, Carer and Sibling Guide 2014

Parent, Carer and Sibling Guide 2014 ASPIRING PROFESSIONALS PROGRAMME

! s n o i t a l u t a r g n o C Your son or daughter has been accepted on to the free of charge Aspiring Professionals Programme (APP) with the Social Mobility Foundation (SMF).

But what’s it all about? What will they be doing? Is there anything you can do to help? Hopefully, this guide will answer all of your questions.

WHAT IS THE SOCIAL MOBILITY FOUNDATION? The Social Mobility Foundation is a charity which supports high achieving young people from less privileged backgrounds to reach their potential.

We run a variety of programmes that are carefully designed to provide a real insight into a number of top universities and professions. All of our students have the ability to succeed in their chosen career, but may not yet have the understanding of how to get there.

“Due to the SMF, I did my work placement at one of the most prestigious hospitals in not only England but the world for neurology and I still can’t believe how much I learnt in such a short space of time.”

—Yasmin, 2013 APP Medicine 2

What will my son or daughter be

doing?

Your son or daughter will join the APP in Year 12/S5 and be supported until they graduate or until they are in employment.

Our support covers four key areas: 1. Mentoring 2. Internships 3. University Application Support 4. Skills Sessions

MENTORING Your son or daughter will be matched with a mentor who already works in their chosen profession. Mentors provide support throughout the year via email. They are a fantastic source of information about your child’s dream career and can provide informed advice about career choices and university applications. All mentors have been cleared through a DBS criminal record check and communication takes place via our secure website, meaning that no personal contact details are shared. You will always be contacted for permission if we know your child wants to meet their mentor in person. Your child will be able to meet their mentor at events held across the year, which are supervised by SMF staff.

INTERNSHIPS If your son or daughter engages well with the programme, they will be considered for short internships within their career sector usually taking place during their summer holiday or October half term. Travel to and from the internship is fully paid for. This opportunity is not to be missed as it provides an invaluable insight into working life.

A selection of students are also given the opportunity to spend a week in an MP’s office to discover what goes on behind the walls of Westminster.

ABID ON AN INTERNSHIP AT HENDERSON GLOBAL INVESTORS (2013)

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FREYA ON AN INTERNSHIP AT THE OBSERVER (2013)

UNIVERSITY APPLICATION SUPPORT This includes: • University visits to Russell Group universities (which are free of charge and supervised by our staff) • University and Careers Fair • Personal statement advice and checking service • University interview workshops • Support with aptitude tests

SKILL SESSIONS To help your son or daughter work towards their chosen profession, we provide a range of skills sessions. These include workshops on how to make a professional first impression, effective communication and interview advice. We also organise Futures Days where successful professionals share their experiences and talk about how they made it in their chosen career, usually taking place during the Easter or May half term.

STUDENTS WINNIE, SURESH AND ARANTOS SHARE THEIR FAVOURITE PART OF THE PROGRAMME

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When

will the Programme take place?

Events will happen across the year. The majority of our activities take place during the school holidays. The first event your son or daughter will be invited to is a launch event. This is an opportunity for the students to meet each other and the SMF staff.

KEY DATES FOR 2014 April-July:

University visits, skills workshops and Futures Days

July-August:

Internship and MP placements

August-October:

Personal statement checking service and university interview workshops

SMF STUDENTS VISIT UCL ON AN OPEN DAY

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How can I

help?

We advise all SMF students that a big part of the programme is to develop their confidence and independence. Therefore, we ask that students attend all events independently, without parents or carers. Students soon make friends with others on the programme.

The best way to help your son or daughter make the most of their time with the SMF is to encourage them to get involved with every opportunity that they are offered. They will be contacted regularly by the SMF team about what is coming up and booking a place on events is really easy. They will be offered a variety of events that are tailored to their chosen career sector.

However, they will only get out what they put in. We only offer internships to those students who have attended at least three events and have kept in regular contact with their mentor. We would really appreciate your support in encouraging your son or daughter to:

üüReply promptly to emails from SMF staff üüKeep in regular contact with their mentor üüLet us know immediately if they are unable to attend an event

üüInform SMF if their contact details change üüArrive in plenty of time for events (usually 15 minutes before the start time)

üüConduct themselves in a professional manner during events

üüEngage with SMF staff, their mentor and other professionals in a polite, respectful manner

üüBe an ambassador for their school/college and SMF 6

How can I

? e r o m t u o d n i f

We hope that this has answered all of your questions, but if not, please just ask us.

Website: www.socialmobility.org.uk Phone: 0207 183 1189 and ask to speak to one of our APP team. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:30.

Email: info@socialmobility.org.uk Post:

The Social Mobility Foundation 1st and 2nd Floor 43-47 Leadenhall Market London EC3V 1LR

If you would like to find out more information about how to support your child in their application to higher education or employment, please look at the websites below.

UCAS University and College Admissions Service provides information on how to apply to further education and course requirements: www.ucas.com Student Finance This offers an overview of student finance: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/overview The Complete University Guide This includes League Tables for universities across the UK: www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk Parent Advisor Advice about career options and Higher Education: www.parentadvisor.co.uk 7

Social Mobility Foundation

Successes

IN 2013, WE RAN MORE THAN 40 EVENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS

of students said that their internship either met or exceeded their expectations

“Not only have my career interests been supported through being part of the SMF, but my personal skills have also been developed through workshops targeted at improving my skills. All of which combines perfectly for me to be able to make the most of internships and further my career interests.” —Sabahat, 2012 APP Law Student

95

%

of students said that they would not have got their placement without the help of the SMF

53

%

of SMF students start their university career at a Russell Group university

The SMF team are very excited to meet the new group of students and can’t wait to help them realise their aspirations and goals.

Images © Charlotte King Photography. Design: www.catherinecharnock.co.uk

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