Student becomes the mentor 

After four years helping others and even finding his own feet thanks to ongoing support, a UWL student is showing the lasting benefits of peer mentoring.

Alessio Di Vito now mentors anywhere from one to five students each year, supporting mature learners as they get to grips with everything, from time management and course assignments to even helping a new student in her 60s get to grips with IT.

Now studying for an MSc in Health Psychology, alongside his full-time role as Vice President of Education at the Students’ Union, the dedicated mentor is continuing to offer the lifeline for others after experiencing first-hand how much difference the additional help can make.

Alessio, who came to London from his hometown in Italy in 2014, said:

I first accessed the support services when I was doing my foundation year, and that was when I used the peer mentoring. I was a mature student and had been out of education for a few years, plus English was not my first language, and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up.

Once I saw how much difference mentors made I knew I wanted to give back and began mentoring others once I started my degree course. Four years on, and I am still in touch with my previous mentees and offering that help.

It’s been a real journey, and to know how sharing my own experiences can help others is inspiring - especially for mature students, to see that not everyone at university is straight out of school and that there is support for them, it has a big impact.

Alessio now mentors Psychology students throughout their undergraduate courses, supporting them with everything, from returning to education to IT skills and course assignments.

Striving for a strong future thanks to UWL support 

Overcoming the challenges of starting a new course in lockdown, a trainee nurse has made the most of support and mentoring to excel at the University of West London (UWL).

For first-year Adult Nursing student, Ella Jupp, the help from tutors and a dedicated peer mentor has made all the difference to making sure she gets the most out of her time at university despite lockdown restrictions.

Paired with a mentor in her final year of a nursing degree, Ella’s been able to have regular online catch-ups to get tips on managing workload, what to expect from her medical placements, and chat about life on campus as restrictions ease and she prepares to start her first NHS training placement.

Ella, who has seen her confidence grow this year, said:

I wasn’t sure what to expect with a lot of learning at home, so I wanted to connect with someone around my age and who has been through similar experiences.

Being able to get advice from someone who’s been where I am has been so helpful and has really put my mind at ease about what to expect as I start placements.

It’s not been the usual start to a degree, but I’m enjoying it so much and have had so much help. I’m looking forward to starting placements and meeting everyone on my course back on campus.

Offering advice on everything from learning strategies and planning workload to where to go for support in all areas of student life, UWL’s peer mentoring service is open to anyone in need of additional help.

Turning to mentoring during study

After signing up to start her second-degree course, Coleen Cocles never imagined she could learn so much and help others through UWL’s Peer Mentoring Service.

But now, excelling in her studies for a BA (Hons) in English and Creative Writing – her second-degree course – Coleen’s not only using her own experiences to help others beginning their university journey but seeing new sides to her own abilities.  

Coleen, who studied law in France before coming to London where she enrolled at UWL, discovered the potential of peer mentoring during her foundation year at UWL and knew she could make the most of the chances on offer.

She said:

After I went to the presentation I knew I wanted to mentor others, it was a great idea and has helped me greatly.

One of my career goals is to become a professor in literature or in creative writing, and mentoring has helped with my critical thinking and analyzing. My mentee and I have learned a lot from each other.

Find out how you could benefit from Peer Mentoring, or get involved by volunteering.