Sciences volunteer educational mentors wanted at Refugee Education UK [Summer recruitment for 2026-2027 academic year]
Refugee Education UK is looking for volunteers to act as educational mentors for our community of young refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of trafficking. Specifically, to support those who will be sitting their GCSE Combined Sciences/Triple Science Award for the coming academic year.
What will you do?
Each Volunteer Educational Mentor provides individual educational support to one young person for one hour a week, for a minimum of six months. These sessions take place either in a public library local to the young person, or in the young person’s college library. Educational goals are set at the beginning of the mentoring relationship, and reviewed after six months. Mentors mostly work on the aspects of homework or classwork which young people find most challenging; at times, they also provide additional teaching and prepare resources. The science educational mentor’s main focuses will be providing GCSE support mentees. Mentors work closely with the REUK Educational Mentoring team who provide oversight, guidance and support.
Although experience studying the GCSE Sciences (Combined or Triple Award) is needed, you do not need official teaching experience for this role! We aim to equip you with all the necessary skills to support and guide your mentee over the time you are matched.
Mentors get the chance to be positive influences and role models in the lives of young people arriving in the UK with limited support networks.
Here is a testimonial from a current mentor and on the things he has enjoyed from volunteering:
There are more than I could list here, but one of the main ones for me is when your mentee makes a breakthrough on something that was giving them difficulty, especially after you've been working on it together for a while. I've also really enjoyed seeing my mentees flourishing and doing well in their lives, like when they get through their exams or when you hear about the activities they are enjoying outside of education. It's a real privilege to share part of someone's life through the mentoring role. - Duncan L. 2023
All new educational mentors will attend our New Mentor Training to get you ready for your matches.
We also have quarterly mentor development trainings that provides opportunities for continued learning and connection among the mentoring hub. Past trainings have included topics on ESOL, boundaries, revision strategies and more.
- Experience of working with young people and the related challenges (ie: flexibility and patience sometimes required for youth work).
- Capacity to travel to a location convenient for the young person and an ability to meet the young person by 5:30 pm at the latest.
- Experience of working with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.
- Ability to work on own initiative and a willingness to take on relevant preparation.
- Ability to think creatively and problem-solve.
- Excellent communication/interpersonal skills.
- Good organisational skills.
- Ability to cope with emotionally-demanding and stressful situations.
- Motivated by promoting the wellbeing of children and young people.
- Commitment to and ability to work in accordance with REUK’s Child Protection policies and Christian Ethos: https://www.reuk.org/our-story
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