E-mentoring - E-friends project
EBC's pioneering E-Mentoring project is being funded through Sunderland's award-winning Digitial Challenge initiative. Around 70 young people are already signed up to take part in the programme and are being supported by dozens of business E-Mentors from across the region. The project will run until at least March 2010 and is being supported by around 50 Mentors from the world of business and commerce. They have been recruited from a wide range of businesses, large and small, private, public and voluntary. The Core Aim of the Programme “To provide disadvantaged and disengaged children with the continuity and engagement to raise aspirations and awareness of opportunities.” E-Mentoring activity is now well underway and the young people are using their E-Mentors to support them as they learn more about the world of work and create evidence for special qualifications. You can find out what has been happening by reading our E-Mentoring newsletters, using the links shown, or the information below. Read our first first e-newsletter Read our second e-newsletter
As part of the programme they completed a simple form aimed at finding out a little about them, their interests, hobbies, etc, and what kind of help they might need.
Based on this information the young people - E-Mentees - have been matched with a business E-Mentor who is providing on-line support, encouragement and guidance through a safe and secure portal. As quickly as we are getting E-Mentors CRB checked and we are sure they've undergone Safeguarding Children training we're matching them up with the young people at the heart of this programme. Face to face as well as on-line As well using e-communcations in the programme EBC has planned several large scale events to bring together the E-Mentees. These are:
Parents and carers are being invited to take part at these events to give them an insight into what the young people have been doing. So together parents/carers and the young people have something to share and something to talk about.
In July we held two First Class Careers events which gave our E-Mentees the chance to gain an insight into a host of careers they could aim for once they've left school.
The First Class Careers events were held in South Hylton Tansy Centre and Barbara Priestman School. Businesses who supported the events included Reynolds Outdoor Centre, Sunderland Volunteer Centre, Planning Aid, M and A Media Services and Sun FM.
Amongst the activities they enjoyed were:
We took photographs of all the pupils at work during the day and some of them are shown here. Use our link to take a look at more of our photos of the event. Enterprise and Skills Event
The day saw our E-Mentees working with business supporters to develop their team building and problem solving skills while having fun taking part in a range of activities. All the activities gave them a chance to work together to tackle a number of challenges given to them by our business supporters.
Among the businesses who created the activities for the day were: Sunderland's ATC 111 Squadron, Beamish Museum, Connexions Direct, M and A Media Services, Mott Macdonald, New College Durham and Nexus. We took photographs of all the pupils at work during the day and some of them are shown here. Use our link to take a look at more of our photos of the event. Sign up as an E-MentorIf you are a business person interested in supporting young people as they prepare for the world of work we'd like to hear from you. You can register your interest in becoming an E-Mentor by downloading the Expression of Interest form. You need to commit to sending at least one email each week to your E-Mentee using the special, secure on-line portal. Full training will be given. All recruited E-Mentors are required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check which is being managed by EBC - see above for details. If you want to find out more you can also contact us direct. Click here to find the details of the project officer, Sarah Butler, Programme Officer, EBC ( 0191) 516 6411 or email: info@ebcltd.org.uk Official Launch
Click here to see our photo album. The event was designed to show young people the value of good ICT skills in the workplace. Young people worked with businesses on activities which showed the practical application in the workplace of ICT taught in the classroom.
Other events in the programme will see parents and carers joining the young people to share learning through fun activities, gaining an insight into what the young people have been doing – so together parents/carers and the young people have something to share and something to talk about. To make sure young people get additional face-to-face contact with positive role models from the world of business the launch event is one of several taking place which will see E-Mentees converge on a large venue and work with recruited business supporters (some of them E-Mentors, some additional businesses recruited) on a range of hands on activities designed to develop their key employability skills and understanding of the world of work, including potential career choices, career paths Safeguarding our young peopleBecause the E-Mentoring project is so new and demonstrates a completely new way of supporting young people we are having to ensure all possible safeguards are in place - particularly important because the E-Mentees involved in the project will be using the internet.
You can download a copy of the Safeguarding the Welfare of Children notes issued during the training sessions by clicking here You can find out more about Safeguarding Children by logging onto a dedicated website: www.safeguardingchildren.org.uk Support for CRB Checks - a message to our E-Mentors To reduce demands on your time EBC has arranged for staff from Sunderland Volunteer Centre to help E-Mentors complete their enhanced CRB Disclosure forms. To undergo CRB checking you will need to provide originals of the following documents: You must provide ONE document from Group 1 PLUS TWO documents from Group 2, allshowing your name and current address: GROUP 1 - ONE DOCUMENT FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST
GROUP 2 - TWO DOCUMENTS FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST
If you have any questions please contact Sarah Bulter, Programme Officer, EBC ( 0191) 516 6411 or email: info@ebcltd.org.uk EBC's E-Mentoring model EBC’s E-Mentoring model offers a mix of activities and approaches for both the E-Mentees and E-Mentors involved in the programme. This is to ensure:
Approaches include:
Mentors and Mentees - E-communications Both E-Mentees and E-Mentors receive training on how to use specialist e-mentoring software and E-Mentors and E-Mentees are communicating with each other by email – with all activity monitored by EBC through the software. E-Mentors have been asked to send at least one email each week to their E-Mentee and EBC is now supporting pupils in maintaining their interest by running special ‘email sessions’ in their schools on a regular basis. This is adding to the sense of comradeship and friendship for the young people and avoids them become isolated and ‘locked in isolation with a computer screen’. Sharing Experiences E-Mentees are also being encouraged to contribute to three electronic newsletters which are being circulated to both fellow E-Mentees and to E-Mentors (as well as other partners). This is giving them the chance to use ICT and to share their ideas and experiences with others on the scheme. ‘Stories’ are being anonymised if necessary. Similarly E-Mentors are being asked to share their ideas and experiences in the electronic newsletters – with the aim of sharing ideas, etc, with other Mentors. While the E-Mentees and E-Mentors are communicating, EBC is gathering information and evidence which will be used to secure an appropriate qualification i.e. Introduction to using ICT systems (OCN) or for the young people of Developing Employment Skills (NCFE). Read our first first e-newsletter Read our second e-newsletter For more details contact: Sarah Butler, Programme Officer, EBC - 0191 516 6411 or info@ebcltd.org.uk Copyright notice 2006-2009: All information stored in any form in the website about EBC projects, services and materials are the intellectual property of and copyright to EBC and must not be copied or reproduced without expressed consent from the EBC Chief Executive in written or electronic (email) form. Unit 22, North East BIC, Wearfield, Sunderland Enterprise Park (East), Sunderland, SR5 2TA, Tyne and Wear. Phone: (0191) 516 6411 Fax: (0191) 516 6412. |
The young people, including looked after children, are all now members of the ‘exclusive’ E-friends club. The young people are from four schools across the city. 
First Class Careers Events 
Alongside a host of business supporters they got the chance to get a taste of a host of different jobs - all designed to give them an insight into various careers. 
Lots of our E-Mentees attended our Enterprise and Skills event in June which took in Houghton Sports Hall.
The official launch of the programme took place on February 25 in the Quayside Exchange in Sunderland when the young people met up with some of EBC's business supporters - including some of our recruited E-Mentors - to take part inan interactive programme of activities during a 
EBC has been working closely with both the local authority and Sunderland Children's Trust to make sure all necessary safeguards are in place. They have asked EBC to ensure all E-Mentors undertake Safeguarding Children Training along with going through an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure check.