Parents help children Aim Higher

Evidence shows that parents and carers are a major influence on their children's attitude to education; it can be positive or negative often depending on the parent's personal experience of education. Parents who have no experience of university or Higher Education may find it difficult to give their children guidance and encouragement to continue in education.

The Parent Mentor project aims to engage parents in helping to raise their children's aspirations and attainment towards Higher Education.

The project recruited ten volunteers who were parents or suitable adults who had successfully completed Higher Education or had helped their children to reach university. They were trained as Parent Mentors so that they could work with parents and deliver information to groups across Sheffield.

During the pilot of the project mentors worked with Somali parents whose children attend the Broomhall Homework Club. Parents explained that they needed more information about student finance, UCAS applications, University Open days and routes into Higher Education.

The mentors ran six sessions for the parents culminating in a visit to The University of Sheffield, where potential students could talk to staff from departments they were interested in.

The mentors that were recruited reflected a whole range of different experiences and all worked extremely hard to help other parents help their children.

Elizabeth has been living in Britain for eight years. She works for the NHS as a staff nurse and has four children. Three of her children are currently in Higher Education studying Medical Science, Pharmacy and Chemical Engineering respectively. She decided to become a parent mentor because she wanted to share the information and experience she has gone through in helping her own children to reach Higher Education.

Her top tip for other parents and carers would be to tell their children to “Aim high, get the best qualifications you are capable of and think positive – YOU CAN DO IT!”

If you are interested in the project or you would like parent mentors to work with your group please contact 222 7003.

The Parent Mentor Project is managed by Margaret Mitchell at the University of Sheffield and Maggie Bamford at Sheffield Futures.

Routes 16 Careers Fair 2008

Monday 3rd November

• 4:00pm – 8:00pm

(parents/carers and families)

Tuesday 4th November

• 9:00am – 3:30pm

(group bookings only)

• 5:00pm – 8:00pm

(parents/carers and families)

Held at Indoor Straight at Sheffield's prestigious Don Valley Stadium.

One of the groups running activities at the evening sessions will be Aimhigher. Aimhigher aims to increase participation in Higher Education from under represented groups.

During the evening sessions there will be short talks including:

• Information for parents and careres.

• The cost of Higher Education.

• Parents sharing their experiences of supporting young people through Higher Education.

• Students currently at university.

For further information About Routes 16 generally, contact Vaughan Skirrey on 201 2815 vaughan.skirrey @sheffieldfutures.org.uk About Aimhigher evening talks, contact Maggie Bamford on 201 2800 maggie.bamford @sheffieldfutures.org.uk