Sat 27 October is National Mentoring Day, which focuses on recognising excellence and raising awareness of the significant benefits of mentoring in order to “make mentoring accessible to everyone, and to shine a spotlight on excellence in mentoring.”

At the Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL), our Digital Skills Mentors support fellow students and the local community with their use of technology. This includes helping less confident users with computer skills, using search engines and common tools such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel. The project provides the opportunity for both the mentors and their mentees to develop new skills, gain valuable work experience and for the mentors to earn whilst studying.

Digital Mentoring takes place on the University campus through the academic year and will shortly be launched in the local community on a pilot basis at two nearby libraries at Canley Library, from 30 October 2018, 10am–noon every Tuesday), and at Tile Hill Library, from 8 November 2018 (2–4pm every Thursday). The partnership with Coventry Library Services will provide drop-in IT support to library users.

“We understand how important IT skills are for ensuring active citizenship and for remaining connected to information and services as well as family and friends. Our IT-confident mature students already support their peers with the use of technology here at the university. We are pleased to have the chance to extend this support to library users in the communities on our doorstep” said University of Warwick Senior Academic Technologist, Jim Judges.

Sam Jackson, who is studying on CLL’s 2+2 Degree Pathway in Social Studies, has recently started her third year on campus after completing her first two

years North Warwickshire and Hinckley College. She became a Digital Mentor after her tutor approached her about the role.

“I found I was helping people in class with their IT skills and was approached by my tutor to take on the role.” She says. “I already knew other students who were mentors and it allowed me to formalise the support I was already giving and move it outside of lesson time. “

Sam currently mentors seven students at the Centre.

If you are a current student and wish to find out more about our Digital Mentoring Programme at the University click here

If you are looking for more information on our Drop-in IT support to Library Users, click here and scroll down to “Free I.T. help (in association with the University of Warwick Centre for Lifelong Learning)