Study support and mentoring

Get weekly support with your learning

Educational mentors meet young people once a week to help with English, homework, and confidence in education.

If you are 14–25, from a refugee or asylum‑seeking background, and studying in school or college in London, Oxford or Birmingham, you can get weekly one‑to‑one support from a trained volunteer mentor.

Who educational mentoring is for

Educational mentoring is for young people who are:

  • 14–25 years old

  • from refugee or asylum‑seeking backgrounds (for example: refugee status, Humanitarian Protection, UASC leave, Discretionary Leave, Limited Leave to Remain, or you are still in the asylum process)

  • living or studying in London, Oxford or Birmingham

  • going to school or college and would like extra help with homework and English

  • learning English at any level, even if you have just started

If you are not sure about your status or whether this is for you, you can ask your teacher, social worker or key worker to help you check.

What educational mentoring looks like each week

“Sometimes having lots of work without anyone to help you is very stressful. You think about giving up, but if there is someone to support you, you have courage to make your dream come true.”
— Young person on REUK’s educational mentoring programme

Educational mentoring is extra study support once a week.

You:

  • meet with a mentor for about one hour every week

  • usually meet in a local library or safe community space

  • can bring homework or coursework that you find difficult

  • can use the time for English practice, revision or exam preparation

Your mentor:

  • is a trained volunteer, not a teacher

  • helps you understand your school or college work

  • supports you to set goals and work towards them

  • listens to you and encourages you to keep going with your education

How mentoring can help you

Educational mentoring can help you to:

  • understand your lessons better

  • improve your English – reading, writing, speaking and listening

  • prepare for exams and assessments

  • make a plan for college, university or other next steps

  • feel more confident in school or college

  • feel more connected in your local community

You do not have to manage everything on your own. Mentoring gives you regular time with someone who is there just to support your learning.

Where mentoring happens

You usually meet your mentor in a library or other local public space that feels safe and easy to travel to.

We are not expanding to new areas at the moment. If you live outside these areas, your teacher or support worker can still contact us to ask questions.

Mentoring takes place in the cities where we currently have educational hubs:

  • North London

  • South London

  • East London

  • West London

  • Oxford

  • West Midlands (Birmingham)

How to get a mentor

If you would like a mentor:

  1. Talk to your teacher, social worker or key worker. Tell them you would like to be referred for educational mentoring with Refugee Education UK.

  2. Ask them to email the mentoring coordinator for your area.

If you are not sure who to ask, you can speak to a trusted adult at school or college, such as your tutor or EAL teacher.

What happens after you’re referred

After a referral has been made:

  • We read the information about you and your education.

  • We talk with you about what you find difficult and what you would like to get better at.

  • When we can, we match you with a mentor in your area.

  • We agree a time and place for you to meet each week.

Sometimes there may be a waiting list if there are more young people waiting than mentors available. If that happens, we will let your referrer know and keep them updated.

Your safety, support, and who to talk to

We want mentoring to feel safe and positive for you.

  • All mentors complete training, references and checks before they start.

  • Mentors receive guidance on boundaries and safeguarding.

  • You will have a local coordinator who you or your referrer can contact if you have questions or worries.

  • If your situation changes, we will work with you to find a good way forward.

If at any point you do not feel comfortable with mentoring, you can talk to your mentor, your coordinator or the adult who referred you.