Meet our mentoring pairs: Shelby & Claudia
Shelby & Claudia are one of the brilliant mentoring pairs on this year’s programme. Read on to understand more about the journey our mentors and mentees go on, as we hear about their experiences so far. Claudia is a Year 10 student, and a mentee on our programme. Like many of our mentees, we first met Claudia through one of our partner schools, Eastside Young Leaders Academy. When she signed up for the mentoring programme, Claudia remarked “I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, so I went in with an open mind. Mainly I just wanted to learn more.” She told us that through mentoring, she wanted to work on building her skills and confidence. Shelby works in Ecommerce Technology, and has a background in fashion. She wanted to get involved with The Catalyst in order “to be able to impart wisdom and helpful tips to the younger generation”, recognising that when she was younger, this kind of support for young Black girls was not often available. We match mentors and mentees carefully based on their interests, experiences and preferences, and Shelby and Claudia are just one example of a match who have built a great rapport. Shelby says that she likes “everything” about working with Claudia, adding, “Claudia is very smart and driven, which made us a good match with us both being goal oriented.” The pair first met in September, at an online matching event. This is an opportunity for our pairs to break the ice in a small group setting, through games and introductions. Shelby and Claudia then began their one to one sessions. They made use of some of the session plans we provide, which often focus on helping pairs get to know each other, as we know that establishing a positive connection is essential to successful mentoring. For Shelby, one of the most interesting things they’ve done together was swapping TV show recommendations during one of these first sessions! In their second session, pairs will often begin to set SMART goals, which they will work on throughout their mentoring relationship. Mentees develop goals related to various aspects of life, whether that’s finding out more about a career pathway, to building confidence through public speaking, or achieving a certain grade in their exams. For Claudia, working with Shelby has had a long term impact on how she works towards her future goals. “I’m more open to realising how goals are set. They don’t have to be big, they can be small & easy to achieve.” She adds that now, “I have more goals and more knowledge about different career paths. I’ve already hit some goals that we set, which I didn’t expect.” Claudia also found the third session particularly memorable. In this session, mentors and mentees use Myers Briggs personality tests to get to know each other more, and to reflect on their unique qualities, strengths, and weaknesses. Claudia described the personality tests as “really fun”, echoing a sentiment of many of our pairs, who often see this session as a highlight of their mentoring! We know that all mentees are unique, and this is why we encourage mentors to take a flexible approach, giving them the necessary support and resources to tailor their sessions to their mentee’s needs and preferences. As Claudia describes “I expected it to be more focused on school related topics, however we have covered more in our sessions so far.” Shelby adds that “We have talked through some of the challenges in the workplace at a high level. Most of the conversations have been on foundational skills that will help girls thrive in any profession.” She feels that she has been able to support Claudia the most through goal setting, working through personality types, and helping Claudia to identify her strengths. We believe that mentoring is a mutually beneficial experience – mentors often get as much from the experience as they give. This has been the case for Shelby, who feels that she has developed her listening skills, and has learnt how to “explain things in simple terms to help Claudia understand”. Both Claudia and Shelby would encourage anyone interested in joining the programme to “Go for it!” Claudia explains that mentoring is “something new, it’s not something I’d normally do and I have enjoyed working with Shelby so far.” Shelby adds that the experience is “very rewarding and a lot of fun”. This June, Shelby and Claudia will be having their first in person meet up. We have loved working with the pair so far this year, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of their mentoring relationship brings!
Meet our Mentors: Danielle in Healthcare Science
This week is Healthcare Science Week, a time to celebrate and raise awareness of over 50 scientific specialisms and professional groups in this diverse NHS workforce. Over the last 75 years NHS healthcare science has played a vital role in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease; and the health of our population. Read on to find out more about the opportunities in healthcare science, and to hear from one of our mentors, Danielle, about her experiences within neurophysiology! Words by Danielle Johnson Have you ever considered a career in Healthcare Science? When I was younger, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in science or healthcare but I thought the only options available were to be a doctor or nurse. I had come across physiotherapists through playing sport and I encountered a radiographer once whilst having a scan for an injured ankle – but beyond that I had no idea. It wasn’t until much later on that I found out about the more than 50 specialisms that make up healthcare science! Healthcare science underpins over a billion diagnostic investigations and treatment interventions a year and impacts three in four of all clinical decisions made in the NHS. It has played a vital role in the diagnosis, prevention and management of disease throughout time. Healthcare scientists are responsible for every piece of medical equipment to ensure patient safety and they are at the forefront of shaping technological advances that address the greatest health challenges of today. We are the hidden workforce that perform your tests and scans, work to optimise your treatment and develop new methods of delivering your care. There are four key divisions of healthcare science: Life Science: If you work in life sciences, you will play a crucial role in helping to improve our understanding of illnesses and their treatment. You might also be responsible for developing new treatments for common medical problems, such as infertility or allergies. The majority of your time will be spent in hospital laboratories, where you will analyse different samples from patients to give doctors the information they need to make an accurate diagnosis. You may also work on hospital wards or in the community. Physiological Science: In this area of healthcare science, roles are mainly patient-facing. You will examine people directly to look for any problems in the way their body is working and advise on diagnosis and management of a variety of conditions. You’ll be part of a medical or surgical team, and your work will involve direct interaction with patients. You will use the very latest techniques and equipment to identify any abnormalities and help to restore body functions, such as problems with the heart, brain, lungs or hearing. Physical Science: Medical physics and Clinical engineering: In this area, you will work closely with other NHS clinical teams, making sure the equipment they use, such as renal dialysis machines, are functioning safely and effectively. You’ll also be responsible for developing new techniques and technology to measure what is happening in the body and to diagnose and treat disease. These might include different imaging techniques to explore or record the workings of the body. You might also develop techniques to design artificial limbs and body parts or improve facial reconstruction for those involved in accidents or born with disabilities. Bioinformatics: This is a rapidly evolving area of healthcare science that brings together computing, biology and medicine. Staff in clinical bioinformatics roles develop and improve methods for acquiring and using biological data to support healthcare delivery. My Experiences as a Healthcare Scientist in Neurophysiology: After studying Biology, Chemistry and Psychology A-levels, I went on to study Neuroscience at The University of Nottingham. I chose Neuroscience because I found the brain so interesting – and it was the perfect mix of my favourite A-level subjects. Towards the end of my degree, I wasn’t any closer to knowing what I wanted to do – I knew I didn’t want to work in a lab all day and wanted to do something with people. It wasn’t until, one day, someone came into my university to give a talk on the Scientist Training Programme that I was introduced to Healthcare Science, and Neurophysiology in particular. Neurophysiology is the study of how the brain and nervous system work. We perform a range of electro-diagnostic tests to check patients for various neurological disorders. My specialist area is long-term EEG monitoring of brain activity for epilepsy – a disorder which causes people to have seizures. I’ve worked with everyone from premature babies to elderly patients in a variety of settings, leading on collecting the information necessary for their diagnosis and guiding medical teams on finding the correct treatment. My highlights have been working with young children and feeling that sense of reward and fulfilment when you manage to get them to cooperate with the investigation and reach one step closer to managing their condition, and in many cases also improving their quality of life. I’ve also spent time in brain surgery assisting surgeons to resect the part of the brain causing seizures, following my patients through the whole journey from their diagnosis to full recovery. Working in Neurophysiology is a mixture of seeing patients on wards and in clinics, analysing complex data, and writing reports. You need to have excellent communication and inter-personal skills for working with a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, doctors, nurses and researchers. You must have good problem-solving skills and an eye for detail. You must always be willing to learn as science and technology evolves to provide the best quality care for your patients. Above all else, you need to be compassionate and kind to your patients as they move through potentially one of the most challenging phases of their life. In my Neurophysiology career, I’ve also had the opportunity to become involved in research, education, leadership and management. There are many options to further your development in Healthcare Science and a real need for us to grow our workforce to meet the evolving healthcare
Law Insight Day at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors
In October 2023, aspiring lawyers from across our mentoring programmes visited Irwin Mitchell Solicitors. The day was meticulously organised, featuring a series of engaging sessions designed to offer insights into the daily life of a lawyer. A huge thank you to Clemmie and the team at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors for hosting us. Here’s how two Catalyst mentees, Jemimah and Britnel, found the day: Jemimah, Year 12 Visiting Irwin Mitchell Solicitors was a transformative experience that opened my eyes to the world of law and left me inspired for the future. I signed up for the Irwin Mitchell Insight Day for a few reasons. I wanted to: 1. Immerse myself in a legal workplace. 2. Learn more about different routes into and roles available within a law firm. 3. Understand what a day in the life of a law firm looks like. Most importantly, I wanted to use this experience as a test to determine if law was my true calling! One highlight of the day was participating in a riveting debate on the regulation of and issues surrounding e-scooters. For the debate, we had to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to come up with points in favour or against the motion. I loved working collaboratively with my team, confidently presenting our ideas and arguments. Though the verdict was a draw, I’m convinced my team won! Another highlight was listening to a presentation by Angela Jackman KC, Partner at Irwin Mitchell and Windrush generation descendant who has achieved remarkable success in the legal field despite facing countless challenges. Her story was truly inspiring and I’m grateful to the Catalyst Collective for the opportunity to meet such an amazing woman! What did I learn from my time at Irwin Mitchell? One key takeaway was the flexibility and benefits of apprenticeships, which combine real work experience with theoretical learning at a local university. The revelation that apprenticeships allow you to make money without accumulating student loan debt and while gaining qualified lawyer status was enlightening. Hearing from current apprentices shattered myths and answered questions I’ve always had about doing an apprenticeship. As a result of this experience, I’m motivated to seek more work experience opportunities and explore both university and apprenticeship options. My trip to Irwin Mitchell has left me with a newfound determination to pursue my dreams. Whether that’s in law or another field, I can’t wait to see where the path ahead takes me. Britnel, Year 12 As I plan to pursue a career in the law in future, visiting Irwin Mitchell Solicitors seemed like a great place to start and it definitely lived up to expectations! At Irwin Mitchell, we met a number of talented employees including young people on their apprenticeship scheme. Through speaking with them, many of us came away inspired to seriously consider the option of apprenticeships. After going on a tour of the offices, we heard from solicitors from the human rights and financial departments about how their lives have been transformed working here. We also took part in a lively debate about whether e-scooters should be banned – leaving debaters on both sides curious to find out more! What stuck with me personally was an employee sharing her experience of handling an inquest and other cases. Another memorable moment was when another employee recounted how she successfully advocated in court for a Black boy to be able to wear cornrows at secondary school in Harrow. What an achievement! I learned a lot from my time at Irwin Mitchell. One thing I’m taking away from the experience is that even if you’re feeling unsure about your future, there’s always an end goal. It’s ok if things don’t always go as planned – sometimes a change in can lead to something better. Overall, visiting Irwin Mitchell reinforced that I do want to study law in the future and hopefully working there one day will be an option. Thank you so much Irwin Mitchell for having us!
Meet our Mentoring Pairs: Denise and Habon
It’s time to introduce another one of our mentoring pairs! Denise and Habon started mentoring in 2021-22, and have continued into a second year of working together. Denise is an Associate Nutritionist with a PhD in Nutrition and Food Poverty. Habon is a Year 13 student at Hammersmith Academy. Words by Amara Agwo Denise and Habon have been working together for over a year. First matched because of a shared interest in STEM Careers, their mentoring so far has gone from strength to strength. When they first matched, Habon was still deciding potential future paths for herself. She reflected that one of her favourite sessions with Denise was discussing their different paths to date: “Denise was an A-level student who wanted to study Dietetics, but fate pushed her where she is now, completing a PhD in food nutrition. This will open amazing doors for her like working in the private sector with organisations like W.H.O.” Denise has been a motivated and passionate mentor within the Catalyst community. She described her motivations for first joining the Catalyst: “I wanted to contribute to my community and provide the support that I wish I had gotten when I was younger. To show young Black girls that you really can be whoever you want to be.” Habon has found it useful to have the support of a mentor at a pivotal time in her life. There are parallels between their separate journeys, as both mentor and mentee have learnt to adapt as they figure out which paths to take. At the start of year 12, Habon had her mind set on studying medicine, and already had her top university choices picked out: “I thought I knew exactly what I wanted and where I wanted to go. However as the year went by, I developed more skills and insight on my subjects as well as getting work experience. With all these new aspects and experiences, I began to feel as if medicine was not the path I wanted to go on. All of a sudden I felt lost on what I want to do or even where to go.” Habon had been confused about what path to take, but she says that “just talking to a mentor helped me overcome the overwhelming feeling.” She now aspires to study Mathematics at university, and wants to go into the technology and engineering industry. In her journey to understand what her future may hold, Habon has modelled adaptability and perseverance. When we asked on advice for the next cohort of Catalyst mentees, she shared: “Have an open mind, you never know if you truly want something until you try it and talk about it. There are so many opportunities out there and sometimes it just takes one person to help you connect to these other amazing people.” A core of the Catalyst mentoring model is that mentors have the chance to gain as much as they give to their mentee. Denise recognised this as part of her Catalyst journey so far: “I’m grateful that I got to be part of this community that lives up to its mandate of making meaningful connections, be it with your mentee, other mentors or the team.” Habon’s last piece of advice? “Build your own network; if you want any advice for your future it is that networking is key to success. The Catalyst helped me do that and I encourage you to do the same.” And if that wasn’t persuasive enough, Denise added, “Join the Catalyst! If you are looking to inspire and be inspired this is the place to be. Everyone is truly amazing!” To get involved as part of the next cohort, mentors can visit: www.thecatalystcollective.co.uk/becomeamentor. Future mentees should watch this space, as we have something exciting coming next academic year.
We’re Jammin!
This month, we reflect on our recent theatre trip to see The Bob Marley Musical. Words by Olivia Hylton. On Tuesday November 29th 2022, we took a number of mentees from the Eastside cohort of the Catalyst Mentoring Programme to watch Get Up, Stand Up: The Bob Marley Musical at the Lyric Theatre. A number of mentors were also able to join, making this trip even more special – with some mentoring pairs meeting for the first time, following months of virtual mentoring. Pictured: Jennifer and Princess were one of the pairs who met for the first time in person. Get Up, Stand Up charts the story of Bob Marley – from his early years in the hills of Jamaica to his time as a global superstar playing shows all over the world. Woven throughout the musical were popular Bob Marley songs such as Could You Be Loved and War. Each song helped to move the story along, educating us about different periods such as Bob’s time in exile in the UK and attempts to bridge political divisions in Jamaica. For India, a 2020-21 mentee who is pursuing a career in performing arts, the show was “very inspiring and eye opening”. Like Bob Marley, India is of Jamaican heritage – “I enjoyed learning more about people from my background”. Belema, a 2021-22 mentor, described the show as “amazing… It definitely gave me perspective on Bob Marley’s upbringing and how it influenced his music”. Belema also had the opportunity to meet her mentee Jemimah in person for the first time at the show. The most powerful moment came towards the end of the performance, just before a rendition of Redemption Song. Highlighting the plights of freedom fighters and the power of music as a tool for resistance, the monologue delivered gave Redemption Song a whole new sense of relevance and meaning. The show was closed out with a performance of Get Up, Stand Up, in which the audience were encouraged to participate by singing and dancing along. It was the perfect way to end an amazing evening, with a reminder to us all to stand u for what we believe in. Special thanks to The Black Ticket Project for making this trip possible by providing tickets to the show.
Meet our mentoring pairs: Sade and Abigail
A few months ago, we caught up with Abigail and Sade, a brilliant mentoring pair from the 2021-22 cohort. Abigail is now a Year 12 student, and Sade is a Clinical Psychologist. “The most unique part of our relationship is how well matched we are in terms of our interests. We get on really well. It’s a testament to the Catalyst matching process and the effort we have put into getting to know each other.” Sade is a clinical psychologist, working in forensic mental health. Determined that other Black women will not face the same lack of representation that she has, she decided to become a mentor with the Catalyst. “I’ve made it my business to find other Black psychologists, and to encourage the next generation.” Last academic year, Sade mentored Abigail, a year 11 student interested in the field of criminal psychology. For Abigail, mentoring proved a good way to occupy her time, and helped her to gain an insight into her chosen career path, from the valuable perspective of another Black woman. Abigail has always felt comfortable talking to her mentor: “It has been what I expected, and more. She is always motivating me and it makes me want to work harder.” As a pair, Sade and Abigail worked towards a number of goals together. One of these was to broaden Abigail’s knowledge of psychology. “Our last session was my favourite so far. I was learning more about Sade’s journey in her career.” The pair also discussed study tips so Abigail can obtain her desired grades for college, and worked on Abigail’s personal statement for university. Sade recognises that mentoring is not just a one way street. “It is such an enriching experience on both ends. I’ve gained so much and I have learnt about myself.” Seeing her mentee’s drive and commitment motivated Sade in her own life: “Abigail is such an inspiring young woman. I appreciate how open she has been about what she wants to achieve. It’s really lovely to see at such a young age.” Despite the busyness of school and work, both Sade and Abigail believe that mentoring is worth prioritising. They worked together to find a good rhythm in their meetings, through maintaining communication and being understanding when challenges come up. This pair are a wonderful example of the ethos of the Catalyst, a place where Black women support and uplift one another. But their story started long before they met one another. Sade explained that her great-grandmother is the person who most inspires her. “She is 93 and the matriarch of my family. She came here from Jamaica and built a life for her family. She inspired me to be a strong independent black woman, and this message has filtered through the generations.” “For me,” Abigail shares, “it is my mum. She has overcome so much. She is the only Black woman on her team at work, but she doesn’t let that get in the way of anything.” And in terms of words of wisdom for the incoming cohort, their advice was to “Go for it!” Sade would encourage members to embrace the valuable connection they are making, and to have fun with it. And Abigail, speaking to the mentees says, “Don’t be shy. Be comfortable with your mentor. I have learnt that there is always someone there who can guide you.”
Introducing Olivia: our new Programme Administrator
With the newest cohort of Catalyst mentors and mentees setting off on their year-long mentoring journey, it’s time to say hello to Olivia Hylton – the newest member of the Catalyst team. Prior to working at King’s, Olivia worked for a number of youth organisations in London. She studied studied Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, writing her dissertation on the ethical case for supporting the #MuteRKelly movement. While at Cambridge, Olivia was heavily involved in widening participation activities, with a focus on increasing the number of Black students entering top universities. As Programme Administrator, Olivia will be supporting with training and onboarding of new mentors and mentees, as well as planning upcoming events and workshops for the Catalyst Collective. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys weight-training, listening to podcasts and reading up on Black British history. When she’s not working at the Catalyst, Olivia is developing a community-building platform for Black women called Sistren. Olivia said: “I’m really excited to be joining The Catalyst Collective. From an early age, I’ve been inspired my Black women from all walks of life so it’s great to be part of a collective that shares the ethos of promoting positive role models. I’m looking forward to meeting all the mentors and mentees and hearing stories of what they’ve learned from one another”. At the same time, we say a very sad goodbye to Eve who has been with us this year as a Programme Coordinator. Thank you to Eve for all your wonderful contributions to the organisation, and we look forward to continuing to have you as part of the Catalyst community as one of our mentors.
Why Black girls and Black women?
In this month’s blog, we explore more about why The Catalyst model is designed to focus specifically on the experiences of Black women and Black girls. I know I can be a confident Black girl in the future. It all starts now.’ – Catalyst Mentee, Cohort 2021-22 These are the words of a mentee who will be starting our programme in September, and we think she perfectly encapsulates what we want to achieve. The Catalyst Collective matches Black women with Black girls for meaningful mentoring relationships. But, we are often asked, why does our programme focus specifically on Black women and girls? A lack of emphasis on the specific needs of young Black women often leads to grouping students together in a way that masks significant differences in key outcomes. We know that young Black people as a whole experience some disparities compared to young people from other ethnic groups. For example, Black students have the highest university non-completion rates, and are the least likely to be awarded a 1st class or 2:1 degree classification. Whether our mentees want to go to university, do an apprenticeship or take another path, our programme strives to support their attainment in secondary school and beyond. Mentoring encourages the girls to have high aspirations, and helps them to achieve their goals, step by step. Even within the demographic of young Black people, Black girls have a considerably different lived experience to Black boys. For example, despite the fact that Black girls are more likely to progress to higher education than Black boys, Black women are half as likely as Black men to become professors. In educational and professional spaces, Black women are frequently underrepresented. Therefore, there is a significant lack of positive Black female representation in the lives of most Black female school students. In our pilot cohort, 100% of mentees said that it was important to them to have a mentor that they could identify with, and 100% said they were unlikely, or very unlikely to have had a mentor this year without being offered one through The Catalyst Collective. We recognise the specific experiences of Black women, often facing the ‘double disadvantage’ of racism and sexism. Yet, our mentees are aspirational, with many striving to enter fields where few Black women have gone before. The impact of our mentees having role models that they can identify with is immeasurable. One of our upcoming mentees believes she would really benefit from having a mentor to remind her ‘that being a Black woman going into a male-dominated field isn’t impossible.’ This is why we deliver a powerful and tailored intervention to young Black women through our mentoring programme.
My Catalyst Summer
With summer now a distant memory, our first ever Summer Programme Intern, Amara Agwo reflects back on her 6 weeks interning with the Catalyst. Faced with a long summer in the run up to my first year at university, I decided to do something a little different with my time. Through my connection to Eastside Young Leaders’ Academy, The Catalyst’s first partner school, I heard about the programme and wanted to get involved. So, in July, I began my internship. As someone who wants to work in the charity sector in the future, I have found interning with The Catalyst Collective to be a really helpful experience. Right from the start, I felt that my role was valued and meaningful, as I was able to discuss with Chloe what my expectations were and what I hoped to achieve. For example, I mentioned that I enjoy writing, and that I would like to practice these skills in a more professional context. I have now had many opportunities to write articles for this blog that you are reading! I have really enjoyed all the tasks I’ve been working on, as well as the flexibility of my remote internship. There has certainly been no lack of things to do, from helping to match the 2021/22 mentoring cohort, to developing the mentoring resource pack and session plans. The highlight of my internship was definitely the end of year celebration, which I also helped to organise. I found it very moving to hear from the mentors and mentees how the programme had impacted them. It was a chance for me to see the real people behind everything I’d been doing on a screen, and it made me realise the true impact the Catalyst is having. The next exciting step for me is heading to University College London to study European, Social and Political Studies. It will enable me to learn from lots of subject areas that I love, and it will hopefully equip me to make a difference. This has always been my goal, and it is why I feel proud to have been a part of The Catalyst Collective this summer. Although I’m still figuring it out, I know my internship has set a foundation for what I hope to do in the future. And, as a black girl, I am proud to have helped uplift other black women through this programme. I would definitely recommend interning with The Catalyst if you are in year 13 or a university student. It is a great way to gain work experience and develop knowledge and skills whilst having a real impact. Inspired by Amara? If you’re interested in playing a role in Team Catalyst, please get in touch at thecatalyst.mentoring@gmail.com
What a difference a year makes: Celebrating our first cohort!
This August we brought our first ever cohort to a close. Here, we share a video of our brilliant End of Year event, and Amara – our Summer Programme Intern – shares more about the event. Videography by Melissa Morgan Our end of year celebration was the first time that many of our mentoring pairs met in person for the first time, and it was the perfect way to draw our first cohort’s journey to a close. For Ernesta, one of our mentees, the event was a chance “to bond with other mentors and mentees and celebrate the journey that we have all been on.” With balloons hung and food on the table, the scene was set for what turned out to be a magical evening! In between games, mentors and mentees shared about the difference that mentoring had made to their lives. Girls who had previously shied away from public speaking were now expressing their thoughts confidently, sharing the clarity they’d developed on their career path, and the personal growth they attributed to mentoring. Our mentors too had learnt a lot, explaining how inspired they were by their mentees’ character and drive, and how they had really enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of their mentees’ journeys. A few happy tears were shed! The mentoring pairs soon grabbed some props, ready to take polaroid pictures at our makeshift photo booth. As creative and eager as ever, the mentees began to use the photo frames and stickers from their goody bags to decorate their new polaroids, and the mentors soon followed, creating another opportunity for them to bond. “I don’t think there could have been a better event for us to meet our mentors. Everyone had fun and felt comfortable.” – Caitlyn, Mentee 2020-21 We are very grateful to our first cohort for their enthusiastic approach to mentoring, and for how they have shaped The Catalyst over the past 8 months. We also appreciate everyone who contributed to this celebration, from hosting us to doing videography. Thank you all for making the end of year celebration such a fantastic event. Words by Amara Agwo
