Become a Partner School
The Catalyst Collective connects Black girls aged 14+ with Black women mentors for a year of goal-focused mentoring, practical guidance and real-world opportunities.
Through one-to-one mentoring, group activities, skills workshops and career insight days, students build confidence, explore their aspirations and take practical steps towards their future.
“Being able to take part in the Catalyst Mentoring programme is something I'm incredibly grateful for. I believe there is great value in seeing and gaining advice from successful Black women as a Black girl, and that representation is something I have never had before.”
“Mentoring has continued to encourage me to strive for anything in life if you are willing to work for it...it gives me hope and a clearer path of my future.”
How the Programme Works
We work with secondary and supplementary schools to recruit cohorts of mentees.
Each mentoring pair works towards two SMART goals, which may focus on academic progress, confidence, personal development, cultural identity, future careers or wider life skills.
Mentoring takes place for a minimum of one hour per month across the programme year. Sessions can happen virtually, in person or through a blended approach, depending on location, parental consent and the preferences of each mentoring pair.
Every mentoring pair is supported by a Catalyst mentoring coordinator, who oversees progress and acts as a point of contact for support, advice and guidance.
Partner schools are asked to contribute a small fee per mentee, to support the costs of DBS checks, careers and enrichment events and provide each mentoring pair with a small budget. We aim to make the programme accessible and will discuss options with schools where cost is a barrier.
Our Mentors
All Catalyst mentors are Black women from African, Caribbean or Black mixed ethnic backgrounds. They come from a wide range of career and educational backgrounds, including law, finance, medicine, TV, film and more.
All mentors complete enhanced DBS checks, provide references, complete compulsory mentor training and safeguarding training, and sign the Catalyst Collective Mentoring Agreement.
Why Schools work with us
The Catalyst gives students access to tailored mentoring from Black women who understand their experiences and can help them work towards their goals.
Students gain:
- a safe space to reflect, ask questions and grow
- access to relatable Black women role models
- support to build confidence, skills and self-belief
- exposure to careers, workplaces and professional networks
- encouragement to set goals and take their next steps
What we ask of Partner Schools
Partner schools are asked to:
- identify a cohort of at least eight students
- support communication with parents and carers
- help secure signed parental consent forms
- identify a school lead as our main point of contact
- support mentees to stay engaged throughout the programme
- share any relevant information that will help us support students well
There is no fixed referral criteria. Schools may choose to target the programme according to their cohort, priorities and wider careers or personal development offer.
Timeline
- September start: 10 months
- October half-term start: 9 months
- January start: 7 months
All programmes conclude in July, with mentees invited to an in-person end of year celebration.
Partnership Contribution
Partner schools are asked to contribute £125 per mentee.
This contribution supports mentoring coordination, mentor training, DBS checks, careers and enrichment events, group activities and a small enrichment budget for mentoring pairs.
We aim to make the programme accessible and will discuss options with schools where cost is a barrier.
What Schools Say
"The impact of The Catalyst Collective on our students has been profound. we have witnessed our students grow significantly on confidence and self-esteem."
"There is nothing else that quite matches what The Catalyst Collective does for our students. I cannot speak highly enough of the programme, which I would recommend without hesitation to any other school."
Become a Partner School
We are currently speaking with schools interested in partnering with us for the 2026–27 programme year.
To explore whether Catalyst is right for your students, book a partnership call with our team.
