Peer Mentoring

What is the purpose of a Peer Mentor?

Peer Mentors are trained second year and third year students who can share their experiences of university life with you, signpost you to useful University services, and discuss a range of topics including:

1. Social - Explore the available clubs and societies, find out how to get involved, and meet like-minded people.
2. Money - Student loans are great, but if it gets tricky our mentors can point you in the right direction for the University’s money advice services.
3. Living - Leaving home is exciting but can be hard. Ask a mentor about the best places to visit and where to go for off-campus accommodation.
4. Study - Get useful tips on workload planning, time-management, and how to get in touch with our Academic Skills service.

This is not an exhaustive list! Every student experience is different, but this will hopefully give you an idea of the areas that mentors can discuss with you.

How do I apply for a Peer Mentor?

"A Peer Mentor helped me when I first joined - I was always emailing them asking questions and it really helped. I then became friends with them throughout my first year/their last year at uni, so I want to pay back that help to others in return."
— Steph Taylor, Level 5 Digital Photography and Radio Production, Peer Mentor

1. Every first-year undergraduate student is eligible to apply for a Peer Mentor by completing the online application form. The form only takes a few minutes, and once you have completed it the Mentoring team will match you with a suitable Peer Mentor.
2. After you have applied for your Peer Mentor and been matched by the team, your Peer Mentor will be in touch to introduce themselves and welcome you to the University. What happens next is a little bit up to you and your mentor - you will communicate via email before you arrive, and then, once you get here, can meet up for a coffee and a chat.
3. You will also receive a Mentee handbook, communications from the team, and invites to mentoring events. These will provide you with a chance to socialise with and meet other students.

Become a Peer Mentor

"I chose to become a Peer Mentor because I had one myself this year; as I got into the university through clearing I thought that it would help me settle in, which it did. I felt a lot more comfortable having one myself that I feel like it would be rewarding to help someone else."
— Student Peer Mentor

If you are a current Undergraduate student at Chester and would be interested in volunteering as a Peer Mentor, we recruit students every year from February, and deliver training sessions from March - May.

Here’s a brief overview of what it’s like to be a Mentor:

1. Before your mentee arrives at University - Starting from August, you will communicate by email with students before they arrive at Chester, answer questions, and share your experiences of your first days.
2. After your mentee arrives at University - Once new students arrive at Chester, what happens next is a little more up to you. Continue to contact students by email or arrange to meet for a coffee (or at another convenient place). The key is to develop an effective relationship with students to help them find their feet at Chester.
3. You will receive expert training, skills development, and ongoing support from the team. You can also log your time as a Peer Mentor on our Volunteer Hub to contribute towards our University of Chester Volunteering (UCV) awards scheme, and gain points towards the Chester Difference Award (CDA).