Time, experience, and money: these are three ways we can give back, something I learnt from a lockdown talk on what Haberdasher members do to get involved with the ongoing work of the Company in our schools and charity spaces.
Since then, I have been looking for different ways that I can give back through the Haberdashers, and I think that the Habs Aspire mentoring programme is a great way to do so. Habs Aspire can give you and your employer the opportunity to offer your time and experience to sixth formers looking to take their next steps in the wider world.
Following conversations with Past Master Rupert Elliott about how I might best support the programme, we discussed the need to recruit mentors in different industry sectors. My current role as an Apprentice Finance Analyst at Barclays meant that I had the opportunity to see if my organisation might want to get involved in this great initiative.
At Barclays I was directed to our volunteering and citizenship team, with whom I had a meeting to give them an overview of what the Haberdashers and Habs Aspire are all about. In the background I received support from Naomi Barker, Head of Schools’ Projects, and materials from Holly Fishwick, Head of Communications and Engagement with information to show to work about the programme. Following a productive meeting with both Naomi and the volunteering team at work we were ready to go ahead and get my colleagues at Barclays involved! We’re hoping to get 20 Habs Aspire mentor signups from Barclays.
Another great way of getting involved is with deputations and I recently went on one to Haberdashers’ Slade Green Primary School and Haberdashers’ Crayford Academy. At Crayford one of the sixth formers on the programme, Gbemmy, spoke about how her mentor, Michael Bennett, had really helped her. The amount of talent and work put in by pupils and staff was great to see. It’s also been interesting visiting the other Haberdashers’ schools and seeing the differences and similarities between the schools. The two deputations that I have been on have given me a new and different perspective to what being a Haberdasher is compared to when I was a student at Haberdashers’ Monmouth.
I think that many of us can recognise that sixth form can be quite a difficult time, and from personal experience any guidance and support I received at that time was a big help. Having had some advice and guidance from Old Monmothians and Haberdashers in the past, I know first-hand the impact that these conversations can have. I’m sure that getting involved with Habs Aspire, will enrich not just the life of your mentee but also your own. Get yourself, your colleagues and employer involved with the Aspire programme.
Nyasha Katsande
Member of the Freedom
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