Become a Mentor Donate

At One Degree, we know that young people get the best results when they are supported both inside and outside of their mentoring sessions.

Our mentors are here to encourage, guide and support students with their personal development, academic confidence and future goals. However, parents and carers also play a huge role in helping students stay committed, prepared and ready to make the most of every opportunity.

Here are some simple but important ways you can support your child while they are part of One Degree.

1. Help them find a quiet space for online mentoring

One Degree mentoring sessions take place online, so it is important that students have a calm and quiet place where they can speak to their mentor properly.

This does not need to be a perfect office or study space. It could be a bedroom, kitchen table or corner of the home, as long as your child can focus and speak without too many distractions.

Where possible, try to make sure they are not interrupted during their session. This helps them feel more confident, ask questions and build a better relationship with their mentor.

2. Make sure the internet connection is strong enough

Students only need around 30 minutes per week for a mentoring session, but during that time a good internet connection makes a big difference.

Before their session starts, it can help to check that the Wi-Fi is working and that too many people in the household are not using the internet heavily at the same time. Streaming videos, gaming or multiple devices being used at once can sometimes affect the quality of the call.

A smooth connection helps students stay focused and avoids them missing out on valuable time with their mentor.

3. Remind them about upcoming sessions

Young people are busy, and it is easy for them to forget things, especially when they have school, homework, exams, clubs and other responsibilities.

A simple reminder from a parent or carer can make a big difference. You could help them add the session to their phone calendar, write it on a family planner or remind them the day before and again on the day.

Being on time shows respect for the volunteer mentor and helps your child get the full benefit of the session.

4. Protect their mentoring time

Once a mentoring session has been booked, it is important that your child is available to attend.

Please try not to schedule other activities at the same time, such as family trips, shopping, chores or looking after younger siblings. We understand that family life can be busy, but mentoring works best when students are able to attend consistently and without last-minute distractions.

If your child knows their One Degree session is protected time, they are more likely to take it seriously too.

5. Encourage them to prepare before each session

Students will get more from mentoring when they arrive with something to talk about.

This might be a school subject they are finding difficult, a college or career question, help with confidence, revision advice or simply a topic they would like to explore with their mentor.

You can support them by asking:

“What would you like help with in your next session?”

Even a few minutes of preparation can help your child feel more confident and make the session more useful.

6. Show interest in what they are learning

After a session, ask your child how it went. You do not need to know every detail, but showing interest helps them reflect on what they discussed and what they might do next.

You could ask:

“What did you talk about today?”

“Did your mentor give you any advice?”

“Is there anything you need to do before your next session?”

These small conversations can help students stay motivated and take ownership of their progress.

7. Encourage commitment and consistency

One Degree is not about being perfect. It is about showing up, trying, learning and making progress over time.

Students who attend regularly, prepare for sessions and stay open to advice are more likely to build confidence and see positive results.

As a parent or carer, your encouragement can help your child keep going, especially when they feel busy, nervous or unsure.

8. Help them see the bigger picture

Mentoring is not just about homework or exams. One Degree mentors can support students with personal development, academic questions, career ideas and future plans.

Encourage your child to think about how mentoring can help them beyond school. It could help them improve their confidence, learn how to communicate with adults, explore different careers or set goals for the future.

Thank you for supporting your child

Parents and carers are an important part of the One Degree journey. By helping your child attend sessions, prepare properly and take mentoring seriously, you are helping them make the most of the support available.

A quiet space, a strong internet connection, a few reminders and protected time each week can make a real difference.

With your support, your child can get the very best out of One Degree.