A mentoring scheme run by Islington Council is giving young people an introduction to the world of work and inspiring a new generation of wannabe city professionals.<br><br>After 18 months of working with a mentor from top city law firm Lovells, 16-year-old Islington student Humphrey Kigozi is more confident in his ambition to become a lawyer. <br><br>Having just finished his GCSEs at St Aloysius College, N6, head boy Humphrey is saying goodbye to his mentor at Lovells, Sally Horton. <br><br>Humphrey explains: "The project exceeded my expectations and strengthened my aspirations to become a lawyer. Sally has been really helpful to me to become more organised with my studies and even with my finances. She also worked with the school to help me secure a work placement at another law firm. That was really helpful because it was a great way to find out exactly what lawyers do and how deals are made.<br><br>Cllr Terry Stacy, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Housing and Communities, Islington Council said: "We've got some hugely motivated pupils and some commited employers in the borough. Mentoring schemes are bringing them together with tremendous results while benefitting both through allowing a unique insight into each other's worlds."<br><br>Humphrey continued: "I was very shy before, so this mentoring experience has really helped me feel more confident talking to a wide variety of people. Sally's opinion is really valuable to me and it's been great to have the opportunity of having her influence my life."<br><br>Humphrey saw his mentor Sally once a fortnight during school term and also sometimes during the holidays. And while their mentoring sessions focused on specific topics - like how to revise and plan course work - they also found time to discuss their shared interests in books and theatre. <br><br>Sally Horton works in the knowledge management department of international law firm Lovells. She has really enjoyed the experience of mentoring Humphrey. She said: "It was great fun. I met someone that I wouldn't normally get to meet and there has been a great personal satisfaction in seeing Humphrey develop - which has been brilliant. He's always been very determined and very focused but he's more confident now.<br><br>"I had already done some voluntary work for my children's school but felt this would be a very interesting thing to do - which it was. I'd mentored colleagues but working with Humphrey enabled me to look at it from a whole new perspective and spread the word about pupil mentoring. Now one of my other colleagues is going to do it, too."<br><br>"Apart from the personal benefits, I really do think it has benefited the firm as well. The programme brings people from across the firm together and gives us the chance to give something back to the local community."<br><br>Thankfully for Humphrey the mentoring relationship doesn't necessarily end there. <br><br>Sally added: "We're going to celebrate his exam results next week and check what mentoring schemes exist when he starts at his Sixth Form College in September."<br><br>Ends<br><br><br><br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009