£13.71 per hour + £1.65 holiday pay
Advertising End Date
15 Oct 2026

Role & Department Overview

The Widening Participation team is excited to continue the Uncover Progress Programme (UP Programme) for a third year, following its successful delivery over the last two years. Designed specifically for Year 12 students of Black heritage, the programme features an inspiring residential Launch Event and ongoing mentoring in collaboration with our partner, With Insight—an organisation renowned for delivering impactful mentoring schemes.

We’re currently recruiting Student Mentors to support Year 12 pupils through monthly online mentoring sessions (2 hours per month). All Mentors will receive comprehensive training from With Insight, covering how to plan and lead engaging and supportive sessions. As well as this, Mentors will have the opportunity to work the residential Launch Event which is likely to take place in March 2027. During the residential, Mentors will engage with their mentees through team-building activities, campus tours, and support travel arrangements to Lancaster. All travel expenses will be fully reimbursed. 

Moreover, there is also Mentor Advisory Board—an opportunity for Mentors to help shape the direction of the Uncover Progress Programme. The Board will ensure a continuous feedback loop, keeping the programme rooted in the experiences and voices of Black-heritage students. Our aim is to ensure the UP Programme remains for Black-heritage students, by Black-heritage students. 

If you're passionate about empowering Black-heritage students to reach top universities, and keen to contribute to the programme’s development—this is a unique opportunity to create meaningful change while building valuable skills and experience for your CV! Full training and on-going support will be provided with the Widening Participation team and With Insight. There will also be peer support and regular group meetings. 

UP Residential: 13 March 2027 – 14 March 2027  

Please note: You must be a first, second or third year student on an extended degree programme or staying at Lancaster for postgraduate study to apply for this role due to programme delivery dates. Please make this clear on your application.  

Diversity and lived experience

The Widening Participation (WP) team promotes equality of opportunity within higher education and given the importance of role modelling within the programme, we particularly welcome applications from students of Black heritage. 

Start Date: TBC in February 2027
End Date: 30 November 2027
Interview Date: 4-5 November 2026 or 10 November 2026
Working Pattern: 2 hours mentoring + preparation time per month
Location: Remotely (in the UK) and on the Lancaster University campus

Job Description

Main duties and responsibilities will include: 

Mentoring

  • Deliver monthly online mentoring sessions (via One Hive) focused on topics such as higher education, study skills, personal aspirations, and decision-making.
  • Empower your mentee to build the confidence needed to apply to aspirational universities.
  • Support your mentee in exploring and making well-informed university choices, tailored to their goals and interests.
  • Equip your mentee with the knowledge and tools to create a strong and competitive UCAS application.
  • Foster a supportive and inclusive mentoring relationship, acting as a positive role model and source of encouragement.
  • Complete the required training provided by With Insight to prepare for effective mentoring sessions.
  • Maintain regular communication with programme staff and respond to any key updates or mentoring responsibilities throughout the year.
  • To support the evaluation of widening access provision, including participating in focus groups to provide mentor feedback. 

Residential

  • Provide an authentic insight into the Lancaster University experience, including accurate information, advice and guidance on a range of topics i.e. student finance, degree courses, student support and university life. 
  • Ensure that mentees are engaged in activities and understand session content, providing one-to-one or small group support as needed.
  • Enthuse and motivate mentees to facilitate learning (being a positive role model and displaying a ‘can do’ attitude is essential to the role). 

Advisory board

  • Provide feedback and insights to help shape the programme’s content, structure, delivery and evaluation.
  • Contribute to planning key events, including the residential and selected mentoring sessions.
  • Ensure the programme reflects the lived experiences of Black students, supporting a “for us, by us” approach.
  • Act as a link between Mentors and programme staff, helping to maintain a strong feedback loop.
  • Attend Advisory Board meetings throughout the year and actively participate in discussions and decision-making.

Safeguarding

  • Ensure the mentoring session is recorded on One Hive in line with safeguarding and transparency requirements.
  • Maintain professional boundaries during all forms of communication with mentees.
  • Report any safeguarding concerns immediately (during the residential or online) to the Widening Participation team, in line with Lancaster University and With Insight’s safeguarding procedures.
  • Complete all required safeguarding training before starting mentoring sessions.

Please note: You must be a first, second or third year student on an extended degree programme or staying at Lancaster for postgraduate study) to apply for this role due to programme delivery dates. Please make this clear on your application.

Person Specification

  1. Registered as a current Lancaster University student (undergraduate, masters, PhD) (ESSENTIAL)
    You must be a first, second or third year UG student on an extended degree programme or staying at Lancaster for postgraduate study) to apply for this role due to programme delivery dates. Please make this clear on your application.
  2. Highly organised and proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively to deliver online/in person sessions to groups of young people (various age ranges) (ESSENTIAL)
  3. Excellent communication skills and an aptitude for explaining difficult concepts and key ideas in simplistic and creative terms (ESSENTIAL)
  4.  The ability to enthuse and motivate young people (i.e. friendly, upbeat and enthusiastic) and positive attitude towards learning (ESSENTIAL)
  5. Experience of following processes and procedures, demonstrating problem solving skills and seeking advice/escalating issues as required (ESSENTIAL)
  6. Reliable, committed and punctual (ESSENTIAL)
  7. Awareness of safeguarding when working with young people and the parameters of confidentiality (ESSENTIAL)
  8. Previous experience of working with young people and/or a clear understanding of youth engagement. For example (but not limited to), volunteering, tutoring or mentoring.  (DESIRABLE)
  9. Experience of supervising or leading others/motivating peers in a team situation (DESIRABLE)      

* Given the importance of role modelling within the programme, we particularly welcome applications from students of Black heritage. 

Other Job Opportunities

Uncover Progress Mentors are recruited for their lived experience to effectively support the programme. However, these Student Ambassadors are also welcome to take part in other Widening Participation employment opportunities throughout the year. For example, this may include on campus events; in school workshops; overnight residentials and online activities.  

The WP team deliver the following programmes which Uncover Progress Mentors may also be able to work on:

  • Lancaster Access Programme (LAP) - Years 12 and 13
  • Access to Medicine (A2M) - Year 12
  • Children and Young People’s Partnership (CYPP) - Years 5 and 6
  • Discover - Years 8-10 

For more information, please visit the WP webpages: Widening Participation - Lancaster University 

Please note: 

  • You are required to submit a cover letter to support your application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
  • All applicants will undergo an enhanced DBS check.
  • Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, this role is only open to individuals living in the UK.
  •  We endeavour to provide the advertised number of hours. However, hours are not guaranteed, and this area of work is subject to change - depending on WP priorities and peak periods of delivery.
  •  Adverts that display a closing date should be treated as advisory/a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Working in this role will help develop the following skills and experience:
  • Collaboration
  • Creativity
  • Curiosity
  • Decisiveness
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Exercising professional judgement
  • Flexibility
  • Interpersonal sensitivity
  • Leadership
  • Multi-tasking
  • Planning and organising
  • Problem solving
  • Self-motivation
  • Teamwork
  • Time Management
  • Verbal communication
  • Written communication
 
 
 
You are required to submit a cover letter to support your application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, this role is only open to individuals living in the UK.

Under the terms of this work, we endeavour to provide the advertised number of hours however, hours are not guaranteed and that work may cease if there is a fall in demand. 

Adverts that display a closing date should be treated as a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. 
Apply

Help and advice on making applications can be found on the Lancaster University Careers pages. Visit www.lancaster.ac.uk/careers.

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