We Speak - Programme

Develop staff mentoring skills and transform students' speaking confidence
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We Speak trains corporate mentors to transform the speaking confidence of students from under-represented backgrounds and increase their employability.

Students experience an average 44% increase in speaking confidence.

Mentors take part in a mentor training session and a programme that runs for 1 hour a week over 4 weeks. All sessions take place online via video call
Feedback from students
“The mentors gave incredibly helpful advice and were warm and approachable. I’ve loved my time on this programme."
Student, Queen Mary University
“The We Speak programme was the best programme I had ever joined in terms of it actually helping with building confidence."
Student, University of
Liverpool
"I loved how I was able to talk and speak freely with the mentors and all the participants. It is brilliant, thank you :)."
Student, City and Islington College
Benefits for mentors

1
Develop your communication and mentoring skills
2
Support transformative journeys for young people
3
Tackle a significant barrier to equality that is often overlooked
Feedback from Mentors

"It was magical to see those who labelled themselves as 'shy' suddenly sparkle... The change in the students over such a short time was fantastic to see."
"I enjoyed seeing the students improve so much in just the space of a few weeks! Thank you for the opportunity to get involved in this brilliant programme."
"It was simply and wonderfully structured with a super-friendly vibe. There were no aspects that I didn't enjoy and I always felt supported."
"Great, I really enjoyed it and want to do more! I learnt how to be positive with students even on days when I may not be feeling positive myself."
Support from We Speak Facilitators
Our workshop Facilitators are university students and graduates who have taken part in the We Speak programme themselves to build confidence.

They'll work alongside Mentors during the programme so you can help the participants find out what they're passionate about and give them supportive feedback.

The Facilitators are a really friendly group of people who are on hand to help support your conversations with our less confident students.
The online programme

1
Introduce
Mentors meet the students for the first time and support interactive exercises to develop speaking confidence.
2
Discover
The Mentors will lead conversations with students to explore ideas and help develop communication skills.
3
Interview
This week is all about interview practice, with Mentors giving students personalised feedback on interview skills.
4
Practice
The programme wraps up with some presentation practice, with supportive feedback from Mentors to help build confidence.
Feedback from previous participants
Feedback from previous participants
“The Mentors from Just Eat gave incredibly helpful advice and were very warm and approachable. I’ve loved my time on this programme." Student, Queen Mary University of London

"The mentors helped me so much, and gave me great feedback to improve my points. Thank you so much! I loved the sessions and I felt like I improved so much." Student, University of East London

100% of students who took part in the programme increased their speaking confidence, with an average increase of 44%.

Develop staff mentoring skills and transform students' speaking confidence

Feedback from students

“The mentors gave incredibly helpful advice and were warm and approachable. I’ve loved my time on this programme."

Student, Queen Mary University

“The We Speak programme was the best programme I had ever joined in terms of it actually helping with building confidence."

Student, University ofLiverpool

"I loved how I was able to talk and speak freely with the mentors and all the participants. It is brilliant, thank you :)."

Student, City and Islington College

Benefits for mentors

Develop your communication and mentoring skills

Support transformative journeys for young people

Tackle a significant barrier to equality that is often overlooked

Feedback from Mentors

"It was magical to see those who labelled themselves as 'shy' suddenly sparkle... The change in the students over such a short time was fantastic to see."

"I enjoyed seeing the students improve so much in just the space of a few weeks! Thank you for the opportunity to get involved in this brilliant programme."

"It was simply and wonderfully structured with a super-friendly vibe. There were no aspects that I didn't enjoy and I always felt supported."

"Great, I really enjoyed it and want to do more! I learnt how to be positive with students even on days when I may not be feeling positive myself."

Support from We Speak Facilitators

Our workshop Facilitators are university students and graduates who have taken part in the We Speak programme themselves to build confidence.

They'll work alongside Mentors during the programme so you can help the participants find out what they're passionate about and give them supportive feedback.

The Facilitators are a really friendly group of people who are on hand to help support your conversations with our less confident students.

The online programme

Introduce

Discover

Interview

Practice

Feedback from previous participants

Feedback from previous participants

“The Mentors from Just Eat gave incredibly helpful advice and were very warm and approachable. I’ve loved my time on this programme." Student, Queen Mary University of London

Student, University of
Liverpool