Property Transformation Manager Lizzie Jones has won the City Year UK West Midlands Bridge Builder Award for 2017.
Lizzie had been mentoring 22 year-old Coventry University student Samaira Amin over the last academic year, supporting her as she volunteered full time in Bordesley Village Primary School with youth social action charity City Year UK during her placement year.
Michelle Lester, Community Investment and Engagement Adviser at National Grid, received the award on Lizzie’s behalf from Samaira at the City Year West Midlands Graduation Ceremony, held on the 19th July at mac in Moseley. 54 young people who had been serving as mentors, role models and tutors full-time in schools over the last year graduated from the scheme, and will now go on to the world of work or higher education.
Lizzie said of her win: “The programme has been fantastic, as the structure and guidance given by City Year UK has been exceptional and made the experience so much more rewarding.
“The most important part for me has been having the pleasure of hopefully playing a small part in Samaira’s journey through life. As a Bridge Builder I’ve been able to explore Samaira’s career development goals alongside helping her plan for life after City Year.
“Being able to share skills I’ve developed over the years at both National Grid as well as ideas my own mentors have shared with me has been extremely rewarding, as has being able to offer Samaira the opportunity to connect with professionals in the field she’d like to pursue.”
City Year UK Head of the West Midlands site Dave Gibson said: “Our young volunteers get so much out of the volunteering programme through both being mentors to pupils in primary and secondary schools and from being mentored themselves by our supporters and funders.
“Samaira has come far on the programme and I’m delighted that her mentor Lizzie has been awarded for her work over the year.”
City Year UK Volunteer Mentor Samaira Amin said: “Lizzie was a great support this year in developing my career plan and she has helped me realise the potential in me to achieve my goals. Lizzie has got me a lot of contacts to help me get some experience and find out what I would enjoy, and she is always inspiring me to take up opportunities. I appreciate all her support and i'm looking forward to see what the future holds.”
City Year UK’s Bridge Builder Award recognises supporters who have volunteered their spare time to mentor the charity’s young volunteers, helping to prepare them for the next step - whether that is staying in education or finding a career. The support includes mock interviews, CV workshops and assistance in deciding on their next steps.
City Year UK engages young people aged 18 to 25to serve full-time in schools in disadvantaged communities for a year. The young people are supported to build on their key skills and attributes including confidence, resilience and leadership through tackling some of the UK’s most pressing social issues and supporting pupils to achieve their potential.
