Help from other students
Contact M and M Mentoring for support from other students who have been there and done that
The M and M Peer Mentoring Service, (or M and M for short!) is UCLan’s centralised mentoring service responsible for co-ordinating fantastic peer support, advice and guidance.
Peer Mentoring is beneficial for both mentors and mentees so why not explore our programmes and register today!
Peer Mentoring is based at UCLan Main Campus and is M and M's largest programme. It is centred on matching trained Peer Mentors to students who need someone to talk to about personal issues and general academic queries – the student requiring support is known as a Mentee.
Wellbeing Buddy Mentoring aims to support those students who are struggling to cope with their emotional and mental wellbeing. Student Mentors, known as Wellbeing Buddies support Wellbeing Mentees to manage their issues and feel more comfortable with social situations and academic & personal relationships.
Sport Mentoring & Befriending trains existing students to become Sport Mentors / Befrienders who assist Sport Mentees / Befriendees in areas of sport, exercise and fitness.
For more information you can check out their website at www.uclan.ac.uk/mandm email peermentoring@uclan.ac.uk or call 01772 895012.
A Psychology student found that her mentor offered great support:
I used M and M mentoring as a support service when I first started at UCLan after moving here from North Wales with my young daughter.
"Once my mentor was arranged, I found this service to be invaluable, if it wasn't for them I would more than likely have dropped out in the middle of my first year. I found great support from my mentor and from the M and M staff who were always ready with a listening ear (and plenty of tissues!) and helpful information.
My issues were resolved, I passed my first year and I am now enjoying my 2nd year knowing that if anything similar happens, M and M are there for support. My mentor has become a very good friend and though she has now graduated, we are still in touch on a regular basis.
M and M seriously improved my experience of UCLan."
The student is now an M and M mentor herself.
A Forensic Science student, sought mentoring after being diagnosed with depression:
"I had some personal problems between second and third year and was diagnosed with depression at the Christmas of my third year. I was finding my uni work increasingly difficult and felt under pressure. I took some time out and went part time which academically suited my new situation.
I had always been aware of the M & M mentoring scheme and thought it was great but had thought it was for people ‘different’ to me somehow. I was paired up with the perfect mentor with great life skills. We communicated via email and had meetings. No matter what my problem was my mentor seemed to understand or have even experienced it herself. As the weeks went by I started to feel more confident about things.
In the end I intercalated and restarted third year, with my mentor’s support. Even now she's still only an email away for a kick up the butt, or for a cuppa and a chat. If I had utilised this service before I had problems, I may have found things easier to cope with."
A Criminology and Criminal Justice Graduate, graduated in 2007 without utilising the mentoring service as she didn’t think they would be able to help…
“I was struggling to meet coursework deadlines due to a family member’s illness but was not sure of the processes to go through to get extensions/extenuating circumstances and was struggling with referencing my work.
If I had used the service, I would have been able to manage my work load better, someone would have been able to explain the procedure for requesting extensions and I could have received help with referencing and assistance with structuring of labs and essays.”
Many students like to speak to others who have been through similar experiences and M and M Mentoring offers that type of support. Please note that mentors are not trained counsellors or are part of UCLan’s counselling service.
For more information you can email peermentoring@uclan.ac.uk or call 01772 895012.
