Lauriston Lights Become a Mentor

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What is Lauriston Lights? In the summer of 2013, 20 students ran the first ever Lauriston Lights summer camp, a two-week summer camp in East London. The students, without the aid of any adults, taught, inspired and mentored 35 eleven-year old children who had proven academic ability but came from homes that might be lacking in aspiration. https://www.facebook.com/LauristonLights?ref=hl The aim was to empower these children for the future, to equip them with the tools to ensure that any ambitions they have in the future are more likely to be realised. We did this through things like: Innovative teaching methods- such as Philosophy for Children and debating. Internal student run workshops- in all subjects e.g. art, politics and Dragons Den. External workshops and speakers- e.g. mock trials, the Royal Shakespeare Company & Anthony Seldon. Trips- e.g. to a University, museum. This coming summer, were planning to run another camp. We want to make it bigger and better. And we want you to get involved. Why become a mentor? Youre making a difference: If you dont believe us, see the quotes from the kids that took place in our first camp. Youre assigned to mentor specific children, you run sessions, you have real input. Its really fun: Its so much fun working, engaging and laughing with your fellow mentors and the kids themselves. It looks good on the CV: Were the ones in charge. Your input is valued. It says a lot about you that youre willing to give your time to a project like this. It develops leadership and team skills. Irrespective of what you want to do later in life, Lauriston Lights looks great. Its not too time-consuming: The camp takes place over just two weeks. This means that you can pursue other things as well over the long summer holiday. Theres nothing out there like it: were totally unique. Its all student run, uses innovative teaching methods and is for 11 year olds.

As a mentor you will be: A leader: you will facilitate all the workshops. You will also the lead the workshop you personally design individually or with other mentors. A mentor: each mentor is assigned a maximum of 3 children. You will have regular one on one sessions to build a genuine relationship with them where you encourage them to develop their individual academic and extra curricular interests.

A role model: every mentor is expected to set an example that strength of character e.g. resilience, curiosity and all types of intelligence are to be prized not hidden.

About the qualifications & training process The cost-free training will cover: Working With Others mentor training: http://www.workingwithothers.org How to run and lead individual workshops DBS check Child Protection SAPERE certified Level 1 Philosophy for Children (worth 100 per person) http://www.sapere.org.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=105 Thoughts from the kids of 2013 Lauriston Lights expanded my view of the world.- Cleo If it wasnt for the summer camp Id be watching T.V. Lauriston Lights summer camp is awesome.- Lornelle This week has changed my life in many ways. It has boosted my confidence and selfesteem.- Andrew Thoughts from the mentors of 2013 Not only was it great fun, it was a brilliant experience to see the transition that the children went through and how they progressed over the two weeks. Great preparation for anyone who would consider being a teacher- Nick Burke, University of York. The cycle of underachieving or and failure of dreams can stop when they see that thins they want are doable and opportunities like this arise. Please do LL again! Joe Cock, University of Oxford. The mentoring system was great, and it was the area I felt gave me the best chance to influence the children. I adored my two weeks and really believe it is a fantastic idea Kristina Bugeja, University of Cambridge. My favourite part was running my own workshop! I enjoyed planning it so much, and I felt the kids really enjoyed it too. I just loved the core values of Lauriston Lights from day one. Those that were most difficult at start came through the two weeks having had a positive difference done to them Nicole Belcher, SOAS, University of London. Thoughts from the parents of 2013: Paras said how helpful Lauriston Lights was to build his confidence. The trip to Oxford was great and Paras was inspired about the idea of going to University. Paras can't stop reading the book To Kill a Mockingbird, which you guys gave to him as a gift. - Vibha Sheth A big benefit was the introduction to many career options that my child wasn't even aware of. They had a proper barrister come in and have a pretend court with judge, jury and barristers. My son was a barrister and wore the black cloak and

white wig. He came home so enthusiastic and said Mum I think I might want to be a barrister - Talat Queshi

Thoughts from professional teachers When first approached by the directors of Lauriston Lights, I was impressed with their enthusiasm and passion. Their belief in supporting and developing children from deprived areas was superb. I felt confidence in them and they rewarded this confidence with an excellent level of organisation and an extremely well delivered programme - Paul Jackson, Headteacher Gallions Primary school. I had a wonderful two days training the mentors in Philosophy for Children. The mentors were incredibly thoughtful and extremely enthusiastic, engaging wholeheartedly with the process Lisa Naylor, Philosophy for Children trainer. Where & when you need to be available: Location: Gallions Primary School, Warwall, Beckton, London, E6 6WG. Times: 8.50am- 3.30pm Training: 6th - 8th August The camp: 11th- 22nd August

The application process Please ensure you have taken the following steps: Read Lauriston Lights summary Read Become a Lauriston Lights mentor. Filled in and sent the application form to lauristonights@gmail.com. NB. The final deadline is March 21st but because there are a limited number of spaces the sooner you can submit your application the better. We will contact you as soon as possible to let you know whether you have an interview. If we offer you a place we will then process and pay for your DBS check (formerly CRBs.) If you have any questions about what we do, logistics or anything please do not hesitate to email: lauristonights@gmail.com Thank-you for getting on board with Lauriston Lights!

Lauriston Lights Summary

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Registered company number: 08312267 Email: lauristonlights@gmail.com, Website: http://www.lauristonlights.org/ Executive summary: Lauriston Lights is a non-profit organisation aiming to empower and inspire high achieving elevenyear-old children from low socio-economic backgrounds to reach their full potential. Lauriston Lights is unique (Daniel, 2013 child) for 5 reasons: High-achieving 11 year olds: Our personal experience and research demonstrates that age 11 is a key transitional age that the current system does little to cater to. University mentor students: Solely University students lead the camps harnessing on a currently untapped resource. Mentors set an example that intelligence is something to be prized not hidden so that it does not go unnoticed or unsupported. The high ratio of mentors to children offers the time, space and attention for children to develop. Aptitude: We strive to inspire the whole child and facilitate dynamic development in an encompassing a set of 8 aptitudes: moral, spiritual, logical, linguistic, physical, cultural, social and personal. Its not a question of whether a child is intelligent, but how they are intelligent. We strive to lay the foundations for children to be able to achieve high examination grades and also be successful dynamic individuals in wider life. Character: Seligmans 7 key character strengths currently used in KIPP Charter schools are used to develop a set of coping mechanisms for dealing with personal problems and embracing positive thinking: zest/curiosity, grit/resilience, self-control, optimism, gratitude and social intelligence. Innovative tools: A range of tools including Philosophy for Children challenge and support children in being able to confidently communicate the answer to the question: who am I, what am I good at and how can I improve? We hope the children will go on to lead happy and successful lives providing inspiration to future communities as Lauriston Lights. The Problems: The camp aims to address two interlinked problems: The education system: bright children getting lost in the system at secondary school. Low socio-economic background: low levels of aspiration, academic encouragement and wider support. The camps: In 2013 the camp was hosted at Gallions Primary School in Newham for high achieving - Level 5 in Maths and English at SAT level children from low socio-economic backgrounds who do not have a parent who went to University. The main content of the summer camp: Philosophy for Children and debating: to encourage moral reflection and critical thinking. Individual mentoring: to explore individual interests and encourage character reflection. Workshops (internal and external): to inspire all types of intelligence. Aspirational enrichment trips. Funding: Our main donor is the Sam Griffiths Foundation. Others include Selwyn College Cambridge, The Worshipful Company of Carpenters, Newham Council and individual donations. The Future: We hope to build a sustainable model that university students can replicate. We hope to build a network of University students and schools across the UK willing to be part of our mission.

What We Do: 5 reasons why we are different Our mission: to empower and inspire high achieving eleven-year-old children
from low socio-economic backgrounds to reach their full potential.

Lauriston Lights is unique, Daniel, 2013 child

Low socio-economic & high achieving 11 year olds

Our personal experience and research demonstrates that age 11 is a key transitional age that the current system does little to cater to. We strive to equip high achieving 11 year olds with the tools to ensure that they achieve all they can in their secondary school and beyond. We seek to mitigate the If it wasnt for the summer camp Id challenge posed by summer learning loss as be watching T.V. Lauriston Lights identified by the Education Endowment summer camp is awesome, Foundation. Lornelle, 2013 child.

University students
We run two-week summer camps led solely by mentoring University students from across the UK harnessing on a currently under utilised resource. The high ratio of University mentors to children offers the required structured time, space and academic attention for children to develop personally and academically. Mentors set an example that intelligence is something to be prized not hidden so that it does not go unnoticed or unsupported. Lauriston Lights always gets my name right Khairat, 2013 child.

8 aptitudes

Lauriston Lights showed me and Zak Taking inspiration from the work of Havardbased thinker Howard Gardener, Lauriston that if you have the right attitude and the Lights strives to inspire the whole child and right aptitude you can achieve anything facilitate dynamic development in an you want, Talat Queshi, 2013 Parent encompassing a set of 8 aptitudes: moral, spiritual, logical, linguistic, physical, cultural, social and personal. Its not a question of whether a child is intelligent, but how they are intelligent. We strive to lay the foundations for children to be able to achieve high examination grades and also be succesful dynamic individuals in wider life. The 8 aptitudes is currently being pioneered by Wellington College, as well as in its Academy, Wellington Aacademy. Lauriston Lights and has expanded my views about the world, Cleo, 2013 child.

What We Do: 5 reasons why we are different. Character

We focus on Martin Seligmans 7 key character strengths currently used in KIPP Charter schools proven to improve chances of success and happiness: zest, curiosity, grit/resilience, self control, optimism, gratitude and social intelligence. Character development through our innovative teaching tools is fundamental to developing a This week has changed my life in many tool kit for children to manage difficult personal ways. It has boosted my confidence and challenges they may face. If they have allself-esteem (not that I didnt have any), round strength of character, theyre, more likely Andrew, 2013 child. to achieve success, both personally and academically.

Innovative tools

We employ innovative teaching tools that aim to inspire and empower. Internally mentors design and lead innovative workshops based on their degree level knowledge e.g. Philosophy for Children, debating and creative writing that introduce new ideas to the children. Mentors lead individual mentoring sessions that aim to draw upon and develop the individual interests and strengths of each child. We are fortunate enough to also have external organisations running workshops in a variety of areas from communication and practical problem solving e.g. MyBnk money management to theatre e.g Royal Shakespeare Company. We also organise enrichment trips, for example in 2013 a trip to Oxford University took place. Our goal is to challenge and support children in being able to confidently communicate the answer to the question: who am I, what am I good at and how can I improve? I have learnt things I hadnt understood before, Rohit, 2013 child.

LL is amazing: it gives you chances to express your thoughts and feelings about things, Dorela, 2013 child.

Lauriston Lights Application Form

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Dear applicant,
Please ensure you have thoroughly read the Lauriston Lights summary and Become a Lauriston Lights mentor before filling in this form. Applications made by personal friends will be reviewed by another trustee. The dates you need to be available in London: Training: 6th - 8th August. The camp: 11th- 22nd August. Personal Details Full name:

Date of birth:
Home address: Email: Mobile number: University and degree (if relevant): Year of study (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.): How did you find out about Lauriston Lights?:

What do you find interesting, engaging and exciting about Lauriston Lights? (50- 150 words)

Do you have any relevant experience or qualifications? (0- 200 words)

All mentors will lead their own workshop either individually or with other mentors. This can be in any area of interest to you e.g. politics, sport, business, and physics. What area would you be interested in and why? What ideas for a session do you have?

If you had to identify one passion in your life what would it be and why? (1-2 sentences)
NB. This can be anything, it is just to get a sense of what your interests are.

Please provide two character references:

Name: Position: Organisation: Address:

Please provide two character references:

Name: Position: Organisation: Address:

Contact- email & phone:

Contact- email & phone:

Do you have any previous criminal convictions? Do you have a recent enhanced CRB check, if so how and what is the date on it?

Signed: Date: Please send to: lauristonlights@gmail.com Deadline: March 21st