Hear to help: Introducing our peer mentors.

With last week's theme being 'Responsibility' and this being anti-bullying week, staff and pupils have been encouraged to think seriously about our role in the world. Many of our boarders have already taken this to heart this term by volunteering for some of the community service opportunities available here at Ashford School.

Monday saw the unveiling of one such service, the new group of Sixth Form peer mentors and there were several members of the boarding community who, having proudly collected their badges from the Headmaster last week, gave an assembly to introduce themselves to the rest of the school.

The peer mentoring system is designed to give any pupil in school friendly faces and willing listners that they can go to with any issue or problem that they may have.

Nowhere is this more vital than within boarding, so wanting to know a little more about the role and the people involved, AIB met with new peer mentors Fiona, Kitty and Toby (all Brabourne) and asked them first of all what encouraged them to get involved.

New boarder Toby thought that it might help her to get to know more about the school and that she "liked helping people and listening." Kitty added that it would help her to improve her communication (particularly listening) skills. Fiona considered it a chance to do what others had done for her in the past and help simply "because I can."

It appears strange that when asked about the training they received, all three girls brought up how it was stressed that they don't actually advise anyone as to what to do. "[We were told] to share their thoughts, not to offer solutions." Toby said. It's not a question of not helping though. "We can research together, help them reflect, be a shoulder for them." Fiona added while Kitty elaborated "[We should] follow what they want to do and not what we think is right. Don't judge it the same way [we do], we will feel differently."

Indeed, as part of the training they were asked to listen to a description of someone's holiday and every time they thought it related to them, they had to put their hand up. Fiona explained the object of this exercise: "The moment we start to relate to something they say, it becomes about us. We need to process information while keeping a distance."

Despite this 'distance', the empathy these girls felt for thier colleagues and friends was palpable. When talking about the younger year groups, Kitty put it it very eloquently: "What their mind does is what what ours did." As the for those who stay at school, for whom the mentors will be available in 2-hour slots in Brooke at the weekend, Fiona was clear: "[What they talk to us about] may not have worried them during the week, because of school stresses. Things like homesickness. As boarders [ourselves] we've been through it."

Just sitting and listening to Fiona, Toby and Kitty was an inspiring experience. Not only was it obvious that they were the right people for the job, it was comforting to feel that should there be any boarder who is concerned, worried or upset about anything, we know that there are mature,caring and dedicated people willing to lend an ear and help them through. Just look for the long, green badge, they're there for you.