- 15 Year 9 girls at North Durham Academy matched with professional female mentors
- Programme delivered by The Girls’ Network in new three-year partnership
- Karbon Homes and RE:GEN funding totals £48,000 over three years
- Partnership expands mentoring support into County Durham
A new mentoring chapter in Stanley
Pupils in Year 9 at North Durham Academy in Stanley have begun a structured mentoring journey designed to build confidence, broaden career awareness, and challenge workplace stereotypes.
The programme is delivered by The Girls’ Network as part of the first cohort in a three-year partnership with Karbon Homes. The initiative connects girls from underserved communities with professional female role models.
Fifteen pupils have been matched with volunteer mentors from Karbon Homes and RE:GEN Group. It marks the first time one of The Girls’ Network’s partners has provided all mentors for a single school.
Strengthening local ties in County Durham
The partnership expands The Girls’ Network’s reach into County Durham, with Karbon building on its existing relationship with North Durham Academy through ongoing placeshaping work in Stanley.
Rachel Graham, Head of Careers at North Durham Academy, said: “15 of our pupils have been matched with fantastic mentors and we are excited to see how they will guide the girls through the next few months to support their career ambitions.”
The programme is funded through Karbon’s social value partnership fund with RE:GEN. RE:GEN’s social value commitment is linked to its large-scale planned investment contracts with Karbon. Match funding from Karbon brings the total investment in the programme to £48,000 over the next three years.
Jess Alexander, Social Value Lead at Karbon Homes, said: “It’s brilliant to see RE:GEN’s social value funding enabling this transformational community project and providing invaluable opportunities for pupils in a key area of Karbon’s placeshaping work. We’re really grateful for the mentors who are giving up their time to help to empower the next generation in Stanley and challenge stereotypes and expectations in the workplace.”
Building confidence and career awareness
The volunteer mentors represent a diverse range of roles and professional backgrounds. Over the coming months, mentors will meet their mentees monthly until the end of the school year, exploring goals and interests tailored to each pupil.
Participants will also gain additional opportunities, including visits to workplaces and dedicated career days, before the programme concludes with a celebration event.
Aimee Thomson, Network Manager at The Girls’ Network, said: “The aim of our mentoring programme is for young mentees to find out about different career routes and learn from the vast experience of their mentors. We hope the girls will build self-esteem and feel more confident and positive about their future.”
Context
The Girls’ Network works nationally to support girls from underserved communities by pairing them with professional women mentors. The new partnership model in Stanley places all mentoring provision for a single school within one coordinated employer collaboration.
A sustained local investment
With funding secured for three years, the programme is positioned as a longer-term investment in young people in Stanley. For the current Year 9 cohort, it begins with regular conversations, practical exposure to working environments, and the steady development of confidence at a formative stage in their education.
