Participants from the 2021 cohort of the Justice Undergraduate Mentoring Programme (JUMP) will start the six-month scheme in November, where they will work with Ministry of Justice mentors including civil servants, policy advisors, security advisors and delivery managers.

The scheme gives students the opportunity to improve their communication skills, adopt new ways of thinking, and seek advice and support to advance their career.

A total of 20 students from Leeds Trinity University have been selected for this year’s programme, from courses including Law, Criminology and Psychology.

They will take part in monthly online sessions with their mentors, as well as have the opportunity to shadow mentors at work and attend meetings to observe their role.

Tim Feather, Graduate Employment Manager at Leeds Trinity University, said: “When we first invited students to join this scheme, I knew it was a fantastic initiative to increase their confidence and broaden their knowledge of what opportunities are available within the Ministry of Justice.

“We know our students are passionate about making a difference in the world, and this has formed a strong interest from many in the criminal justice sector; this mentoring programme has allowed a select number of students to gain further insight into this area.”

He added: “After a positive reaction to the scheme last year, we were delighted to allow students to sign up for November’s programme and we have doubled the number of students on this year’s scheme. It is a fantastic opportunity for our students to get advice and guidance from professionals working in a major government department.”

Ben Broglia, Project Initiation Capability Manager at the Ministry of Justice, was a mentor on the last scheme. He said: “I was paired with Paige Weekes at Leeds Trinity University. I was able to help and advise Paige on her CV and interview techniques.

“I was really impressed with Paige’s energy and enthusiasm, as well as her willingness to help people, and I’m really proud that she managed to secure full-time employment in her chosen field quickly.”

Find out more about careers and employability support on the Leeds Trinity University website.