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Brightside

We're a social mobility charity that connects young people with inspiring mentors to help them make confident and informed decisions about their future.

28/07/2026

You don't need 20 years in tech to change someone's future.

Sometimes the best mentor is the person who still remembers what it felt like to be new.

The first interview.

The first rejection.

The first day you realised you actually belonged.

Those experiences matter.

Every week, young people ask questions that Google, YouTube and AI can't fully answer.

💬 What is the job really like?

💬 How did you get your first opportunity?

💬 Can someone like me succeed in tech?

That's where you come in.

Brightside's IntoTech programme is looking for technology professionals to mentor young people as they explore careers in technology.

You don't need to have all the answers.

You simply need to be willing to share your experience, listen and encourage.

👇 Ready to make a difference?

Tap the link in our bio to become an IntoTech mentor today.

💬 We'd love to know...

Who helped you believe you belonged in your career?

Tag them below or tell us the best piece of advice you've ever been given.

❤️ Save this post if mentoring is something you'd like to do one day, and share it with someone who'd make an amazing mentor.

24/07/2026

A little sunshine, plenty of laughs and a picnic in the park. ☀️🧺

This week the Brightside team took some time away from our desks to enjoy each other's company and make the most of the beautiful weather.

Supporting young people is at the heart of everything we do, and looking after the people who make that work possible is important too. Days like these remind us that strong teams are built through connection, conversation and a little time to recharge.

We hope you've been able to enjoy some sunshine this week too! 🌳💙

23/07/2026

One thing we've been thinking about a lot recently is that as technology moves faster, human conversations seem to matter even more.

Young people have never had more information at their fingertips. They can ask AI almost anything, watch thousands of career videos and research every job imaginable.

But information isn't the same as reassurance. Sometimes what they really need is someone who's done the job to say, "I remember feeling exactly the same."

That's why mentoring still matters.

One conversation with someone working in technology can change how a young person sees themselves and what they believe is possible. Not because they're being taught, but because they're being listened to.

That's the thinking behind our IntoTech programme.
Working alongside Futures For All, with funding from The Hg Foundation, we're bringing together technology professionals from across the UK to mentor young people exploring careers in tech.

It isn't a huge time commitment.
It isn't about giving presentations or becoming a teacher.
It's simply about sharing honest experiences, answering questions and helping one young person feel a little more confident about the future.

Looking back on your own career, was there one conversation, piece of advice or mentor that changed your direction?

We'd love to hear the moments that made a difference. Because every young person deserves the chance to have that conversation too.

21/07/2026

The companies building tomorrow's technology also have the power to shape tomorrow's talent.

If your organisation is looking for a meaningful way to strengthen employee volunteering, support social mobility and invest in future talent, we'd love to hear from you.

Brightside's IntoTech programme is recruiting 700 technology professionals from across the UK to mentor young people exploring careers in tech.

Delivered in partnership with Futures For All and funded by The Hg Foundation, the programme gives employees the opportunity to mentor one young person through secure, one-to-one online conversations. No teaching. No presentations. Just honest career insights that can help someone make confident decisions about their future.

Here's what your organisation gains:
• Meaningful, measurable social impact
• Stronger employee engagement through skilled volunteering
• A chance to help build a more diverse future workforce
• An opportunity to support the next generation of technology talent

Your employees benefit too:
• Leadership and coaching experience
• Stronger communication and mentoring skills
• The opportunity to make a lasting difference through one conversation

Every young person deserves access to someone who's been there before. Together, we can help make that happen.

If your organisation would like to become an IntoTech partner, send us a message to start the conversation.

Which businesses do you think are leading the way in supporting future tech talent? Tag them below.

16/07/2026

When young people are given a genuine seat at the table, incredible things happen. 👏

This month, we welcomed 13 inspiring young people from across the UK to the Brightside Youth Board, and we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead.

Our induction day brought everyone together to get to know one another, meet our CEO, explore Brightside's work, build new skills, set goals and begin shaping the projects they'll lead over the coming year.

But they didn't stop there.

Just days later, several members of the Youth Board stepped onto one of the biggest stages imaginable at our House of Commons event, confidently sharing their experiences, ideas and hopes for the future.

A huge thank you to Cherish Salami, Luke Smedley and Farzana Chowdhury for speaking so thoughtfully and representing young people's voices with such confidence.

We couldn't be prouder.

This is exactly what the Youth Board is all about.
✅ Bringing young people together from different backgrounds.
✅ Ensuring lived experience shapes the work we do.
✅ Building confidence and leadership skills.
✅ Influencing projects that make a real difference.

Over the coming months, our Youth Board will be working closely with the Brightside team on a range of initiatives, including continuing our AI research, helping shape future programmes, contributing to campaigns, creating content and ensuring young people's voices remain at the heart of everything we do.

We can't wait to share the impact they'll make.

Welcome to the Brightside Youth Board 2026–27.

We're so grateful you've chosen to be part of this journey. 💙

👇 Please join us in welcoming our newest Youth Board members in the comments!

14/07/2026

💻 Could you spare just one hour a week to help a young person discover a future in technology?

Across the UK, thousands of young people are bright, curious and excited about technology, but many have never met someone who actually works in the industry. Sometimes, all it takes is one conversation for a young person to realise, "I could do that too."

That's why Brightside is looking for 700 technology professionals to volunteer as mentors for Futures For All's IntoTech programme.

Over 12 weeks, you'll support a young person aged 14–16 through our safe online mentoring platform, sharing your experiences, answering questions and helping them explore the many opportunities a career in tech can offer.

You don't need to be a professional mentor. If you work in a technology role, have an hour or two a week to spare and want to make a real difference, we'll provide all the training and support you need.

✨ Your experience could be the encouragement that changes a young person's future.

👉 Find out more and register your interest via the link in the comments.

Please share this post with anyone working in technology who might be interested in getting involved. Together, we can help inspire the next generation of tech talent. 💙

09/07/2026

Yesterday, Brightside was proud to host our "Bridging the Gap in the Age of AI – Why Mentoring Matters More Than Ever" event at the UK House of Commons.

Over the past few months, we've been exploring how AI is shaping the way young people think about education, careers and their futures. We brought together leaders from education, charities and policy to share our findings.

We were delighted to have Rt. Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP, Minister for Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions - DWP, in attendance.

Our research began with a survey of hundreds of young people, followed by interviews and a focus group to explore the findings in more depth. We're now working with our Youth Board to shape the direction of the next phase of research, which continues to inform our approach.

A huge thank you to our team for presenting the report, our Youth Board members for sharing their experiences so thoughtfully, and everyone who joined us to continue this important discussion.

Keep an eye on our website over the coming days for the full report and key insights from our research.

22/06/2026

📣 Join our board — Marketing & Comms Trustee wanted

Brightside is the UK's leading online mentoring charity. Over the past 23 years, we've supported 165,000+ young people, and we're now looking for a new trustee to help us reach thousands more.

We need someone with strong marketing and communications experience to help shape our brand, campaigns, and storytelling — so that more mentees, mentors, and funders find us.

✅ Up to 15 days per year (voluntary) ✅ Remote-friendly, UK-based ✅ Open to first-time trustees as well as experienced board members

Closing date: 9am, Monday 6 July.
How to apply: Send a 2-page CV and 1-page cover letter via CharityJob (search "Brightside"). Want an informal chat first? Email our CEO John Craven: [email protected]

Please share with anyone in your network who might be a great fit 💛

11/06/2026

Do you know a young person aged 16–18 who helps care for a family member? Please share this. 🧡

Young carers do incredible things every day — often quietly, often while balancing school, exams, and growing up. They deserve someone in their corner.

That's why we've launched Bright Carers Mentoring 2026, a free 12-week online mentoring programme designed specifically for young carers.

Here's what they'll get:
✅ A trained mentor of their choice
✅ Help understanding career and education pathways
✅ Confidence and key life skills
✅ Real support to navigate barriers linked to caring
✅ A certificate at the end of the 12 weeks

It's flexible, online, and works around their life — chat or video call, at their pace.

Sign-up is simple: one short form, then instant access to mentoring.

📅 Applications close 19 June 2026. 👉 Tap the link in the comments to apply or share with a young carer who'd benefit:

Tag a parent, teacher, youth worker or family member who needs to see this. Every share helps us reach a young carer who could change their future. 💛

Address

London

Telephone

+442030968120

Website

http://www.brightside.org.uk/, https://linktr.ee/brightsidementoring, https://www.justgiving.com/page/jasmine-jurassic-u

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