Basingstoke College of Technology

Avril van der Velde
SUN Progression Mentor at Basingstoke College of Technology
What is your role at the college & how can you support the students?
As a SUN Progression Mentor, my role is to support students who live in areas where progression to HE is low (these students are called Uni Connect students). I help these students to understand what their progression options are, offer practical support via one to ones to help them complete tasks such as uni applications, as well as organise workshops and trips to raise their awareness of all the HE opportunities available to them.
What has been your career journey & what did you study?
My studying and career journey began in the city of Johannesburg in South Africa. I studied Social Work at university and then went on to do my masters in Clinical Psychology. Before completing my masters, I had the opportunity to work in different areas of employment, working as an Account Executive for a medical advertising company, in Human Resources with a focus on training and development of staff & facilitating workshops which brought together left-and right-wing students during the turbulent apartheid years in South Africa, running my own private psychology practice, and teaching the Life Orientation subject in a school whilst working as the School Counsellor. My grandmother was born in the UK but spent her later life in South Africa. I am now coming back to her beginnings, and am now living in the UK. Since arriving in the UK, I have worked as a Student Support Assistant, as a Specialist Provision Facilitator ad now as a SUN Progression Mentor. From my experience I always tell students that you never know where you might end up in your career and life, but you just need to find a “starting point”. From there you will always discover opportunities that will enable you to find what you love to do and enjoy.
What is a fun fact about you?
I enjoy playing social pickle ball, doing jigsaw puzzles, long walks in the outdoors, spending time with friends & family & lastly reading.
Find out more
Established as Basingstoke Technical Institute in 1947, Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) is a leading further education college that offers full-time and part-time advanced technical and vocational qualifications together with apprenticeships, higher education and professional courses. Find out more via the link below.
