Outreach platforms for mentoring and people-based programmes
We design and deliver bespoke outreach platforms that help universities and organisations run structured mentoring and engagement programmes safely, calmly, and at scale, without relying on fragile spreadsheets, inboxes, or manual workarounds.
Safeguarding is the foundation
Our outreach platforms are designed first and foremost around safeguarding and risk reduction. Where programmes connect adults with under-18s, or involve responsibility for vulnerable participants, systems must make the right behaviour easy and the wrong behaviour difficult.
We design platforms where:
Communication happens in auditable & controlled spaces.
Permissions and roles are clearly defined.
Access is appropriate to responsibility.
Activity can be monitored without being intrusive.
Familiar challenges in mentoring and outreach
Mentoring programmes often start with good intentions and limited infrastructure. As they grow, teams quickly run into challenges such as:
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Managing participants across cohorts and time periods
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Matching mentors and mentees fairly and transparently
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Tracking engagement without intrusive oversight
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Maintaining safeguarding and auditability
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Supporting internal teams without overwhelming administration
At a certain point, informal tools stop being safe or sustainable. That’s usually when we’re asked to help.
Recent outreach projects
We’ve delivered outreach platforms to higher education institutes across the UK, including:
University of Surrey
Our mentoring platform transformed student mentorship with real-time messaging, role-based access controls, and integrated project management. This enabled Surrey to scale personalised mentorship while maintaining safeguarding oversight through built-in moderation and support ticketing.
National Cipher Challenge
This annual school competition, run by the University of Southampton has been supported by 10 Degrees since 2015. The WordPress competition engine allows teams to register, submit their solutions and receive feedback before scores are marked over a series of ten challenges. Our long-term involvement with the growth and development of this programme underlines our higher education commitment and stewardship.
Higher Education Outreach Network
We designed and delivered a platform for HEON that goes beyond publishing. Behind the scenes, a bespoke LMS powers online summer schools and book clubs, enabling structured learning, safe participation, and scalable delivery of outreach programmes.
Southern Universities Network
We built a flexible, block-editor powered brochure site for SUN, giving them easy content control, clear service pages and a modern layout that lets the team update events, news and resources without developer dependency.
What our platforms typically support
Our outreach platforms are designed around common needs seen across mentoring and outreach programmes, including:
- Participant registration and onboarding
- Mentor and mentee profile management
- Matching and cohort management
- Structured communication within the platform
- Administrative oversight and reporting
- Clear role-based permissions for staff and volunteers
These capabilities are configured to reflect how each programme actually needs to operate.
Getting teams up and running
We place a strong emphasis on supported onboarding and this typically includes:
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Configuring the platform around your programme structure
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Working through safeguarding and operational workflows
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Supporting initial cohort setup
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Guiding administrators on day-to-day use
Our aim is to ensure teams feel confident using the platform early on, without needing extensive technical knowledge or ongoing support for routine tasks.
Testimonial
Over the last ten years 10 Degrees have played a major role in the development of the National Cipher Challenge, an annual outreach competition for UK schools designed to promote maths and computing. They paid particular attention to the needs of its young participants, including a focus on their privacy and the provision of a safe community for them.
Graham Niblo
Professor of Mathematics, University of Southampton
From the outset, it was clear that we were fortunate to work with a team that not only possessed the technical expertise but also listened and shared our vision and commitment to excellence.
Dr. Adeniyi Olagunju
Senior Lecturer, University of Liverpool
Frequently asked questions
No. Mentoring is a common use case, but the platforms we design also support wider outreach and engagement programmes that involve participants, cohorts, and structured interaction.
How do you handle safeguarding in outreach platforms?
Safeguarding is foundational. Platforms are designed with controlled communication, clear permissions, auditability, and role-based access to support safe interaction – particularly where adults and under-18s are involved.
Is this a product or a bespoke system?
It’s a bespoke system informed by prior work. We start from a stable foundation and adapt it to each organisation’s structure, policies, and programme needs rather than offering a one-size-fits-all product.
Can outreach platforms scale as programmes grow?
Yes. Platforms are designed to support growth in participant numbers, cohorts, and programme complexity without becoming unmanageable or unsafe.
How difficult is it for teams to get started?
We provide supported onboarding, including configuration, workflow setup, and guidance for administrators. The aim is to reduce friction and help teams feel confident using the platform early on.
Do these platforms integrate with other systems?
Where appropriate, platforms can integrate with other services or tools. Integration decisions are made carefully to avoid unnecessary complexity or risk.